My First REAL Sleep-less Night

Up until last night, Jude was a breeze. Sleeping well and waking up mostly just for feedings, etc. (Really, I would wake up more than him to make sure he was OK!)

However, somewhere between 4:30 and 8:30 last night he went on a hunger strike. Basically, I fed him at 4:30 and he ate very well. Around 6:30 I figured it was time for him to eat again. He latched on for a couple of minutes (no where near his typical 10-15) and he threw a fit. He wanted nothing to do with me. He did a little rooting but would not take to me. Instead, he sucked on my finger his fingers, or a pacifier and went back to sleep.

I tried around around 7, 7:30 8, 8:30. Each time he'd take a few sucks and stop. This was the same until some time in the wee early morning when he finally decided he was a little hungry. Right before he did finally eat, there were some gurgles in his belly and a big old Poo. The poor little man seemed to have a bit of an upset belly. In addition, i pumped to make the boobies a little softer for him.

Once he got it out, he ate much better. This morning he ate well at 7:30 and did his normal every two hours from there.

I discussed this at my pediatric appointment today (his weight check) and they said that as long as he's hydrated and eating it's nothing to be concerned with. I guess I expect him to get on a schedule (or at least be semi-predictable) but breast-fed babies just don't function that way.

Being that I was so concerned about his eating all night, I didn't get much sleep. Even though our pediatrician had told us before "don't wake a sleeping baby" during the night hours I couldn't help but want to get him to eat something. I tried every hour or so to get him to latch on and he just didn't want to. Meanwhile every time I tried it would set him into a fit and I'd have to calm him down again.

Better news though: at his weight check today, Jude was just 1/2 an ounce under his birth weight. We'll be going back next monday to make sure he's still gaining weight (basically they want to keep seeing him until he's at least at his birth weight). But he is well on his way.

Other News: Jude is currently struggling with a little Jaundice. Yesterday after our visiting nurse came out, we were told he could go off his biliblanket. Unfortunately when he went in to his check up today his numbers had gone up slightly so they wanted him back on. We have to go to the lab tomorrow to get re-checked, so I'm crossing my fingers he takes some big poos and gets some of the yellow out!