Week 16: Through the ringer

SLEEP - Getting Natalie to sleep is a crapshoot. Swaddling only works if she's ready for it, which might be when she's drowsy already after eating, or when she's done with playing and starting to fuss. Or she might not go for it at all. Bouncing on the ball is really unreliable these days. Most days she takes at least 2 short (~30 minute) naps. She still has the maddening habit of napping beautifully when my mom is around, but not otherwise. Swaddling followed by strolling or just putting her in the carseat works sometimes. Yesterday my mom got her from fussing to sleeping by swaddling, then laying Natalie across her lap and patting/rubbing her back and butt. Natalie had her fingers in her mouth and the prone position seemed to help keep them there.

She had a fit the other morning and cried for maybe 30 minutes while Rob was watching her. I scooped her up and put her in the sling facing me in a hug hold with her legs out, which she initially protested with loud crying, but once we walked outside she stopped crying. I walked her around the block in the chilly wind (with a hat, baby legs and socks on her, of course), and by the time I got home she was asleep.

Nighttime sleeping is better than last week, at least. I stopped co-sleeping with her because while she was sleeping well, I was lucky to get 2 hours total, and that just isn't enough. I tried splitting up the night between her crib and my bed for a while, but it's still too disruptive, so she's back in her crib now, or sometimes in her carseat. I am close enough to catch her before she starts crying and fully wakes up, so I think it's good enough.

FEEDING - I've eliminated several more possible allergens from my diet--wheat as of 11/14, followed by soy, corn, wheat, tomatoes, peanuts, chocolate as of 11/16 (in addition to dairy, that I've been avoiding since 10/28). I think it's too soon to tell whether or not this measure is helping Natalie, but yesterday was an encouragingly calm day. Dairy, soy, wheat or corn are in almost all prepared foods, so I'm pretty much sticking with single-ingredient items; fresh fruits/vegetables, potatoes, rice, quinoa and meats. I'm keeping spices to a minimum and using simple vinaigrettes on salads. While preparing meals is more labor-intensive, on the bright side I am losing weight. I'm under 10 lbs away from my pre-pregnancy weight. Another plus is that this diet will keep me from eating in restaurants, for the most part--it's just too hard to be sure I know what I'm eating unless I buy it in the grocery store and prepare it at home. Natalie's gas /reflux episodes have been infrequent and short.

Her nursing habits haven't changed much, except that she seems to be spacing out feedings more during the day.

SOOTHING - She has gone from only wanting to face out to enjoying facing-in holds again (yay!) Pacifiers are hit or miss, but sometimes they really help. She's still maybe 50/50 on car rides. Bouncing on the ball isn't doing much for her lately. She likes the Moby wrap, but it's stimulating. The sling is mostly still effective. She's responding better to simply being held and jiggled or swayed lately, especially if swaddled. She's starting to respond favorably to tummy positions for soothing now.

However, this week she definitely started teething--the pain part, anyway. She screams and gums her fingers. Rob had to keep pressure on her lower gums with his finger while rocking her to sleep on at least two nights. She responded well (albeit, a delayed response) to infant Tylenol and baby Orajel, and to a teething ring stuck in the freezer or fridge first.

PLAYING - She prefers her tummy now and even rolls from back to tummy, but gets worn out and fusses if on her tummy too long. Sometimes rolling her to her back helps. She is enjoying practicing sitting up by being pulled to sitting, and is content for 5-10 minutes at a time in the Bumbo chair (with toys). She's still mouthing everything, and is getting better at grabbing toys and bring her hands together to keep a grip on objects. She seems to be enjoying bathtime now, and uses her legs and feet to splash the water.

She's very social (when happy, of course) and seems to enjoy being in the presence of adults conversing.

OTHER NOTES - I'm still looking for a new pediatrician. I went to meet Dr. Benhammou this week, but wasn't impressed. Natalie's weight at the visit (11/17) was 15 lbs 12 oz with clothes and a daiper on.

She's still on Zegerid, 2.5mL twice a day.