Stefan was born on January 28th, 2019
40 Weeks, planned c-section, birth weight: 9.75lbs
I had complications 1 week post birth with high fever and I had to be separated from Stefan for about 10 days as I went back to the hospital. They kept me in isolation for 10 days because of the high fever but despite running several tests on a daily basis, could not understand what was wrong with me. I suspect it was simply mastitis but we will never know…
I had quite a lot of breastmilk production but Stefan had a case of tongue tie. We had it cut just before my return to hospital upon which it most likely re-healed.
I was unable to breastfeed due to the pain (many lactation consultants mentioned that he had an unusually strong bite).
I pumped and gave him breastmilk until 4 months of age after which I switched to Aptamil.
Stefan would have feeds at about 3 hour intervals throughout the day and night until about 4 months.
Important to note is that Stefan would sleep in the living room with us on a sleepyhead in the couch. He was used to noise and would have no problem to fall asleep by himself.
We only started to use dummies around 3 months of age.
At around 4 months, we went to Serbia where he had his own room and cot. We would put him down awake to sleep and go to the living room assured that he always fell asleep by himself.
At this stage and continuing until about 7 months, Stefan would have no problems to fall asleep on his own around 10pm and would not wake until about 5 or 6 am with lucky days until 7 am. During this time, he would sleep at night in a cot in a room next to me in the living room and the sleepyhead during the day.
He would have no problem to have day naps, and these were dictated solely by him falling asleep in the sleepyhead.
This was the case until around 7.5 months when my husband and I went to the US for holidays and he stayed with both sets of grandparents for 2 weeks.
Near the end of the holiday, he started teething and was a handful for the grandparents both at night and during the day – he required significantly more cuddling and would be waking up frequently (every 3 hours) during the night.
The day that my husband returned to London with Stefan – around 8 month of age) and 4 days since he started teething, he became almost a different child.
Important to note that as of this date, whereas before, we could leave him to play by himself, now he was far more demanding and required a lot of cuddling and soothing during the day and night.
His sleep changed drastically, as he would no longer fall asleep by himself and during the day, almost will only sleep if in the stroller and being walked.
His sleep during the night is the most problematic part. He will go to sleep around 7:30pm or 8pm and wake up around 11pm, 2am, 5am.
5:30 AM – Drink diluted aptamil
6 to 8:30 AM- Play time
8:30 to 9 AM – Breakfast
Porridge with fruit (i.e. banana or steamed apple) – around 150g
9 AM to 10 AM – Nap time. Sometimes only 30 mins
10 AM to 13 PM – Play time
1 to 2 PM – Lunch time
Protein plus vegetables – around 240g total
2-3 PM – Nap time
Sometimes only 30 mins
3 to 6 PM – Play time
6 – 6.30 PM – Bath time
6.30 to 7 PM – Dinner time
Carbs (rice or pasta or oatmeal) + vegetables – around 250g
7 to 8 PM – Play time
8.00 PM – Bed time
Crashes with 210ml full Aptamil
11.00 PM – First waking
Crashes with ~150ml diluted Aptamil – 4 scoops of powder
2 AM – Second waking
Crashes with ~150ml diluted Aptamil – 4 scoops of powder
5 AM – Third waking
Crashes with ~150ml diluted Aptamil – 4 scoops of powder
These times are average times – we don’t have a fixed routine and is based on Stefan’s waking time in the morning
The below is the context of what it is today:
Stefan now sleeps in his own cot in our bedroom.
We give him dummies to fall asleep and sometimes when he wakes up during the night. This rarely helps to soothe though
Instead, whenever he wakes up, we give him diluted Aptamil as this is the only way he will be soothed.
Prior to Aptamil we try to actively soothe him by shushing, reaching and hugging into his cot, lying next to his cot and reaching inside, playing soft lullabys – nothing will work.
We sometimes resort to co-sleeping, but this is rarely effective in soothing him
The below is the context of what it is today:
Stefan would fall asleep around 8pm or 8:30pm, prior to this, we would wash him around 6pm and then feed around 7pm followed by some play in his play pen.
He would then take him to his room, dimly lit, to read a book (not helpful as he is hitting book).
We then give him Aptamil and that crashes him around 8-8:30pm
He will then sleep and wake again at 11pm. 2am, 5am. Each time, the only way to soothe him is with diluted Aptamil.
None to note.
