Better
The plan seems to have worked!
I made sure she drank a lot, both sides, before I put her down, and refused to feed her for 4 more hours. While it hasn't been perfect, she's now sleeping MUCH better. We still have a long way to go, but I can start feeling like a real human again.
It's weird now that I have a baby- I've been inducted into the Mom Club. It's like getting a tattoo or a motorcycle: you've gotten past some hidden barrier, and now you automatically have street cred with a certain crew. Having a baby is incredibly difficult, and the other moms understand- it's like being war buddies. There's a lot of support.
Speaking of support, I feel really lucky. I complained that it was difficult to find good warm clothes here (a lot of Japanese co-sleep, and don't live in old-school houses like mine, so they're not freezing in the winter), and BAM Team USA called up reinforcements and sent us a couple of boxes packed with clothes and toys.
My local area has been awesome too. There is an incredible support system for new moms in my area, with playgroups and baby massage classes and mom tea time and midwives who come to your house personally to check up on you. Also, a babysitting program that only costs 900 yen an hour, which I am going to start taking advantage of on Friday.
Things seemed so bleak a couple of weeks ago. It's funny how fast it can turn around. And how much a little sleep can change your perspective.
Playing with her Spanish learning toy:
I made sure she drank a lot, both sides, before I put her down, and refused to feed her for 4 more hours. While it hasn't been perfect, she's now sleeping MUCH better. We still have a long way to go, but I can start feeling like a real human again.
It's weird now that I have a baby- I've been inducted into the Mom Club. It's like getting a tattoo or a motorcycle: you've gotten past some hidden barrier, and now you automatically have street cred with a certain crew. Having a baby is incredibly difficult, and the other moms understand- it's like being war buddies. There's a lot of support.
Speaking of support, I feel really lucky. I complained that it was difficult to find good warm clothes here (a lot of Japanese co-sleep, and don't live in old-school houses like mine, so they're not freezing in the winter), and BAM Team USA called up reinforcements and sent us a couple of boxes packed with clothes and toys.
My local area has been awesome too. There is an incredible support system for new moms in my area, with playgroups and baby massage classes and mom tea time and midwives who come to your house personally to check up on you. Also, a babysitting program that only costs 900 yen an hour, which I am going to start taking advantage of on Friday.
Things seemed so bleak a couple of weeks ago. It's funny how fast it can turn around. And how much a little sleep can change your perspective.
Playing with her Spanish learning toy: