After sleeping from eight at night until six in the morning, Anna has started waking up again at three or four in the morning. When I go into get her, she's rolled over on her side, almost like she's trying to roll on top of the pacifier that has fallen out of her mouth. I think she's just constipated and uncomfortable, but she could also be checking in to see if I'm still paying attention. The other morning when she did sleep until six, she squealed in her crib for about half an hour before I woke up. They were happy squeals and I was dreaming that someone was making faces at her. This morning I found her like this:
I use the rolled up blanket to stick under her shoulder and keep her off her flat side, so you can see how much she moved in the night. Originally her head was lying next to the right end of the blanket roll. I could understand it better if she scooted up the bed. I'm still not sure how she slides down to the middle of her mattress at night.
Anna also has a new trick. While I'm feeding her she likes to put her fist up into my armpit. Sometimes she will put her hand inside my sleeve and grab my skin. It's not very pleasant but it certainly wakes me up. She also likes to use my arm as a scratch post. I try to keep her nails short, but it's tough. I don't know if all babies have high nail beds but she certainly does. Even when I cut her nails, it still seems like she's got some sort of claw left.
We went back to the physical therapist this week. Anna's flat head problem is the result of a tightened muscle that causes her to look to her right and lean her head to her left. Usually her left ear is closer to her shoulder than her right ear. So we've been working on stretching that muscle. The PT says that her range of motion is improving, but her flat head has stayed about the same. But because it's so slight, the PT guaranteed me that she won't have to wear a helmet. I'm too cynical to depend on her word, but I do take comfort knowing that I'm not letting it get worse. We're also working on tummy time. Now I have a new strategy of rolling her onto her stomach for about thirty seconds and then rolling her back to her back. We do a few reps of that until she gets cranky being on her stomach for a few seconds. It seems to be working better than trying to get her to stay on her stomach a full three minutes like the PT suggests. Dan now says that when she whimpers in her sleep she's probably dreaming that I put her on her stomach.
).jpg)
2 comments:
Alisa, she is sooo cute! I especially love the pic of her in the little seat. I've heard lots of good thing about those little seats (I can't remember what they're called right now.) They weren't around when Marcus was born--boppies were the big rage at that time. Anyway, she's lucky and blessed to have such a wonderful mom who is so sensitive to her needs. You really are so great when you describe helping her have tummy time until she gets upset. I wish you continued luck with the physical therapy, just try not to worry too much because things will work out.
I still wish I could have met her in person when I was in Utah. Oh well.
Oh no! I'm sorry about the muscle thingy (torticaullis or something?). I hope that gets better soon.
So, funny that Janey and Anna keep doing the same things. For the last few nights I've found Janey sideways in her crib like that. Also, I have her "swaddled" with her arms out and I prop her with a rolled up blankie. So the scene in the picture looked very familiar to me.
Anyway, good luck with the sleeping. My problem right now is 45 minute naps. Ugh. In fact, the last one was 30 minutes. Those are lame.
Post a Comment