Everybody Hates Growth Spurts
I promised myself when I started this blog that I would write one blog a week. Well, if you’re a follower, you know this hasn’t happened for the last several months. See, I’ve been busy. Busy because of growth spurts, not mine you understand. My title is a play off of the television show “Everybody Hates Chris” based on the comedy of Chris Rock. Unlike Rock’s stand-up routines, the show is mostly wholesome and not filled with foul language. The title of each show is “Everybody Hates _____” fill -in -the blank of whatever situation Chris is facing that week. The premise of the show is Chris’ family in Brooklyn in the 1980′s. His mother is the heavy-handed disciplinarian, and his father a comical tightwad. Chris is constantly blamed and berated for his behavior, but also the behavior of his younger brother and sister.
Anyway, back to my topic, everybody hates growth spurts. As much as these first few weeks with my newborn are precious and dear, the sleep deprivation is a killer. Yes, I know it’s expected, but we are dealing with growth spurts right now. One at 2-3 weeks of age (which lasted for a week). And now, he’s hit his six week one, which means we are pretty much nursing every 2-3 hours around the clock. And it’s not just me who is hating this growth spurt stage. Poor hubby is also getting up, either to help me, or to dole out that life-saving bottle which actually allows me to sleep a bit. Poor teen daughter who helps out and babysits while I am at school or meetings, also is at a loss when he is screaming his head off, and she can’t fix it, unless with a bottle every two hours. “Mom, why is he screaming?” she will text me. Well sister, gotta figure that one out on your own. During growth spurt time, he is either hungry or tired….. constantly. It doesn’t help that with constant nursing, he will only sleep about 10 minutes at time on some days. Most of the time he will go to sleep, only to wake up a short time later because he is filling his diaper. He’s happy for a bit, then remembers that he is tired. Another 10 minute nap, and he wakes up because he is hungry again!
While up in the wee hours of the morning one night, I told myself that he will soon be out of this stage and that I will miss his sweet baby milkiness. But until then, everybody hates growth spurts.
