Pros & Cons to Co-Sleeping

Co-sleeping was the one thing that I didn’t want to partake in with my newborn; well I wasn’t too keen on the idea.  I used to feel to each their own and I’m sure it could work for some people. 
Well after having a c-section and healing was up and down, Lloyd kept insisting that Sachiko sleep in the bed with us! YIKES! I was afraid I would roll on-top of her, squish her, bump her and so on, but night one went smooth.  I also forgot that I could barely move as it was because of the healing process from post-surgery. 
Lloyd also didn’t want our little one sleeping on her own as he felt her room was too cold for her, never mind the fact that he thought she was scared of sleeping alone.  Either way he had a few good points and let him leave her in the bed with us.  After a bit I loved having her there, the bed was nice and toasty on those cold mornings and was easier to tend to her when she woke up.  She used to immediately go into screaming fits when she was hungry and wouldn’t let up until her bottle or my breast were in her mouth for feeding time!
Ok so I admit it, co-sleeping is great and it was extra bonding time with our daughter but really the only one con that I could think up was where’s the daddy and mommy time????? So those odd occasions that we were able to get her into her crib we took advantage of them.  Movie in bed and lots of cuddling. 
Later, I did discover one other con… it was when I felt it was time to work on getting her in her own bed, and for all the time.  It took me a good three (3) weeks to even a month to get her sleeping thru the nights like she used to and so on.  I’m finally up to 12 hours of her getting a solid sleep, sorry to those who are still struggling with early morning feedings, but my daughter is sleeping like a toddler.  She was always a good sleeper from the start. She would wake up about every four (4) hours in the beginning, than every four to 6 hours by the time she was about four weeks old.  When she reached her 2 month mark she was already sleeping eight to 9 hours at a time and when she reached the three month mark her sleeping time jumped to 12 to 14 hours.  True bliss when you can get your infant to sleep all through the night. 
I wanted to start getting her into her own bed by around two (2) months, I figured the earlier the better it is for her in the long run.  I also happened to catch an episode of Dr. Phil, and I must say I’m not usually a fan of his show but this one I thought had some really good information regarding babies and toddlers.  Apparently, its recommended to start getting your little one in their own bed around four (4) to 6 months of age because it just gets that much harder afterwards.  One parent said her daughter was about a year old when she tried getting her into her own bed and every time she would put her to bed the child thought it was play time.  This was one struggle that I didn’t want to have to endure later down the road.  But with a little work and back to restless nights for about three (3) to 4 weeks wasn’t too bad and was worth it.  She’s sleeping very successfully on her own for 12 to 14 hours at night and this has allowed to start to catch up, assuming I don’t get caught up in my mommy-time!
The best way that I found to get your baby to stay in their own bed all night was to keep them in their room.  I would cradle her to sleep in her room and when she would wake up I changed her diaper and feed her a bottle in her room.  She would never leave her room at night, so if I had to make a bottle I would lay her back in her crib until I came back with it.  I think this also helped her to be more independent and more patient, she’s also gotten better with self-soothing herself.  I’m very proud of my accomplishment with her and I’m sure if she understood a bit more she would be too! What worked for you? or are you still working on the transition?

The beginning of Motherhood!

I still couldn’t get over that I was now a mother, and not just a mother but a mother of a beautiful 6lb 11oz 20 inch baby girl! The overwhelming joy cannot be described until you have one of your own and meet her for the first time. 
I was so thankful that my hubby was able to have the time off of work to be with me while I adjusted to my new life and during the healing process of the caesarean.  I was so grateful to have such a wonderful man by side and a helpful one at that! He would tend to her for feedings, changing and every time she just woke up.  I was trying to breastfeed but found it difficult because of the incision but still tried to do what I could do.  I did find that pumping the milk was the best option for most times because Lloyd was helping out so much.  I did have a hand pump and because I was pumping so much wish I had an electric, but I did love my Medela hand pump overall, it got the job done!
Even though I had Lloyd around to help out for everything I was feeling like I was missing out on the beginnings of motherhood and that bonding time with my daughter.  I couldn’t stay up for long to change her, had a hard time sitting up to feed her… I felt deprived in a sense.  But as time went on everything got easier and I was able to move around more and was able to participate with the feedings, changing and the waking ups more. 
We did end up co-sleeping with our baby, yes they say that it is not recommended but it was what worked for our family in the beginning. More on getting her in her crib exclusively later.  Especially during my initial healing, I was able to wake up with her and help out more, made me feel useful. 
I’ve never undergone major surgery never mind an “emergency” one, so being “tied” down to bed rest was killing me! I wanted so badly to get up and move and feel human again, but it just slowed the healing process that much more.  I think that having major surgery and having a child do not mix well, mainly because there is so much to do with a newborn.  Where as pre-baby I would’ve been able to focus on me and would’ve healed that much faster… BUT we had a baby and I wanted nothing more but to focus on her. 
All this made me realize why so many women lose focus on themselves and forget that they need tending too.  I give my baby all that I can and do tend to lose focus sometimes, but when she is down and sleeping I try to give myself five (5) to 20 minutes for myself.  The small time for me includes catching up on reading (usually only at night), getting the baby’s scrapbook together, or even getting some of the backed up chores that need to get done.  Even Lloyd needed that little bit of time for himself; get in a little bit of his gaming on his PS3 but it was at least something.  The way I look at it, give your baby 110% but always set aside a little time for you.  My “mommy-time” is what has really helped me to stay centered.