Renewed admiration for DH

Hi everyone -

DD (11 months - almost made it to 1 year!) got her first nasty cold
over the weekend. Her poor nose has been plugged up something awful,
and while she's finally got the hang of breathing through her mouth
while she's awake, the nights have been most awful. Aside from just
feeling lousy, her nose was so clogged that she hasn't been able to
figure out how to nurse and breathe at the same time. Given that
that's still the method we rely on almost exclusively to get to sleep,
we've all been pretty miserable. Happily, I think that we've turned
the corner and the evil bulb syringe will get a rest soon.

Anyhow, as I was strugging to come up with ANY way to comfort DD
without nursing these last few days, it suddenly struck me that this
is what DH has to do all the time when I'm not around. After I hit my
melting point last night, DH sent me to bed and finally got a decent
amount of food into her and comforted her into some decent sleep. I
finally woke up at 2:30am and ended up having to sneak in a pump
session - I was definitely NOT used to that length of time without a
nice nursing session.

DH and I alternate days working from home, so he does this all the
time, but I just thought I'd share my renewed appreciation for all
those non-nursing partners out there. I've always been able to fall
back on nursing as a last resort, but when faced with a situation
where nursing wasn't really working, I must admit that my
improvization skills are much inferior to DH's! He, of course,
doesn't think he did anything extraordinary, but I'm in awe! 8)

Here's to clear noses!

Kerry

Kerry...

Many thanks for that ode to the non nursing partner...

I have often thought that my DW had an unfair advantage when our DD
was under the weather...

While i can rock her to either sleep or at least a more comfortable
state, i just don't have that very special soother...

Paul





On 9 Feb 2004 19:05:20 -0800, (Kerry D)
wrote:

Hi everyone -

DD (11 months - almost made it to 1 year!) got her first nasty cold
over the weekend. Her poor nose has been plugged up something awful,
and while she's finally got the hang of breathing through her mouth
while she's awake, the nights have been most awful. Aside from just
feeling lousy, her nose was so clogged that she hasn't been able to
figure out how to nurse and breathe at the same time. Given that
that's still the method we rely on almost exclusively to get to sleep,
we've all been pretty miserable. Happily, I think that we've turned
the corner and the evil bulb syringe will get a rest soon.

Anyhow, as I was strugging to come up with ANY way to comfort DD
without nursing these last few days, it suddenly struck me that this
is what DH has to do all the time when I'm not around. After I hit my
melting point last night, DH sent me to bed and finally got a decent
amount of food into her and comforted her into some decent sleep. I
finally woke up at 2:30am and ended up having to sneak in a pump
session - I was definitely NOT used to that length of time without a
nice nursing session.

DH and I alternate days working from home, so he does this all the
time, but I just thought I'd share my renewed appreciation for all
those non-nursing partners out there. I've always been able to fall
back on nursing as a last resort, but when faced with a situation
where nursing wasn't really working, I must admit that my
improvization skills are much inferior to DH's! He, of course,
doesn't think he did anything extraordinary, but I'm in awe! 8)

Here's to clear noses!

Kerry

On 9 Feb 2004 19:05:20 -0800, (Kerry D)
wrote:
Anyhow, as I was strugging to come up with ANY way to comfort DD
without nursing these last few days, it suddenly struck me that this
is what DH has to do all the time when I'm not around. After I hit my
melting point last night, DH sent me to bed and finally got a decent
amount of food into her and comforted her into some decent sleep. I
finally woke up at 2:30am and ended up having to sneak in a pump
session - I was definitely NOT used to that length of time without a
nice nursing session.

DH and I alternate days working from home, so he does this all the
time, but I just thought I'd share my renewed appreciation for all
those non-nursing partners out there. I've always been able to fall
back on nursing as a last resort, but when faced with a situation
where nursing wasn't really working, I must admit that my
improvization skills are much inferior to DH's! He, of course,
doesn't think he did anything extraordinary, but I'm in awe! 8)

I was just talking about this to my dh a couple of days ago. When I am
not home he walks with my daughter a few minutes (orrocks her) until
she falls asleep, then he lays her in her bed. If she wakes up he
tells her mama is gone and will be back in a little bit and she said
"k" and goes back to sleep. It's like he has no problems with her!
There is no way I could get her to sleep in that bed without nursing
her.
It is like the breast element is taken out of the picture and
sometimes that makes what the daddies do seem so much easier.
Marie

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 02:54:28 -0400, wrote:
Kerry...
Many thanks for that ode to the non nursing partner...
I have often thought that my DW had an unfair advantage when our DD
was under the weather...
While i can rock her to either sleep or at least a more comfortable
state, i just don't have that very special soother...

But see you'll have your own special ways with your daughter that your
dw won't have. How old is your daughter?
Once my youngest started walking, as soon as dh gets home from work
she clings to him until bedtime ;o) She cries when he puts her down to
go wash up. She is definately a daddy's girl.
Marie

On Tue, 10 Feb 2004 02:54:28 -0400, wrote:


Kerry...

Many thanks for that ode to the non nursing partner...

I have often thought that my DW had an unfair advantage when our DD
was under the weather...

While i can rock her to either sleep or at least a more comfortable
state, i just don't have that very special soother...

On the other hand, sometimes that's best. YoungBloke can often be more
easily soothed by Bloke because with me he feels he /has/ to feed
because I'm the boobiewoman, even if it isn't actually milk he wants.
You may not feel you have that very special soother but you have one
all your own - and it's your skill at rocking. I hope I speak for some
other Mums when I say that many of us /really/ appreciate that
especially when we're tired.
--
Linz
YB: 15 weeks, 14lbs 14oz