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MonicaMouse
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Topic: Wow - What a week. Posted: 16 May 2008 at 7:52pm |
We've had an amazing week. After having ongoing sleep problems with Blair on and off (more on than off) from an early age, and despite trying a couple of things, I was lucky enough to be admitted to the Mothercraft Unit here in Hamilton.
I knew going in that it was going to be challenging, especially with the knowledge that we would be doing things way different from how we had been, but also differently from the way that I wanted to do things.
We left home with me having had 90 minutes sleep between 6.30 and 8am, and were shown to our room, and asked a couple of questions about what had already happened that morning, and then left to fill out forms while Blair had a play.
All too soon, the dreaded time came, and after having a naked weigh Blair was put down for a morning sleep, his first ever in a saftey sleep. The second he was put into the cot, he started protesting. I felt so mean, and all I could do was to stroke his head, tell him it was the best thing and then I left the room with tears pouring down my face, here was my baby crying and screaming and all I wanted to do was to scoop him up and comfort him. I walked down the hallway with his cries echoing in my ears, and my heart, and headed far enough away to not hear him and allow the staff to attend to him if need be.
I was surprised when I was given the ok to go get him 3 hours after we had put him down. Bravo, he had had at least 2 hours of sleep. Later that day, he way put down for another sleep, and my biggest thought was what do I do with myself and this time on my hands. For so long I had spent most of my day trying to get him to sleep, fed, playing, entertained, and happy, and trying to get some housework done inbetween.
That night Blair and I spent our first night in seperate rooms (we were in the process of getting him into his own room before we went in) We both woke several times during the night, and for the first time I wasn't the one having to get up to him.
As the days wore on, it seemed to get easier, and unbelievably I slept from 11.15 to 6.15 on the second night uninteruppted, my longest stretch in such a long time. Blair did have a couple of grumpy patches yesterday, and last night realised that he had the sniffles, which may have attributed to his grumpiness. He was to be weighed again after breakfast, and to my surprise had only gained 45g in the week, that being said he did throw up half his breakfast and had a dirty nappy prior to his weigh. He also dropped the number of feeds and because he is more active with his crawling being more confident.
I can hardly believe that my wee man has had 2 day sleeps all this week, and has had some decent night sleeps at a decent hour.
Was it worth the heartache, the tears, and mental struggle, in my opinion, this was the right place for me to get help with Blair and his sleep, whilst providing me with support from the staff - and the other Mums there in the process. Big thanks are going there way
Edited by MonicaMouse
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Blair 15/10/2007
Daniel 30/07/2009
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.Mel
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Joined: 14 January 2007
Location: Orewa
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 7:58pm |
Wow that's awesome, so do they give you ideas and things to follow once you are home? Do they tell what they did with him when he woke during the night etc?
I've never heard of it before, sounds like a great place to help mums and bubs in need.
You even sound refreshed in your post! Yay to the both of you.
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Mr Mellow (16)
Miss Attitude (8)
Destructa Kid (3)
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monster
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:01pm |
Great to hear it was a positive experience for you both - well done MM and Blair!
Glad to have you back on here too
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MummyFreckle
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Joined: 08 February 2007
Location: Auckland
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:02pm |
Hey MM, so glad that it was worthwhile. Have thought about you a lot this week, and wondered how you were getting on. I hope that you are feeling better after some much needed sleep...and that the next few days go well for you adjusting to the routine at home.
  
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Rackhell
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Joined: 09 January 2007
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:15pm |
I've heard awesome things about this place, they really do seem to straighten most babies out. Hope that they give you good advice/guidance for when you get home, too. Don't forget that you can also go to the Waikato Family Centre if you need a break.
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Tiff
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:17pm |
What an awesome facility! That's fantastic you have found it worthwhile, may the sleeps continue!!!
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kabe
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:24pm |
I'm really glad that it was such a worthwhile experience for you both.
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Kels
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:36pm |
Wow what an awesome place. Great support for you and Blair. Heres to more spare time for you now he is sleeping 
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Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs
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NikkiB
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 8:38pm |
MM, you do sound refreshed!!!
Great to hear it all went well
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A very lucky mummy to two gorgeous boys:
RB 3/10/2008
JB 29/12/2009
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VannesaD
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Joined: 01 January 1900
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 9:09pm |
What a fantastic story - good on your for a) going there and b) persevering with it. I've never heard of the unit and in Auckland all we had 5 years ago (it might have changed now) is the use of going to a Plunket family room where you could spend the day (only) getting some rest and you would be called when needed for feeding (if BF) or they would just let you sleep while they gave baby a FF.
They also provided instruction on things to try/change and also showed videos on feeding and sleeping. It was great - but I needed two formal visits and spent a couple of 1/2 days there also just to get the much needed rest (I had no family support and hubby worked 7 days).
I recommend seeking help to anyone that thinks they need it - and this facility in Hamilton sounds ideal. Hope they spread around the country!
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peachy
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Posted: 16 May 2008 at 10:39pm |
Well done MM, I am so pleased that you had some success finally!
What an experience I bet!
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susieq
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Posted: 17 May 2008 at 1:25pm |
I really wish as do alot of ex Karitanes that they had hospitals like the old Karitane Hospital where we looked after babies that had sleeping problems, feeding problemsm a mothercraft unit, a toddler ward for toddlers who wouldnt sleep or eat and a prem ward.
They had them in Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch and Invercargill. I along with other ex karitanes dont think the family units are as good as they are not open 24/7
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Candkids
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Posted: 17 May 2008 at 1:32pm |
well done!!  ive heard alot of great things about the mothercraft unit
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 DD 10.5yrs DS 6yrs DS 11mths 5 little angles watching from above
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porcelina
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Posted: 17 May 2008 at 5:30pm |
Yay for you, good to hear it all went well, isn't it great there is such a unit!
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MonicaMouse
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Joined: 22 February 2007
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Posted: 17 May 2008 at 7:29pm |
susieq wrote:
I really wish as do alot of ex Karitanes that they had hospitals like the old Karitane Hospital where we looked after babies that had sleeping problems, feeding problemsm a mothercraft unit, a toddler ward for toddlers who wouldnt sleep or eat and a prem ward.
They had them in Auckland, Wanganui, Wellington, Dunedin, Christchurch and Invercargill. I along with other ex karitanes dont think the family units are as good as they are not open 24/7
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I think I know what you mean. I had the option of heading to a 'day place' or this place where we were admitted Monday morning and discharged Friday morning, and despite initial hesitations, am really pleased that I managed to go to this place, as it gave me that 24h assistance, and continuity to put routines into place. I like many of the other Mums in there wish there were more, as we had bubs from BOP as well as Hawkes Bay, and some had to wait 2 months or so to get in.
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Blair 15/10/2007
Daniel 30/07/2009
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MonicaMouse
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Joined: 22 February 2007
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Posted: 20 October 2009 at 4:27pm |
*bump for BecM
this was my experience of MCU, but will still PM you
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Blair 15/10/2007
Daniel 30/07/2009
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