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The doctor should be your first stop on the list. Even for a breastfed baby, waking up every 2 hours at 5 months of age is not entirely normal. Let the doc rule out physical factors such as allergies (and yes, a baby can be allergic, or intolerant, to their own mother's breast milk), mother's diet(avoid all caffeine, chocolate, spicey foods!), birth defects, etc.
If the doctor finds nothing wrong, insist on a consult to a gastroenterologist, just to be sure.
If there are no physical reasons that this baby is having difficulties (which it sounds like there is) then I would explore other reasons. Maybe she has gotten used to be placated and needs to find her own ways of getting to sleep? Maybe the movements of two adults in the bed next to her awakens her? That she "is better when he is home" may indicate that your nervous, overstressed feelings are being "picked up" by her and she reacts in kind. I've often seen babies act fussy or agitated with agitated mothers and calm down immediately with the older, more steady grandma. If this is the case, don't feel like you are causing it.....just explore the reasons you are feeling overstressed and try to get some support for these issues. Do you feel like a failure as a mother and a wife because you can't seem to "please" child and husband? Do you feel alone in this struggle and need more of your husband's support? Our doctors have actually made husbands come to the baby's appointments and instructed them on their expectations and tried to explain how important it is to help a new mother. Are there any older women close by who could let you get out and away, or come and help you get your days organized, or even help you get to the bottom of the baby's distress? I would have never made it through all the mysteries of babyhood without my mother's input and her no-nonsense approach to child rearing. Nap when the baby naps....always!!! Let the baby entertain herself when you are cleaning house, even if that means crying. And have a serious talk with the husband about how you are feeling. I know most men are insensitive clods but at least he won't be able to say, "I didn't know!" when you finally have a meltdown from the stress! Last, and most important, pray!
The doctor should be your first stop on the list. Even for a breastfed baby, waking up every 2 hours at 5 months of age is not entirely normal. Let the doc rule out physical factors such as allergies (and yes, a baby can be allergic, or intolerant, to their own mother's breast milk), mother's diet(avoid all caffeine, chocolate, spicey foods!), birth defects, etc.
If the doctor finds nothing wrong, insist on a consult to a gastroenterologist, just to be sure.
If there are no physical reasons that this baby is having difficulties (which it sounds like there is) then I would explore other reasons. Maybe she has gotten used to be placated and needs to find her own ways of getting to sleep? Maybe the movements of two adults in the bed next to her awakens her? That she "is better when he is home" may indicate that your nervous, overstressed feelings are being "picked up" by her and she reacts in kind. I've often seen babies act fussy or agitated with agitated mothers and calm down immediately with the older, more steady grandma. If this is the case, don't feel like you are causing it.....just explore the reasons you are feeling overstressed and try to get some support for these issues. Do you feel like a failure as a mother and a wife because you can't seem to "please" child and husband? Do you feel alone in this struggle and need more of your husband's support? Our doctors have actually made husbands come to the baby's appointments and instructed them on their expectations and tried to explain how important it is to help a new mother. Are there any older women close by who could let you get out and away, or come and help you get your days organized, or even help you get to the bottom of the baby's distress? I would have never made it through all the mysteries of babyhood without my mother's input and her no-nonsense approach to child rearing. Nap when the baby naps....always!!! Let the baby entertain herself when you are cleaning house, even if that means crying. And have a serious talk with the husband about how you are feeling. I know most men are insensitive clods but at least he won't be able to say, "I didn't know!" when you finally have a meltdown from the stress! Last, and most important, pray!
