off topic: Anyone out there with a new infant and a special needs kid?

[Guest guest]

Hey all:

Just looking for some advise and maybe some support. (The " at least I'm not

the only one " type of support!)

I have a two week old little boy and a 3 1/2 year old moderately autistic,

non-verbal, little girl. I had expected to be up with the baby, but I never

thought I would have such a horrible time with my daughter. Ebony has

always had sleep issues, but it seemed like they were getting

better...zoloft, melatonin, magnesium. Since we got home from the hospital,

only 1 night of sleeping through, of course it would be on the one night my

husband was home to help me out (he works nights!). She has been waking up

and staying up for two to three hours, usually right in the middle of the

baby's sleep time. I am exhausted. Last night she was up until 3 o'clock

in the morning. She has never done that!! She usually falls asleep fine,

then wakes up and stays up. Do you guys think that this is a reaction to

the baby? The only other thing that I've done is add Kirkman's acidophilus

plus. Ebony got another yeast infection right after we got home and I got a

3 pill prescription for Diflucan. At the same time I decided to go ahead

and start the acidophilus, since I thought the Diflucan would give it a jump

start.

Anyone with some words of wisdom...please feel free to respond. I worry

that I am loosing patience more quickly with my daughter and I don't know if

it's the lack of sleep or excess hormones. I am at my wit's end.

Thanks for the help!!

Tamara, mom to Ebony-3 yrs old, autistic

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[Guest guest]

Tamara -

Big hug from me too. I know what you mean. We got our son's diagnosis

when I was five months pregnant with my daughter. Regarding the night

waking - I was lucky that I didn't have to deal with too much of

that. I think he only woke up once or twice when the baby was crying.

But - perhaps you are seeing a yeast die off thing. I think that the

yeast die off makes some kids hyper.

Anyway - I know exactly what you are going through regarding

hormones, lack of sleep, lack of patience. Do you have anyone that

can come over to help out a bit, maybe let you take a nap? These next

few weeks will be rough on you until little baby gets a better

schedule. Also, it does get easier and it is probably a good thing

that your daughter is a bit out of sorts - that shows that she has

noticed a change in her environment. My son didn't seem to really

notice my daughter at first and then he realized the change. He was

not happy with me for bringing home this little person, in fact I

think it took him a while to forgive me. Your daughter may be going

through some of that stuff too. Maybe she hears the baby getting your

attention in the night and she wants some too. My son used to try to

climb in my lap while I was breastfeeding the baby - he wanted my

undivided attention.

Anyway - I just wanted to drop you a note and tell you I know how you

are feeling and assure you that it will get better.

One way to help is to perhaps involve your daughter in helping with

the baby. We would ask my son to throw away the diaper after we

changed my daughter and then we would praise the heck out of him for

doing such a good job.

Take care - I wish I could help more.

Moira

mom to Vico (ASD 4) and Culzean (almost 1 year old)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

you are definitely not alone! My son has been going through the same

thing since we had a baby in Feb. He has become very aggressive, up

a lot at night and is not happy about the situation at all! We have

just tried to give him a lot more time and attention (if that's

possible) and be very patient. Recently he has been helping me give

the baby a bath and I praise him up and down for being such an

awesome big brother. I know it's hard but I can assure you that it

will get easier. It's just going to take time for everyone to get

adjusted. Take care!

> Hey all:

>

> Just looking for some advise and maybe some support. (The " at

least I'm not

> the only one " type of support!)

>

> I have a two week old little boy and a 3 1/2 year old moderately

autistic,

> non-verbal, little girl. I had expected to be up with the baby,

but I never

> thought I would have such a horrible time with my daughter. Ebony

has

> always had sleep issues, but it seemed like they were getting

> better...zoloft, melatonin, magnesium. Since we got home from the

hospital,

> only 1 night of sleeping through, of course it would be on the one

night my

> husband was home to help me out (he works nights!). She has been

waking up

> and staying up for two to three hours, usually right in the middle

of the

> baby's sleep time. I am exhausted. Last night she was up until 3

o'clock

> in the morning. She has never done that!! She usually falls asleep

fine,

> then wakes up and stays up. Do you guys think that this is a

reaction to

> the baby? The only other thing that I've done is add Kirkman's

acidophilus

> plus. Ebony got another yeast infection right after we got home

and I got a

> 3 pill prescription for Diflucan. At the same time I decided to go

ahead

> and start the acidophilus, since I thought the Diflucan would give

it a jump

> start.

>

> Anyone with some words of wisdom...please feel free to respond. I

worry

> that I am loosing patience more quickly with my daughter and I

don't know if

> it's the lack of sleep or excess hormones. I am at my wit's end.

>

> Thanks for the help!!

>

> Tamara, mom to Ebony-3 yrs old, autistic

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com