Guest guest Posted February 1, 2009 Report Share Posted February 1, 2009 Do any of you have special interest in babies' sleep issues under the age of one year? I get calls daily from clients whose babies reach the age of 3-4 months and just won't sleep for more than 20 minutes to 2 hours day or night. Some may inherit sleep issues from ancestors, I know. I discuss bedtime routines, CST, allergies, Hylands calms Forte, getting lots of daytime stimulation so baby isn't bored, co-sleeping and reassuring parents it's not their fault. But what would be the ayurvedic approach? Vicky York, CPD, IBCLC Postpartum Care Services Portland, OR www.vickyyorkpostpartumdoula.com references: www.ikarma.com/user/vmyork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Maybe all us big babies are asleep too. Or tossing and turning over many other things, such times they are. Yes Vicky, it is a common problem we see too. Interestingly, it seems more common these days since so many mothers are reading and following to some extremes their interpretation of attachment parenting co sleeping and especially, the breastfeeding on demand. That should get a few on defenses. Co sleeping for most families I see is wonderful, unless there are 4-5 in the bed and maybe a newborn plus toddler nursing and so on, and Mom is not getting enough sleep. Babies nursing all thru the night sometimes 2 on different schedules and not habituated to taking full feedings, they keep getting hungry. Or not habituated to time between feedings to digest, they have accumulated ama in the gut or systemic, agni not working right and feeling under nourished, they keep eating too often that way too. There is too much of this contributing to this problem, day and night. I've seen it very easy to turn around with sufficient understanding and support to break the cycle, and Ayurvedic education around basics of appetite-digestion factors, and suitable vata (yes, and often pitta) pacifying foods for Mom and as result, Baby. > Do any of you have special interest in babies' sleep issues under the age of one year? I get calls daily from clients whose babies reach the age of 3-4 months and just won't sleep for more than 20 minutes to 2 hours day or night. Some may inherit sleep issues from ancestors, I know. I don't by that the inherited genetic thing is as real as thought, around the fact that families tend to have some common habits that contribute to common problems, even to point of getting into the DNA. Today a friend spend some time with me around a long list of problems, and on leaving remarked how amazed and scary it is that 5 of 8 family members had dealt with cancer so far. What bad luck, she was thinking, to have such genetics. Yet her family lifestyle had been such habits conducive to cancer. >I discuss bedtime routines, CST, allergies, Hylands calms Forte, getting lots of daytime stimulation so baby isn't bored, co-sleeping and reassuring parents it's not their fault. But what would be the ayurvedic approach? All these things may be helpful, and babies at least in short term may respond well to homeopathics. DAytime stim including using a sling, not tiptoing or whispering...infant massage with warm oil has made a huge difference for most clients with this problem also. What is CST? Often Mom's immune system and hormones need support at same time. So how mom and baby eat are often as or more important than what. Even with breastmilk, as we have talked before here, there are different qualities that come through depending upon both mom's food/eating habits, and on habits of overfeeding babies, or too much snacking, constipation issues all to be looked at. I do everything I can to take blame off the personal psychology, more on cultural ignorances and honor them for doing their best and such big devotion they obviously manifest for their baby. At same time to offer understanding about perhaps less obvious laws of nature our pioneer based culture has not learned to work with yet, although ancient Ayurveda can explain in common sense terms. (It just takes more words to explain without the Ayurvedic lingo - it is not necessary). Allergies....their root again in accumulated incomplete products of digestion, poor food combining, all these type things that Ayurveda understands well - even cross generational can generally be seen related and changeable by digestive issues not usually discussed in western or western alternative medicine. This seems to be a problem of epidemic proportions with clients not familiar with Ayurvedic principles and not cultivating at least 2 hour gaps between nursings most of the time. Students were amazed that every client we attended during practicum when I taught in Florida had versions of the same problem including gas, reflux, poor sleep habits, constipation, irregular appetite, fussiness of greater to lessor degree. And everyone got a good reset and understanding with the wise woman Ayurvedic consultation students observed after Mom and Baby had the resetting experiences. With a little help helping Baby to find comfort for the 2 hour gap, and to sleep at least part of it, during the hour we did our practice home spa abhyangas (hot oil massage) on the mother, each was amazed Baby was ok without breastfeeding during that time, the mothers all enjoyed a good nap on the masasge table. Baby took full two hour gap, then nursed happily a full feeding and slept longer stretches. Some babies more difficult to keep occupied/content than others, still the results so much worth it. All need more rest in this situation, obviously. With some, use of agni enhancing foods and/or warming essential oils topically on stomach such as ginger have been able to be used for effective help. They all had extra sucking needs and several of the moms discovered their babies WOULD take a little finger to suck instead of the nipple, to help sooth and coordinate the brain hemispheres without compromising the digestive factors. Thanks much to help from AyurDoula intern grandma Saroj who attended to some of those babies in comfort without worry. Sometimes Ayurveda sounds like a broken record, doesn't it Vicky? Blessings, Ysha > > Vicky York, CPD, IBCLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Ysha, very well put about babies and sleep issues. Sleep deprived mothers everywhere are trying to live up to the widely accepted beliefs of Attachment Parenting. Without customizing it to fit their needs they are becoming exhausted trying to nurse round the clock, go to work, pump and keep up with appointments and also their peers approval. Schedules have become a dirty word. The pendulum has to swing both directions too wide before coming to rest in the middle, as always. Vicky York, CPD, IBCLC Postpartum Care Services Portland, OR www.vickyyorkpostpartumdoula.com references: www.ikarma.com/user/vmyork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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