I won't nurse a baby during the middle of the night ever again....(tear...)

Unless we decide to have a third or God decides that for us.  But as for Max, he has officially been cut off from night time nursing.  And that makes me a bit sad.  Those middle of the night feedings hold some of the most tender, sweet motherly moments, at least during their first months of life.  It's so serene to gently cuddle and rock your baby as they find their ultimate comfort in you, while it feels that the whole world is quiet and sleeping. 

We had our 1 1/2 hour phone consultation today with Mrs. Nancy Birkenmeier.  I feel so hopeful and optimistic that this plan is going to work.  In the past 21 years, she has consulted with over 5,000 families in person and over 1,000 families over the phone.  I told her that she has literally changed thousands of lives. I don't think it's dramatic to say that she has saved more than a few marriages along the way. What a legacy!

Even after the sleep troubles she has seen, she was shocked by Max's sleep habits. She said that he "completely lacks any amount of quality sleep" and that "his sleep habits are worse than a newborn's".  After reviewing his sleep logs, she also advised that we shouldn't be driving after the few hours of sleep we have had night after night after night.  Wish that was an excuse to work from home that my boss would buy. 

Nancy said that once babies are 5 months old and at least 12-13 pounds, with no other health issues, they absolutely do not need to eat at night.  When they do nurse at night, it's more about the comfort it holds than the calories. 

She put us on a very strict and structured 3 step plan that will last 2-3 weeks.  Josh is going to shoulder the majority of the heavy lifting because if I am in the room with Max, he will be extra mad that I'm not nursing him.  Tonight is night one.  I left the house two hours before bedtime so the aroma of my milk escaped the house and Max was thoroughly convinced that I had vacated the building.  Josh was super dad.  He fed Max a bottle, put Claire to sleep, and then went with Max to his room, where they laid together on a mattress on the floor.  Max was unswaddled (!!) but had a pacifier.  Josh could talk to him intermittently, cuddle, and randomly pat his back or tummy, but not in a continuous or rhythmic motion.  Nancy anticipated Max would cry, fuss, or scream for 45-70 minutes.  By the second night the time should be cut in half, and by the third night we should see drastic improvement. Josh will stay with him on the mattress all night.  Max cannot get up for the day until at least 5:55.  If he wakes up at 5:50, Josh must try to help him (with the minimal assistance I mentioned above) get back to sleep for at least 30 minutes. There's a lot more to it than that, after all it did take 90 minutes for her to relay all of the instructions, but I don't have the energy or desire to delve into more details. 

While Josh was enduring the first night of sleep training, I was getting a massage.  Yep, it felt wrong. But I was praying for Josh and Max during most of the massage, so hopefully that helps make up for it.  And I only did it because my right shoulder is the worst it has been since I first got the injury in 2002.  This morning I could hardly get dressed, let alone take care of my kids all day, so I had to have something done about that. 

Three weeks from now Nancy thinks there's a very good chance Max is sleeping through the night, or getting up just once or twice to have his pacifier reinserted.  AND that we will be able to simply lay him down in his crib for naps and bedtime awake. Wow.  That will be a cause for celebration!