The Reiki Cafe 

Hello everyone,

I posted a few days ago asking for a healing but I'm wondering about what I asked for. Part of it is for me because I wondered about post-partum anxiety but I think mostly now all my 'complaints' are due to sleep deprivation. The next part was requesting some Reiki for my newborn son as his days & nights are mixed up.

I guess what I'm asking for in this post is some wisdom from everyone - I'm wondering if I am interfering by requesting this for my baby and then not get any results because I am trying to manipulate with expectations? Would he work it out on his own in the next few weeks if I left it alone? I guess I am just worried that this will backfire on me because I'm so desperate for some sort of normal. He sleeps through the day but nights give me 2 1/2 hours if I'm lucky. Usually less and I don't know how to switch him back.

I'm spending a lot of time searching for answers through the internet & friends, that I may never find. Or should I just abandon all of this and start trusting that Reiki will find it's way.

I hope this makes some sense?! I get insomnia between 2-6am now so it's early as I write this. Thank you for any thoughts or comments.

Animallover28

Hello,

I think that reiki can only help. It can do no harm. Now coming from a mothers point of view. What I did when my oldest son was like that was, do everything you can to keep him awake during the day. If you see him getting sleepy or know that he is cranky because he is tired and there isnt anything wrong with him, then play with him try distracting him. It was a hellish couple of days but it only took two days to switch him. And from the sounds of it you already have had a few hellish days so what is 2 or 3 more?
I hope that helps!!!!!!!!!!

Love and light, harmony

Hello Harmony,

thanks for your reply - what I'm wondering is how many weeks old was your son when you did this? I appreciate your suggestions and will try harder. I've resorted to a bottle at bedtime to see if that might help and the rest of the time through the night, he wants to feed continually. This is where I'm finding it tough. Everyone says that we'll get through but each day is like 100 years for me right now!

Thanks again,
animallover28

Dear animallover28, What you also need, is a break. Is there family or close friends that could give you some "time away", so that you can relax & meditate? I, too, don't feel you can do any harm with Reiki, but I fear that your anxiety (which any new mother can't help) might be playing a part. Wish I could hold you a bit....or give you that time away. Please be gentle with yourself, for you are a good mama...doing your very best...and all of us (well, some) have been there, cookie.

Animallover,

Many newborns have different sleep patterns. If all is okay then all you can do is sleep on the baby's schedule. As I recall they usually settle in to our pattern of sleeping during the night, maybe around 4 months or so.

I think your first call should be to your pediatrician and to ask about your baby's wanting to feed all the time. They can direct you with this as some babies want to feed all the time and never seem content. Some sleep a lot inbetween feedings. Some are more up and at em. If on formula sometimes a change needs to be made. If allergies run in the family it is becoming more common for some babies to have acid reflux due to what they are feeding on. My nephews were like this and thusly feeling some discomfort demanded their bottles all the time.
Pacifiers also help inbetween feedings or during cranky times. Try having uplifting music on during the day. Place the baby under interesting musical mobiles etc. Go for a walk outside or at the mall if the weather is not warm enough. Other people, sights and sounds can be stimulating even to a baby.

You can try using your theraputic touch on the baby, massage etc. during the day. A bath or two during the day also keeps them up more. Are you doing your regular household chores during the day like you did when carrying the baby? They are used to the noises they heard while in utero. Vacuuming, rattling dishes, pots and pans etc.
During the day hours keep the house light with open drapes and even artificial light on.

Feel free to call your pediatrician, they are used to many, many, calls from new Moms.

Of course Reiki can help. In my experience they only need a very little bit of Reiki. If the baby begins to squirm more they have had enough.
It seems you are the one who needs more Reiki.

Be patient with yourself and the baby, ask for a day or two of reprieve from a family member or good friend.

Be sure to eat well, good nourishing and energetic food to keep your strength up. Fruits, veggies and some good protein.

Remember, this too shall pass. The baby is finding his/her way in this new enviroment.

Go with the flow and good luck.

All blessings, Donna

Hi,

Okay well I'm hazarding a guess that you are breast feeding your little one. If so then they do tend to sleep less between feeds than bottle fed babies. Also because your little one is sleeping so much during the day he needs to top up his food during the night. If at all possible what you need to try and do is get him to feed more during the day from you(not easy I know). If this doesn't work then try waking him half an hour earlier each day so that his little body clock readjusts gradually. If you can possibly sleep when he does then do; catnaps during the day can work wonders! Also when you feed him at night I would keep the lights as low as possible and keep interaction to a minimum so that he begins to recognise that there is a difference between night and day. Baby massage is also an excellent way of relaxing your baby after their night time bath and this would be a great time to incorporate Reiki too :)

Take heart the newborn stage and the insane tiredness that you are feeling doesn't last forever :)

Gentle Blessings
Helen

animallover,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- how do you imagine you might be able to "interfere" with Reiki sent to your son??

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

Hello everyone,

Well it is very early and I'm up again. Now I will have insomnia but I wanted to write and tell you that I am listening to your suggestions and have tried a lot of them already. I'm not being consistant enough probably because I am not at all centered at this time. I have a lot of trouble sleeping through the day. And I have tons of energy to burn it seems.

I appreciate all your suggestions - Reiki and/or wisdom. I think I'm expecting big things of this little fellow too soon. I will slow down.

In response to Firekeeper's question. I understand what you mean. I think after I sent my request, I started wondering 'what if I am putting 'expectations' on the Reiki' and expecting it to solve my baby's sleep problems to help me sleep better. That is one of the first things they teach you in Level 1 Reiki - miracles can happen but don't put limits on it and/or expectations as to what may happen in a treatment/sending etc. And so this is where I started wondering what am I doing!?!

I am expecting lots of answers where there may be none. I know I need to channel my energy in a different direction and REST and trust more. It's just easier said than done! :-)

Thank you to all for your support and help at this time. It is so appreciated.
animallover28

animallover,

/*\ Namaste :-}}

- there was nothing about miracles in any of the Reiki training I went thru

- be that (and your Reiki 1) as they may, expectations reflect personal energy

- Reiki is about getting ULE to those requesting and not personal energy

- there are other practices where personal energy becomes important

- hope this helps

Reiki All Around,

All Blessings,

Firekeeper

As a relatively new mom (my son is now 2 years old) I can tell you that the newborn stage and the mixed up day/night schedule does not last forever. ;-) Everyone here has offered excellent advice. :-)

In utero, a fetus is gently rocked to sleep during the day while you go about your regular day time activities and is up moreso during the night while you sleep due to the lack of motion from you. This is why a newborn's schedule seems backward to us--they're used to sleeping during the day and being awake at night.

His little internal day/night clock needs to be reset and this can be accomplished through increasing his daily activity and light exposure during the day and making sure things are quiet and there's minimal light exposure at night. It's something that can be force by keeping him awake more during the day or you can let it happen naturally (which is what I did with my son)--and have no fear, it WILL eventually happen! ;-)

Just try to sleep more while the baby is sleeping, and the suggestion of having a family member give you a break every once in a while is an excellent and necessary one.

One of the hardest parts, for me, with being a new mom is the newborn stage. But it will pass and things do get better. ;-)

Blessings to you and the new addition!

Mandy

Such good & wonderful words, Donna. Thank you for coming to her rescue....and doing so with such heart!

Having had 3 children and a few times days and nights messes up. I would like to suggest gentle relaxing music. Maybe some of your meditation music or rain, waterfalls, water cd. Something relaxing. I played mozart and some similar music that were given to me when the kids were babies. Try it at night before bedtime. If it works play it again and again. To relax you and the babe and then try reiki. You might be suprised to find you both sleeping better. Good-luck! It will pass!

Thank you all for your help and suggestions. I have needed the reassurance that I will be okay and seem to need it immediately! It is good to know that it won't last forever but hard not to wish that I could fastforward the next 3 months :-) I think this is a bit of post-partum anxiety, not just sleep deprivation anymore. I am not centered enough to use any of the tools (energy work) I know at the moment and I'm sure that the baby picks up on this too.

animallover28

Thank you - I think I may have actually dozed a bit during part of my insomnia hours this morning. Still up early but not nearly as soon.

I am very grateful for your kind words and help. I will check out the link you suggested.
animallover28