For two months after Henry was born, I suffered with ‘phantom baby syndrome.’ This involves being ripped from sleep in a panic, gasping into a sitting position, and searching for my baby in my bed (because surely I had pulled him into bed with me while sleeping). He was always snoozing peacefully in his bassinet. The syndrome even followed me on an overnight business trip – I was so excited for hotel sleep but woke up constantly checking on the imaginary baby next to me. Crazy how biology works, huh? Guess my body wanted me to make sure Henry was super safe.
Last night, I slept in a different room, sans baby monitor (Kristien had it covered), and I didn’t wake up once to check on my phantom baby. That means that I slept an entire night for the first time in four months and two weeks. DO YOU KNOW HOW AMAZING THAT FEELS?
Worthy of a heel click!
I have so much energy right now. I could run a marathon! Do a triathlon! Or… uhh… plan a Halloween party. Probably should do that. 
Breakfast.
Pumpkin waffles with banana, almonds, coconut.
For your viewing pleasure… heel click fail montage.
Post Follow-Ups
Our sexy Halloween costume discussion got picked up by a local Austin TV station!
Also, really lovin’ the feedback on DadHTP’s poll watching post. It’s fun to hear how other countries run their elections, so if you’re international, please weigh in!
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the way Henry is staring at you! That’s hilarious!
My son is a week older than Henry and I still haven’t slept a full night. I’m sure it feels amazing! I totally wake up thinking I fell asleep feeding and my baby is in the bed – too funny! Good luck with planning and enjoy that rested feeling:)
Henry’s face in your heel-clicking photo is priceless!! So sweet
Oh my goodness, I’m so relieved to hear that someone else has phantom baby syndrome too! I’ve had it on and of for the 3 months since my twins were born and have felt totally crazy. Lately it seems that I (usually) only get it when I’m super sleep deprived…or have chocolate before bed. So glad you got a good nights sleep!
Oooh it looks like they shot that clip in Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds! BEST costume store ever. It was so packed last weekend, I panicked and had to leave.
How do you sleep through the night without needing to pump/waking up in pain? My baby slept for 8 hours the other night- yay!- and probably would have slept longer but I woke her just enough to feed her because I was ready I explode.
Okay, this may sound gross, but I think I just have large capacity boobs. I mean, after 8 hours without pumping, yeah, they were firm and knotty but not insanely painful a la engorgement. I pumped off 10 combined ounces when I woke up. I usually pump once in the night because I am afraid of mastitis but sometimes I can get away with it.
Yeah, the thought of going 8 hours without nursing sounds SO painful! I know two friends who got their husbands to cover a full night shift so early on (before 6 months) and they both ended up with mastitis (one has been on serious antibiotics for a few months now, has constant plugged ducts, etc.) so personally I wouldn’t even risk it!
It’s been about a year since I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep, but to be honest, your body just adjusts to it and I never really feel sleep deprived anymore. I was so worried about feeling awful with the sleep deprivation before I had my baby, but, really, a healthy person can adjust and do well with moderate sleep deprivation for a long while. Of all of my mom friends, only one has a baby that sleep through the night at this point, and we are all amazed how much energy we have to work full time and take care of our babies and families – it’s just another one of the amazing things your body can do once you’re a mother!
Claire I agree if I had to go that long when my kids were that age I would of been in so much pain.
It is amazing how little sleep you really need once you have a baby. I really think they need to tell more pregnant moms not to expect a full nights sleep. Unless you have a nanny.
Yeah – not only tell new moms how little sleep they will get, but how your body changes once your a mom and you just don’t NEED as much sleep. I don’t know what happens or what it is, but I’ve averaged 5-7 hours of broken sleep a night for almost a year and I never feel any more tired or worn out than I did pre-baby (when I would get at least 8+ a night!). And I thought I would be so miserable since I was someone that really needed a good night’s sleep pre-baby; I’ve completely changed now. The human body really is an amazing thing.
So true! I went back to work this week and I didn’t know how I was going to make it and I did just fine. I sleep from 9-2 and wake up ready to rock. I usually get another hour in before work.
The look of pure joy on Henry’s face in the heel click photo is beyond amazing.
Wow, that’s cool that the discussion was picked up — but I don’t see it in the article? Is the website mentioned in the video? Or do you just mean that they happen to be addressing the same issue?
They show a screen shot of the blog in the video
Love those pics and Henry’s pure enjoyment in the background! Yay for a full night of uninterrupted sleep
Happy Friday!
It’s irritating for women of all ages to find only “non-sexy” costumes (we don’t all want ‘em!) so it’s annoying that that wasn’t addressed…but a “sexy” french maid costume for a young teenager? That’s horrifying! Yikes. I know the answer seemed to be that parents should try to rein in their kids, but kids can wear anything they want, they just change once they leave the house.
I’m glad you’re feeling so great today, sleep can do wonders! I can’t wait to see what you pull together for this halloween party!
Is THAT what it’s called?!?!?! I swear, I thought I was the only one going through this!! I actually BREASTFEED my phantom baby!! It’s crazy and my husband still to this day laughs at me for that! However, my husband does go through the same thing. He wakes up in a panic asking where the baby is. LOL
My husband totally caught me trying to breastfeed phantom babies in bed too! I was so embarassed…..
I love how Henry is looking up at you in the heel click photo. So cute!
YAYYYYYY! That is awesome for sleep!
Love the heel click & Henry’s face. Too cute.
How cool that the post got picked up?! You rock.
Love the fail montage! Congrats on a full night of sleep!
LOL. definitely having fun there
I did that when our dog was a puppy. I was terrified she’d be getting into something. I did that each time we brought home a new kitten too. I was scared the dog would get to the cat or the other kittens would gang up on it and slash its throat. I know, I’m ridiculous. I told my husband one of my fears is waking up and one of our cats will be dead. Either another cat slit its throat or a dog trampled it. So irrational! He told me cats don’t slit other cats’ throats. Ha. But yay, glad you got over it!
my son is a week younger than Henry….I haven’t experienced the bliss of a full nights sleep yet, but I’m glad you have now! woo hoo! there is hope!!
have fun planning your party!
I love the series of pictures! So fun. Awesome on the costume conversation being picked up!
Yaay for a full night of sleep!
For your party your should try to make some pumpkin whoopie pies. I make them every fall, they are super sweet but so good.
I LOVE that the sexy Halloween costume discussion was picked up by a tv station! Shows the influence a discussion can have. Way to start important discussions Caitlin!
I find it interesting how new moms in the blog world talk about nights of totally uninterrupted sleep. I find that interesting, as I have never been a person who normally sleeps through the night without waking up…if I don’t wake up at least once during the night it’s soo weird, and sometimes I wake up three or four times! I wake up to either to drink water, go to the bathroom, etc – and I don’t have problems with feeling fatigued throughout the day. I guess I’m used to it. So when you say you had interrupted sleep, do you mean you actually don’t wake up at ALL through the night?
yes! it is GLORIOUS. well, at least i don’t wake up and remember it.
AHAHHA! Love the heel clicks!!!!! So glad you got your sleep! I bet you feel great! I bet I’ll have that syndrome too when I have a baby…I’m always so paranoid, it gets in the way!
OMG my baby is 8 weeks and it happens to me a few times per week. Last night I woke up almost crying because I couldn’t find my baby. My husband came running in the room and she was in the living room with him.
Henry loves watching you heel click! ha, that’s great. Almost as great as a good night’s sleep.
Hahaha Henry looks so amused in the heel click photos. He probably thought you were jumping around just for his entertainment!
OMG…I had no idea there was an actual name for Phantom Baby Syndrome. I did that ALL the time with my first son. I still recall the panicky feeling. It was horrible and lasted for a few months. I just attributed it to being totally sleep deprived. I honestly never had that happen with my second son and we now have baby #3 on the way and I’m hoping to not go through that again.
Hooray for a good night’s sleep! PS. Be careful with the heel click. I sprained my ankle really badly once doing it and it makes me shudder just thinking about it!
Yay! I have the worst insomnia and always feel like throwing myself a party for one when I actually sleep.
I live in Belgium, where voting is required by law – basically get your butt to a polling station or pay a fine. But I think my favourite thing is that the polling stations are all manned by 30 year olds. That’s right, if an election falls in the year of your 30th birthday, you’re required to “volunteer”.
HAHAHA I had no idea that phantom baby syndrome was a common phenomenon! I also did that for months with my son and thought I was such a weirdo! I even woke up at one point and found myself trying to stick a pacifier in my husband’s mouth!
I love how Henry has the biggest smile on his face in your heel click photo. Talk about a happy baby.
Congrats!!!
I definitely feel like i can exist on less sleep, i just don’t want to