Newborn nights- so many feeds!

[ShushBaby]

Our little boy is 18 days old and is breastfed. Feeding has been going well, but the frequent night feeds are starting to wear me out, esp now that dp is back at work.

At the moment ds never goes more than three hours between feeds, more often two, and it can be as little as one hour. Typical evening/night at the mo would be 7pm, 9.30pm, midnight, 2am, 3.30am, 5.30-m, 8am- though tbh it's totally random. And he doesn't seem to have a day/night pattern yet- he basically sleeps and feeds 24/7 with a couple of wakeful periods.

He tends to feed one side only- even if he stays awake, he just doesn't tend to want the second side. Luckily he sleeps between feeds (though is increasingly windy to the point where I can't tell if he's awake through wind or hunger at times) and on the whole he is very chilled and doesn't grizzle in the evenings etc. So it's swings and roundabouts I guess...

Our dd (now 2.9) went for 3-4 hr stretches from very early on- though was far more difficult to settle and would vomit a lot, so not much more sleep was had! But a very hungry frequent feeder is a new thing for me.

I realise that probably the only 'solution' is to sit tight and wait for his tummy to get bigger and for the night feeds to space out. But I'm so tired, and wondered if anyone had any advice... Thanks.

[Iggly]

Co sleep.

Oh and check if he's got tongue tie or reflux.

[Spoonpaws]

Have you considered co-sleeping? Research has shown that breastfeeding mothers who co-sleep actually get more, better quality sleep because their sleep rhythms automatically adjust to those of their baby. Also you are less disrupted during night feeds as you don't have to leave the bed!

Aside from that it probably is a waiting game, as you say!

[KnockedUpMell]

Co sleep and feed lying down. I even change wet nappies in bed and only get out of bed for poo-ey nappies. For winding I just sit her on the bed facing me and with her head resting on my tummy. That means I can stay lying down for the whole process!

[AliceWChild]

Agree co sleep and feed in situ. Mine is nearly 6 weeks. I've done this from the start and it works really well. I don't really feel tired. He'll latch himself on sometimes.

[ISeeThreadPeople]

Nah they don't feed several times a night. They feed once. It just goes on all night with the odd break to poo and snooze.

Cosleeping saved my sanity. It does get better and fairly quickly. All this feeding is establishing an excellent supply. Get lots and lots and lots of help during the day, do as little as possible (not easy I know with a toddler too) and trust that it will get better.

[Elsqueak]

Those feeding times are almost identical to my ten day old. It was ok for the first week but now it's hard to get any sleep. Think she has pretty bad wind so have got some Infacol to see if it helps.
Have done a little co-sleeping to cope. It does help but I tend to wake up a lot. Am paranoid i will squash little one!
I know it will get better but it's hard to remember that at 3am whilst wincing at the latch!

[AliceWChild]

Not intending to say stuff you already know, but just in case... Sleeping position helps with co sleeping and fear of squashing, so duvet tucked between your knees to keep it at right level, their feet up to your curled knees so they can't drop down, arm out front so you can't roll forward. There's no way I could move to squash baby as my knees and arm are in the way. We sleep right close together.

[ShushBaby]

Thanks for thoughts. We do end up co-sleeping a bit as I just can't face sitting up to feed! But I am scared by SIDS warnings... And I feel like he just snacks and dozes, instead of feeding properly. Having said that, I do at least get some kip.

[mummysmellsofsick]

There is no added risk of SIDS with co sleeping. As long as you and dp don't smoke, drink, take drugs etc, and as long as you follow guidelines

[mummysmellsofsick]

Stats here from Durham University also safety guidelines it's a v good research project they've done in association with La Leche League

[mummysmellsofsick]

This is the link about bed sharing and breastfeeding. We've done it for 12 months and we love the cuddles.

[ShushBaby]

Thunderbolt I think/hope they are normal- just flipping knackering!