Co-sleeping question

[User12345667]

I have a 6 day old baby who will only sleep in my arms, after only having about four hours sleep in four days I rang my midwife in despair and she came out and showed me how to breast feed lying down and how to make the bed safe to fall asleep in this position. It works a treat and I actually slept for the first time, baby re-latched himself two hours after the first feed which woke me up but both fell back asleep so I pretty much got 6 hours uninterrupted sleep, which is enough to actually survive.

My hopes are now sky high that this will continue, but I've just remembered all the sids risk stuff says about baby always going to sleep flat on their back. For this breast feeding/co-sleeping position I've been shown baby sleeps on his side. Is this really dangerous? I now feel too scared to do it, but it's my only chance of getting some sleep. I can always roll him onto his back if I don't fall asleep before he finishes feeding, but that won't be every time.

Help please!!

With DS we had a full sized cot that we attached to the bed with cable ties rather than a next2me type thing which are a bit smaller. This worked out well as if he was asleep in then bed I could then sleep in the cot

That's great you have a supportive midwife.

Mine was the same, would only sleep on my chest. In hospital the nurses did say anything, they'd try and take her from me but she'd wake up screaming and not settle in bassinet. So they put her back on me again.
Got home, day 1 we get an unexpected midwife visit and I'm sleeping with DD, she scolded me for co-sleeping and told me never to do it again. 'it's very concerning.'
Never saw a midwife again until 8 weeks PP where I chased them to get discharged.

DD got used to sleeping in her cot, but around 12 weeks I had to co-sleep with her again. She wouldn't settle.

Again, I'm pleased you have a knowledgeable midwife who is actually happy to help you. Some women like myself are left with absolutely zero support, which I think is more harmful than intelligent co-sleeping..

home bargains sell bed wetting pads they are disposable absorbent sheets that way i dont ruin the mattress with my leaky boobs.

My eldest is 12 now and my youngest 1 of 4 kids, I Co slept with all my kids and breast fed successfully. I've always been aware of SIDS and we kept our bedding to a sheet that we could tuck in and make sure it wasnt lose, we slept a bit lower down than baby kept our pillow to one and had the pillow just enough to have you head comfortable and the excess would hand over the end of the bed. I think if you're conscious of how you plan to Co sleep it makes those sleepless nights and late night feeds a breeze. Studies have also shown that sleeping next you, hearing your heart beat reminds baby to breath. If you're a deep sleeper, drink alcohol or take any form of drugs then Co sleeping is definately not ideal. Just make sure your bed is safe, no loose bedding anything the baby can grab at and get stuck in or slip through or in between. Best if luck and congratulations.

I coslept with my children. I found it saved my sanity... The baby settles much quicker. Plus it just felt natural to have my tiny baby next to me.

I have a next to me crib, I tend to “side boob” as my DH calls it until DS falls asleep and then transfer him to his cot. I liken the next to me to a pizza oven, I slide him back into bed when he stirs for his next feed.

I prefer not to Co-sleep but often the other option is for neither of us to sleep at all!

I co slept all 4 of mine with them latching on and off and got decent sleep and lots of wet patches.
As others have said, glad she helped you to achieve it.

Co sleeping saved my sanity! My HV suggested it and explained about safer sleeping guidelines. I used to trap the bottom of the duvet under the legs of the bed so I couldn’t physically pull it up above my waist and then sleep wearing a vest, t-shirt and cardigan so I could BF without the rest of me getting too cold (freezing cottage!). Just make sure all pillows, duvets and blankets are nowhere near the baby. Mothercare walk in sleepers were great for my baby in the colder months. Also you’re not really meant to co sleep if you have a memory foam mattress, I moved into our spare room to make a safer space for the baby.

Yes a waterproof mattress cover for your bed is worth buying, it doesn't stop the wet patch, but it will at least protect the mattress from all manner of leaks.

Lie on towels, but rest assured the leaking reduces a lot quite quickly. I coslept like this with both of mine

I had a “happy upchucker” (he still vomits at the drop of a hat!) so waterproof mattress cover and towels and were a must

We had something similar during first few days - DD would only sleep on one of us. It passed relatively quickly though (within a couple weeks) and then she would sleep on her own in a side car cot for at least a chunk of the night. My DH and I traded off chunks of the night holding her too which meant that both of us at least got 3-4 hour chunks uninterrupted.

They really do change all the time though, keep trying different things and to put baby to sleep on their own. It feels like forever while it's happening but it really does pass quickly. DD went from needing to be held all the time to sleep to sleeping through the night within about 10 weeks.

Just sending solidarity from another co-sleeping pair.

DH is safely out of the way in the spare room, DD is sleeping next to me (finally - she woke up at 4am and was pawing and grinning at me until I fed her back to sleep. Twice. ). Our next2me is another 'shelfcomesafetybarrier' but seeing as she has to be touching me to sleep she never gets close to the edge. Hope you're getting some rest OP, those first few weeks are knackering!