What gets/got you through newborn nights?

[Kate3150]

I’m over 4 weeks in, I find the nights anxiety inducing, not knowing how they will go, how much sleep I’ll get.
I’m breastfeeding so do all the nights.
What helped you?
Virtual hugs X

Oh this thread is bringing it all back!
it’s so tough OP but it doesn’t last forever.
mine was:
huge bars of Cadbury’s fruit and nut.
DH taking baby for a walk in the sling early evening so I could have a bath and get into fresh PJs.
really easy books to read on my kindle.
when you feel anxious about the nights, visualise all the other new mums awake all over the world doing the same as you 💖

Thank you for all your lovely messages.
Baby is changing all the time, we’ve done some nights where I feed and then go into another room to sleep so DH can settle etc but he’s had a bit of a stuffy nose (we’ve all got colds) so baby has been feeding loads.
I do try and a sleep in the day when I can x

Hang in there OP! It’s tough but you sound like you’re doing great. Have you tried snuffle baby? It’s a baby Vicks, you rub a bit in your boob. Calpol vapour plugs are great too but don’t think you can use them until 2/3 months. Good luck!

I just got on with it. I knew I didn’t have any choice. I was breastfeeding, so all on me. I lived in a sleep deprived state.

@Braindraining with all due respect, how is that helpful to the OP? Would that have been helpful if someone had said that to you when you were in the thick of it?
of course we all get through it, but at the time it can feel endless and you can feel emotionally vulnerable.

It's been a few years for me but the best advice is to appreciate a rest is almost as good as a sleep. If you are half snoozing during a feed for 2 or 3 half hour periods during the day, this counts for a lot. Don't get hung up on counting hours sleep, think of all the times during the days you are sitting or stationary and try to enjoy these as rest periods. Close your eyes often even while sitting upright. It helps.

Rountine and I would go to bed at the same time at night as baby. So....

7pm - feed, nappy change, put down...no eye contact, dim lit room etc. Me straight into bed at 7.30pm.

4 hours later 11.30pm... repeat ^

Back to bed would now be midnight

4am .... but this feed gradually went to around 5am.

Then next feed would be around 8/9am so I would get up.

Albeit broken sleep, I was getting a good 10 hours sleep.

Early nights dont last forever...but did me the world of good.

Red bull and an addictive tv series I would look forward to watching if baby woke through the night

Each baby is different I think you’ve just got to fit in with what they want for the first few weeks and box sets, coffee and keeping the room
dark and quiet at night helps. Also not being precious about keeping the house quiet during daytime naps.

I remember sitting in my dressing gown all day sometimes watching Netflix and enjoying Abby cuddles.

*baby cuddles 😆

@Kate3150 how you doing OP, made any changes?