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AIBU?

Im a terrible mother

42 replies

Wishfulmakeupping · 02/03/2013 06:17

Dd is 4 weeks old tonight I set my alarm to feed her at 4am we actually woke up at 5.50 :(
I set an alarm as baby crying isn't always waking me up (I exhusted), my oh was going to be helping out last night so I could rest - he would do Nappies and burping I would only need to nurse but he slept through alarm
Too. Im sat here crying whist feeding her- she must have been crying with hunger for ages poor little thing and we slept through it. I'm so angry with myself and my oh we're fucking shit

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CalpolInMyEar · 02/03/2013 08:29

Another vote for really doubting you slept through two hours of crying. I remember the first time my DS slept through a feed I woke up convinced something must be wrong and woke him up myself trying to check he was ok!

I do remember the early days paranoia though so have a and take today easy.

Emilythornesbff · 02/03/2013 08:29

Besides, it was her cry you responded to rather than the alarm. That's the way it should be. You are obviously in tune with your baby.

Lueji · 02/03/2013 08:33

There's no way you slept through her crying. :)
The alarm yes, but not her crying.

Forget the alarms. Babies should not be woken up to be fed.
They wake up and wake you up when they are hungry. And if they sleep longer, all the better for you.

lollystix · 02/03/2013 08:44

Please don't beat yourself up. I gave up setting alarms and just let them wake me with their crying - which she did. She is fed now and fine. She will not hold this against you. You're doing fine - honestly! Please don't waste any more time worrying.

Smudging · 02/03/2013 08:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuntyCollocks · 02/03/2013 09:23

Agree with pp's - if she's right next to you there is no hope in hell you slept through her crying. Any time mine so much as whimpers it's like a gun firing for me!

Why are you waking her? Feed on demand - therein lies the path to a little extra sleep.

Buzzardbird · 02/03/2013 09:31

Yes, ditch the alarm. Babies are alarms. No need to wake them until they are ready (unless for meds obv)

Wishfulmakeupping · 02/03/2013 09:50

Thanks all- reason for alarm was because I've read somewhat for the first couple of months EBF babies need to nurse at least every 4 hours so she actually went nearly 6 hours.
I know what everyone is saying about hearing her cry but my oh actually woke me up so if he hadn't of been there I'm not sure if I would have slept longer. I'm thinking that because I knew oh was helping out last night I fully relaxed and switched off/ either way I need to get some sleep so will try and catch up today. Thanks for trying to reassurance me

OP posts:

nilbyname · 02/03/2013 10:10

I do not know where you have read such dross, but EBF babies should be fed on demand. They cry/demand, you feed.

I am glad that you were able to switch off and get some good, that is really healthy for you and really great your babay is going for longer stretches.

Lots of wet/poopy nappies, weight gain, and a good look about your baby, then you have nothing to worry about. Enjoy these early weeks they go so fast.

Catchingmockingbirds · 02/03/2013 10:15

If she was next to your head she wouldn't have screamed for 2 hours as you'd have woken up. The fact that you think you're a terrible mother because you slept through your alarm for feeding shows that you care and are a good mum.

TeeBee · 02/03/2013 10:24

You sound like a lovely, caring mum to me. I used to do the four hour thing, it really stressed my baby out. I also read Gina Ford and felt I needed to try that. That (ahem) didn't suit my child. I realised that I was doing four hours from the start of the previous feed, not the end of it. Anyway, I switched to just feeding when he wanted it and it got much better. If your baby is happy to sleep longer than four hours at night, that is fab because he/she is ready to go longer and is eeking out the feeds. This is normal and great news for you on the sleeping front. Agree, if LO is sleeping right next to you that you would have been woken with a full on cry. If he was whimpering and you didn't lift him, also a good thing because he may well just be in a light period of sleep and probably put himself back to sleep. Again, all good. You are doing great.

BubblegumPie · 02/03/2013 10:34

I've read somewhat for the first couple of months EBF babies need to nurse at least every 4 hours so she actually went nearly 6 hours.

I bet she feeds more frequently through the day to make up for it! It all balances out, as long as she seems content and alert (when awake) and is producing wet nappies you're doing fine.

I agree with others, ditch the alarm and try to relax

TroublesomeEx · 02/03/2013 10:41

I've read somewhat for the first couple of months EBF babies need to nurse at least every 4 hours

Step away from the baby books!!!!

EBF babies need feeding on demand. That means sometimes they're hungrier than others. Feeding an EBF baby on some sort of timer is daft and you'll only stress yourself out when she wants to lie on the sofa with you feeding non-stop, and then again when she doesn't seem to want it at the allotted time.

Feed her when she cries and roots, let her sleep the rest of the time, don't wake her for a feed, sleep when she does, don't bother with the washing up.

Congratulations and enjoy her. Seriously, it's fine.

Fakebook · 02/03/2013 10:42

No, ebf babies are normally fed on demand. In special cases (like an underweight newborn) it is advised to breastfeed every four hours even if baby is asleep. I was told to do this with my DS. You should know when she's crying with hunger because she'll root for your breast. I'd also get rid of the alarm.

Flobbadobs · 02/03/2013 10:44

You're already attuned to your baby if the alarm isn't waking you up but the baby is!
Unbelievable as it might be some babies can sleep 5 or 6 hours straight before waking for a feed, make the most of this, it may not last! (I'm looking at you DD2)
And I agree with folkgirl keep away from the baby books, no good will come of them!

Fairylea · 02/03/2013 11:08

Just wanted to add - ALL babies should be fed on demand, not just ebf babies. Formula fed babies should also be fed on demand... I'm convinced mine slept through earlier than most partly due to me feeding them whenever they wanted even if it was only two hours later etc.

OxfordBags · 02/03/2013 11:59

EBF means feeding on demand. So if she slept for 6 hrs, it means she didn't need it for 6 hrs. Another night, she might want feeding every hour, on the hour. Please don't beat yourself up, I can assure that you didn't sleep through her crying, not with her right next to you.

It's so hard in those early days, but try to stop worrying about etting every minute detail as perfect as the books say, because that way madness lies, AND you'll be so busy worrying about tiny things and reading stuff, questioning everything, feeling a failure, that you'll actually have less time to dote on DD and she'll have a sad and stressed Mummy.

If you're worrying about this level of detail, then trust me, you are not a bad mother :)

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