What have I seen on MN about sleep / dream breastfeeding???

[THOMCATsForLifeNotJustForXmas]

I'm not sure I know what I'm asking!! I just remember seeing a thread, or 2 about breastfeeding their babies while they slept or something, and am now interested to know what they were talking about.

Anyone know what I'm talking about ??!!

yes... me me! i know i know!

you put baby down to bed... and then later on, probably just before you go to bed you go in, pick baby up and feed it. if your baby is in a nice deep sleep they will probably only stir a little bit and drop off again whilst feeding.

I slept with ds and breastfed him whenever he woke in the night from when he was born, and found that sometimes I would feed him without properly waking up myself. Sometimes I would just roll over and cuddle him, sometimes I would drift back to sleep when he was feeding. I know all this because dp watched and told me!

It really is a great way to get lots of sleep and rest when they are tiny, and build up your milk supply through frequent night feeds. Has obvious beneficial effects on bonding etc as well. However can be harder later when they are bigger, I find I cannot sleep through a feed now and so get a more disturbed night, although he wakes up less frequently now and also can be negotiated with

Does this help? Was there something specific you were thinking about?

Ah, you mean feeding the baby while the baby was asleep, to get a longer stretch before they wake you up again?

Sorry, didn't get what you meant

Yes, that's it. I did it with ds and it worked a treat.

Oh okay, cool, thanks, I'm kinda doing that already then tbh. I try not to fall asleep too deeply as I don't want to suffocate her with my boob but have drifted and semi dozed and as my boobs wake me or I wake naturally anyway I often just turn her into me as she sleeps and stroke my nipple against her lips so she opens her mouth to feed while she sleeps and she never opens her eyes.

One question about doing this though, does it matter that they don't get winded for this feed?

Not at all - some cultures never wind their babies. It'll come out the other end eventually And if she's uncomfy, she'll let you know.

I first saw it named as a dream feed by Tracey Hogg, The Baby Whisperer, where she has dubbed it as a deliberate top-up feed before mum goes to bed with the aim of the baby having a longer stretch at night. Usually the baby is fairly sleepy so this feed can be done with minimal fuss.

Thomcat you seem to be describing that your dd2 is in bed with you feeding on and off? Agree with hunker that I don't think that winding is a problem, but you do still need to watch risk of suffication for tinies. Certainly I remember doing this with ds2 quite a bit - a lovely time.

They are feeding in their sleep so they don't tend to swallow much air. It's ok not to wind them.