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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

BF in the middle of the night thread...how to stay awake!

999 replies

MummyPigandDaddyPig · 16/06/2012 01:59

( distributes tea biscuits and nursing pillows allround....)

How do yo stay awake at night feeding??? Am struGgling to stay awake and have a sore thumb from playing solitaire on the iphone...alternates with reading muMsnet, daily mail and facebook....

What else is easy reading websites, games apps that dont require any brainpower that I cana entertain myself with? Any tips how to stay awake? Am seriously tired here!

Have cosleept with my dc's from approx 8-10 weeks, which makes night feeds easier, but I have weeks to go until then and wont dare to bedshare yet as older dc's still turn up in qour bed at night....

OP posts:
Saritabean · 09/07/2012 07:59

jetstar I have found the same recently- 3-5am fuss fuss fuss fuss fuuuusssss!!!!! She seems hungry, but really really windy/retching and hard to feed. Today periwinkle's doing the same now at 7.30am aswell.... And yesterday's feeds were all fantastic and mostly without any fuss. It's sooooo hard to know what's going on with her- she's soooo fickle!

I hope jetbaby settled in the end and you had some more kip!

ImissMiniPop · 10/07/2012 01:26

MiniPop is home but we're having trouble settling him in. So far he's fed at 3pm, 6pm, 8pm, 10pm and midnight and he's not settling into his bassinet. He sleeps fine on me, but as soon as he goes down on his back all hell breaks loose.

He's really snuffly, and bunged up, but that's to be expected as our flat is way more dusty and horrible than the NeoNatal ward he's used too, and he's got really bad wind (and no poo for 3 days), so I think he feels more comfortable on his front, bunched up than on his back.

oh well, on the plus side earlier he breastfed for longer than he ever has :)

Gonna be a long night... (again!)

Hope all your babies are soundly sleeping...

Saritabean · 10/07/2012 02:23

Yey for minipop being home!! Periwinkle here was the same about sleeping- fine on her back in the unit, once home would not settle there and been sleeping on her tummy ever since!

Yey for managing a good BF too! Once he's able to BF well, make sure you keep up with one or two bottles too so you can have a rest sometimes... That's where we're now struggling with periwinkle... Confused

Feed 2... Knackered already! A mean friend put a picture of homemade pancakes on Facebook earlier and now that's what I'm craving :( !!!

TeaandHobnobs · 10/07/2012 04:15

Fantastic news Imissminipop - that he's home, and that he is taking to bf already Smile

It's quite normal for preemies to be rather snuffly. To get him to settle in the bassinet, You could try the trick of putting so etching that smells of you, like a top you've been wearing, into the bassinet? Or warming it with a hot water bottle? It could just be that he is adjusting to his new environment, so he may be easier to settle in a few days. The nurses told me they can find the silence unnerving, as they are used to the hustle and bustle of SCBU at night.

Awwww give minipop a big cuddle from me? I am so so pleased to hear he is home now Smile

ImissMiniPop · 10/07/2012 06:53

Thanks tea I wondered if it was cold and will try the hit water bottle trick tonight.

I have just managed to get him to go in it, after having to hold him until his 6am feed. But have had to wedge blankets all around him. He seems to like this....!

Behind on expressing so no milk got next feed yet! I hope the breast feeding picks up :o

How did everyone else get on last night?

Saritabean · 10/07/2012 09:09

Fuss fuss fuss again chez periwinkle... :(

She just doesn't seem to be able to go back on the boob a second time after coming off to burp, despite seeming really unsettled and hungry Confused. It especially seems worse for the left boob over the last 24 hrs, but a few days ago was completely the opposite.

As a result, feeds are taking forever, with long burp times and I'm getting less and less sleep, feeling more and more stressed and wondering if this is why she's fussing so much, although it was only Saturday night/ Sunday day that she fed like a dream and settled easily and I wasn't stressed at all...?!?

Hopefully it's just a phase and things'll settle again!

Good idea on the 'nest' front minipopsmum, the other thing I've found that helped is swaddling- with an extra large muslin so she didn't get too hot.

Hope it continues well, sounds like you're doing a great job x

ImissMiniPop · 10/07/2012 16:48

sarita Minipop is the same, he's a tricky customer to feed after a burp, he just falls asleep and then can't finish the job!

I have been swaddling as he likes that, he is a real fidget and his little jumps and fidget wake him up, so think it works for him.

The HV said what we'd done with the basinette/blankets was fine as our flat is quite chilly. Phew!

Just need to make him poo now :o

TeaandHobnobs · 11/07/2012 23:52

Evening all. DS has just gone down for the night. He hasn't had much sleep today, so I wonder how he will be overnight. He's still not very good at achieving the magic 3 hr interval!

Maybe see some of you in a few hours Smile

ImissMiniPop · 12/07/2012 04:15

morning tea I'm just doing an extended 3am feed as Minipop pooped halfway then managed to wee over everywhere, so needed a complete changed of clothes. He hates being changed as well , so screamed the flat down.. :(

He hadn;t pooed for days, and he's done two big ones in three hours now, was worried it is diarrhoea as it's quite runny, but the baby centre's description of curry sauce seems quite accurate, although minipop's tum is making some funny noises Confused and he was quite sicky yesterday...

Hope it's nothing...

TeaandHobnobs · 12/07/2012 04:32

Yep, we've just had a screeching nappy change and full change of clothes too!

Don't worry, DS has done exactly what you describe on a number of occasions! Is it very runny darkish yellowy orange or yellowy green poo? Minipop will probably have another break from poos for a bit now.

And the sickyness isn't unusual either - it always looks worse than it is Smile DS needs a change of clothes every night and strategic rearrangement of his bedsheets because of his vomiting!

You can always ask the neonatal nurses if you are concerned - are they coming to visit you now Minipop is home? But I expect it's nothing to be worried about Smile

DS is filling his tum again now - for some reason he woke 30 mins after I put him to bed for more, and then managed about 2.5hrs until the next one, so not too bad for him. Hope he can do another stretch like that now too!

Saritabean · 12/07/2012 04:46

Hi there, hope everyone's night is faring well....?!

Periwinkle had her 3rd lot of jabs yesterday so was pretty exhausted afterwards and slept most of the afternoon, making me worried about the night ahead... So far on feed2, managed 3 hrs of sleep in between woo hoo! She's seeming bigger to me too- length and perhaps a bit fuller on her legs/bum.... I hope i'm not imagining it....Weigh in again today! :)

Hope minipop and all the other babies are doing well...

Pint of water and 1 breakfast biscuit down, both boobs sort of fed from and think a fussy DD is starting to relax a bit! Maybe there hope for another 2-3 hrs sleep Wink

ImissMiniPop · 13/07/2012 03:15

Morning everyone. Hope you're all ok at little ones are sleeping soundly? I am having real trouble staying awake.... Help!

:o

Bibblebobbleparsnip · 13/07/2012 04:01

Hey Ladies, can I join in the general fun? I have BabyParsnip- 9 days old. She's my third, and last, baby. Other two are now 5 (DD1) & 2 (DS). She was a hefty 9lb 8 at birth, but we've been struggling a little on gaining that again. Had a hosp trip Wed where they thought she was yellow, but no treatment needed. Back again tomorrow/today for a repeat test, so desperately trying to fatten her up and pink-ify her!
Do I get to join in? Really wish Smartphones had been invented when I had the other 2- MN keeps me sane at night!

jetstar · 13/07/2012 04:53

Welcome Parsnip! And congratulations :)
Chez Jet we have had a couple of nights with longer gaps between feeds so hoping that may continue.
Hope everyone else is getting as much rest as possible and that babes are doing well.

TeaandHobnobs · 13/07/2012 05:35

Urgh I have D&V Sad not fun

Saritabean · 13/07/2012 13:37

Oh no TandH, hope you're ok... Must be horrible for you :(

Welcome BBParsnip and congratulations on baby parsnip!

Hope jetbaby continues to sleep better jetstar.

Did you manage to stay awake minipopsmum?!?!! Hope minipop is behaving better on the belly front!!!

Just got back from hospital.... Not been admitted thank goodness, but no real further plan, just to persevere with trying to get her to take a bottle so we can get the nutriprem in her.... Hmm gonna try all kinds of things to get her to take it (not that we haven't already...!). I'm sure I'll be marking my place tonight again! See you later!

Original poster
MummyPigandDaddyPig · 13/07/2012 23:29

Welcome BBParsnip ! Congratulations on DC3! 3rd (and last) baby here too and weve just hit 6 weeks and are doing better on the sleeping front! Shes a very hungry baby though, and Im still learning new tricks! Just today learned that envelope necked vests can be put on babies from the bottom up, and Ive been struggling getting them over the head for years!!! Feel like a right silly mummy for not figuring it out before!!!
Sarita, fingers xxed for some weight gain for baby, and hope all the babies will let us sleep tonight! See you in a few hours no doubt....

OP posts:
Bibblebobbleparsnip · 14/07/2012 00:02

Why, thank you! We've had a couple of trips to hosp this week too. On Wed am MW came & weighed Parsnip, who had lost weight Sad She'd also gone rather yellow & her poo wasn't yellow enough. After v.long wait for some lovely (but clueless) medical students who gave slightly daft advice & blood tests we were allowed home. Had to go in today for repeat tests & all good- she's put on 30g & bilirubin levels are going down. Hoorah!
Had a faffy day of feeding though today which isn't helping! Trying desperately to stay awake and it's not even that late yet...

ImissMiniPop · 14/07/2012 01:36

Day 5 of Minipop being home and he's had a really funny tummy, neonatal nurses say it's his digestive system getting used to the new formula he is on.

Anyway, just did the midnight feed following a complete nsppy/clothes change due to sick, then he did the most massive explosive poo, had to do another complete change, and the he was sick again (as I had changed him too soon after feed).

Ran out of cotton wool rug couldn't find emergency wipes, then Minipop peed everywhere. Over me the towel rail floor etc....

My oh my god what a night... And it's not over yet.. DP fast asleep with earplugs in. Bah!

TeaandHobnobs · 14/07/2012 02:46

Oh IMissMiniPop what a palaver!!! I'd give DP a swift kick if I were you Wink

DS seems to be being quite nice fo me on the sick/poo front - maybe he can tell that I have my own issues in that department at the moment! Grin My DM came up to look after me and did all his nappies for the day, including the massive poosplosion that went all the way down his leg.

Welcome BBparsnip! And sarita, glad the hospital didn't do any intervention and I hope things work themselves out.

Saritabean · 14/07/2012 03:48

Hello all!

Feed 2- she's gone 5 hrs between last feeds so I've just had 3.5 hrs straight sleep- amaaazing feeling, but with her poor weight gain not so sure it's a good thing...?!! I guess if she feeds more frequently in the day, and is sleeping well then shouldn't that help improve her growth...?

Feel a bit sick myself tonight, but may be body not used to sleeping as long, and also ate quite a lot yesterday evening greedy pig!!!

Hope you're ok minipopsmum and woke up DP with the poo/sick fiasco...?! Sounds similar wo what sometimes happens chez periwinkle! The only bonus is that with so much to keep you busy with it sometimes makes the night go faster ...!!! Wink

Bibblebobbleparsnip · 14/07/2012 04:18

Don't you just hate it when these blow outs happen at night? Just when you're trying to keep things calm & snuggly, you have to strip 'em half naked & hose them down! Not cool.
Baby Parsnip has been struggling with wind/poo tonight too. Woke at a feed time but just wanted to parp, I was in too minds as to what to do, (especially with her weight issues) but took easy way out & went back to sleep!
She's since woken, filled her nappy & is back on the boob. Aaah newborns... It's laugh a minute, eh?!

ImissMiniPop · 14/07/2012 06:42

I couldn't get Minipop to settle in his cot, he was fine sleeping on me, but as soon as he went on his back I'm cot he was sick.

Kept him on me until 4am, but then went to bed for half an hour to between feeds, and only just woke up so he had missed a feed too sarita /

Saritabean · 14/07/2012 09:00

Things change so much when you bring them home minipopsmum - they turn into a completely different baby- periwinkle was like that too- ended up settling her on her tummy and she's slept that way ever since- more comforting and she can bring up her burps herself If they haven't already come up Wink

I spoke posted too soon last time... She only fed from one side, then refused any more but seemed windy and awake. Eventually (1.5hrs later) she looked like she'd settle, but still rooting/woodpeckering/grunting, so I picked her out of the basket after a while and she fed on the other side, until suddenly getting all burpy again- she falls off and proceeds to burp/cough and then retch, resulting in a large vomit... :( it felt like the whole 2 hrs had been pointless :(. I know some will have gone down, but having gone to 5 hrs when she's not gaining weight it really upsets me. Oh well, just had a good feed now again and a really pale wet nappy so she must've got more in than I thought :)

ImissMiniPop · 15/07/2012 03:10

Hope you had a better time of it last night *sarits-.? My DP did the midnight feed, shock meant I could sleep.

Just had four hours sleep, magic! Can't remember last time that happened.

Just settling 3am feed now.

Minipop is really snuffly, he had coughing up mucus yesterday. Think that might be what is causing the sniffles, it sounds horrible thought. Like hr can't breath properly. Hope he can clear it ok