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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Falling asleep while BF...what did you do to keep yourself awake?!

65 replies

Lilypad7 · 15/10/2013 09:30

First time poster, long time lurker...
DD is 5 weeks old, EBF, and I can't stop falling asleep while feeding during the night. I must just close my eyes for 30 seconds and I'm gone and It worries me I'll squish her while asleep!

What do you all do to keep yourself awake/ occupied at night?

OP posts:
Sunnysummer · 18/10/2013 03:30

Not stupid, at the beginning I only put DS in his cot when I was feeding on that side! Now I am trying to gently help him to learn to self settle so when he gets sleepy I detach him with the Pantley Pull Off (from the No Cry Sleep Solution - unlatch the mouth while pushing on his chin, it's the only way he won't fuss about it), then gently roll him over my body and place him back in the cot to finish going to sleep.

Sometimes I still wake up with him on the wrong side because I fed in my sleep Smile I just replace him gently. This is also why I have him in his own sleeping bag and on top of the covers -otherwise I got a bit concerned that he might end up covered by blankets between DH and I.

vichill · 18/10/2013 06:13

I have co slept and bf since 4 weeks and naturally slept in the c position described without instruction. Apparently there's research which found that breastfeeding mums very often adopt this position , barely move and are very responsive to the slightest murmur or movement. My dh has noticed me opening my eyes every few minutes to look or check her position by touch as he has watched me sleep... and I have had no recollection of waking.

FoxMulder · 18/10/2013 10:23

Regarding the 'firm surface' the baby has to sleep on, does this just mean not an airbed/sofa etc, or does it actually mean your mattress has to be one described as being 'firm' not 'soft'? I think ours was described as being soft when we bought it, but in my mind a soft mattress is one that's sagging in the middle (which it's not!)

HootShoot · 18/10/2013 10:52

On the topic of firm surfaces what about memory foam mattresses? We have a tempur matress which feels firm but obviously moulds to you - do you think this would be a problem?

Sunnysummer · 18/10/2013 11:07

Not an expert, but afaik, the reason they say not 'soft' is because soft surfaces like pillows reduce the air flow around the baby's mouth if they lie their head on one side or if they roll onto their front. I know that feather or sheepskin mattress toppers are not recommended, but not sure how the other ones would compare - we've kept our pretty standard mattress and cover, it's slightly softer than the granite-hard bassinet mattress we bought but hard enough to keep his mouth clear of the bedding.

ReturnPlacenta · 18/10/2013 16:56

How do you stop a newborn rolling onto its face when it's finished feeding? Presumably they lay on their side to feed if you're both lying down. If you doze off surely the baby just falls forward? Or am I being daft?

hettienne · 18/10/2013 19:35

DS never fell forward - he just slept on his side or rolled onto his back. They sleep kind of in the crook of your arm so can't really fall forward.

gruber · 18/10/2013 19:42

DS never fell forward - as a newborn he always slept on his back, or in the crook of my arm as hettiene said. Tbh if he was stirring enough to change position I found I woke too, checked he was ok, went back to sleep...

ReturnPlacenta · 18/10/2013 20:10

But if they're face in to you feeding, how do they reverse way from you to get on their back?

ReturnPlacenta · 18/10/2013 20:11

I mean when they've finished and you're asleep.

mrsannekins · 18/10/2013 20:20

We co-slept for about 4 weeks, DH was relegated to the spare room, DD and me in the bed. It was January so I was a bit cold but just wore more layers and DD in a sleeping bag. More often than not she would fall asleep with her head on my boob, and not roll onto her back, we also learned for her to feed from both sides when I stayed on the same side.

sheeplikessleep · 18/10/2013 20:20

I don't know return, but ds3 is always on his side to feed. Whenever I wake, he is always either still on his side or on his back.

YellowCanary1 · 18/10/2013 20:21

Co sleep, it was and is my lifesaver! !!

hettienne · 18/10/2013 20:33

They don't reverse, they either stay on their side or roll onto their back.

NoComet · 18/10/2013 22:01

Your breast droops down, even if you have pretty small breasts so Baby doesn't have to feed absolutely on their side. In fact a very small baby's neck isn't strong enough to.

Your arm supports them slightly leaning back so they tend either to stay there or roll on their backs.

Just stop worrying and try it.

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