Calling all nighttime feeders!! Let's all keep us company during those early hours of the morning when we're feeding instead of sleeping!

[Writerwannabe83]

This is a thread for everyone to chat to each other about their experiences of night time feeding, the good, the bad and the ugly!

There are already a few of us who have been chatting about this in another forum for a few months now but we want to migrate over here to meet more sleep deprived parents!!

Log on and post, no whatever silly hour it is, and vent away about how knackered and stressed you are!! There's a good chance someone else is up and feeding crying with exhaustion too!!

Introductions: I have a 7 week old son, first baby and exclusively breastfeed. He's normally a nightmare to settle to sleep, screaming for hours on end, but will go for 5 hour stretches of sleep!

Cariad you are so right. Folk keep saying to me - when are you having another? And my reply is that we might not have any more. They look horrified at me and say - was the birth that bad?!

The birth as a matter of fact was horrific but nothing compared to how terrifying and exhausting the first few weeks were. Since then it has steadied out to being stressful, confusing, heartbreaking, isolating and backbreaking. Yes yes it is also wonderful and exhilarating but I honestly don't think I could do it again. I feel that I barely cope now. I have so much admiration for anyone with more than one child!

I would keep pregnancy pounds in exchange for scream-free bedtimes!

How are you writer? It makes me so sad to know you are out there somewhere struggling with LO. I hope he's asleep. You need a break, you really do. What support do you have in RL during the day? I know you say you struggle to rest during the day but you do need respite.

My mum was off work today. She drove nearly 100 miles to get to me and took DS out for a walk (1st time I've conceded to it cos I'm so bloody stubborn and stoic) I lay down and I was so anxious about DS but told myself to get a grip and that he was fine. I thought about getting up but opened my eyes and had actually slept for an hour. The world seemed HUGELY different to me.

I have a friend with two babies 16 months apart. 16 months! I don't know how she does it. My DS is so high needs that it would be impossible to handle another baby like this and gnat, coupled with my age and financial constraints, means we have no intention of having another!

I hope everyone is having a good night. DS, after not feeding that well earlier is up for a feed again. Am a little concerned that since being changed at around 9/9.30 his nappy was barely damp when he woke up about half an hour ago but it does feel wetter now.

Morning (!) ladies, just checking in.

He slept 8:30-1:30 which is AMAZING! I went to bed at 9:00 so I skid got a nice long chunk if sleep.

He's fed and back down so it's lights off and here's hoping for at least 2-3 hours this time so we can just do 2 wakes tonight like last night.

Writer - sorry to hear you're having a crap night. Is your DH off work with half term? Can you get a bit of moral support?

Didn't last long argh! Woke himself up with farting!

Fed him some more now settling back off. Have a feeling this will be repeated!

Second feed here. 18 weeks old today!

Oh writer, hope your silence means you're getting some sleep. Up for possibly second feed here (can't remember if there was a first!) And so far two poos, one puke and an outfit change. Now trying to resettle and have banging headache. Ds up too. Joy.

Morning everyone, thank you for your support. DS eventually fell asleep at about midnight : 4.5 hours since we first tried to settle him. He's feeding now but only because I woke him, I was getting concerned that it was coming up 7 hours since he fed.....I'm guessing the Calpol put him in a deep sleep?

I sent my DH to the spare room last night at about 23.30pm and I said we needed to start doing 'shifts' with DS so that we canalternate through the night so we both get breaks. To be honest my DH doesn't cope well at all with DS's screaming and prolonged crying, I'm more stressed when he's with me than when he's not. He even said last night, "I'm not cut out for this."

In terms of having other children, means DH always said we'd only ever have one and this experience has only confirmed that! People who put themselves through it more than once are clearly mad. I'm struggling to cope now, let alone if I had to attend to a toddler as well. My mum had me and my sister close together, there's only 12 months between us I've no idea how she coped....I have a whole never level of love for her!

Ugh, put DS down at 2 and he was up at 5. Wouldn't settle so DP took him and I can hear him chattering away in his chair and wide awake. Hopefully by the time DP leaves for work in a couple of hours he will be ready for another feed and a nap.

Aww glad you finally got some rest writer you are amazing I don't know how you do it.

Fin slept from 10pm roughly till 1.30am fed till 2am then slept till 5am when he woke up with painful wind. He fed at 6.20 and he's now asleep on my chest.

Didn't get much sleep. I've got blocked ducts again and they're really painful - I'm a bit of a wuss!

Just had the source of all his discomfort - massive poo!

So did epic naps change now trying to settle him back off. Have only had an hour and a half sleep since 1:30am so I really hope he goes back down!

Having two is great. You can get the toddler to act as an assistant!

DD is the only one who can stop DS crying sometimes. She walks over to him and says 'alright baby pasta' before bouncing his chair far more violently than I'd dare and he's back to smiles again.

I can send her upstairs for spare clothes, nappies and wipes. I can get her to count the wipes out. I'm never lonely like I sometimes was when she was a baby. She stops me getting too bogged down in the baby stuff as she needs attention too.

mind you I wasn't saying that when DD was awake after her nightmare at 4am and there is rather a lot of washing.

Writer I don't think you need to worry about waking your DS after 7 hours. He is gaining weight normally isn't he?

Morning all. Another great night here (sorry don't want to rub it in...). Very weird dreams due to anti-ds and feel very zombie like when I first wake..

Writer I wouldn't wake up at all now.. As long as weight gain is good etc. I never wake dd at night and rarely in the day :-). Sorry it's all so tough. I think shifts with your dh is a good idea it means you can get a few hours sleep in the bag at some point.

Have a good day everyone.

I wouldn't wake your DS either writer - some babies are allegedly sleeping 12 hour stints by this point in time .

We had a pretty good night. The usual routine was disrupted because we'd been out in the day, so I did the last feed at 9pm and popped her upstairs in the cot. She woke for a 20 minutes feed at 3ish and then went straight back down until 6:15. And DD1 didn't get up until a normal time either. If I hadn't messed round downstairs until 11pm, I'd be fresh as a daisy this morning...

And so true about the washing that two DC create pasta. I feel like I'm drowning in dirty vests, mini socks and muddy tee-shirts!

Morning everyone!

Aw, writer, huge hugs -- sounds like you are having a really tough time You have my sympathy. I know when you go through periods like this it just feels never-ending and awful, but it will get better.

Really hope you managed to get some more sleep mrsmugoo

Happy 18 weeks, singsong . My DS is 19 weeks tomorrow, so ours are very close in age.

We had quite a good night, but it did involve two nappies and one outfit change, which we haven't had to do in a while. Settled down to feed him at 4.15 only to feel a warm patch of wee spreading through his sleepsuit and onto my pajamas. Lovely.

By the way, the reason I don't post during the night is not because I'm not awake, but because my tablet is commandeered to play white noise as it helps DS sleep. I totally recommend white noise apps or just a standard radio playing static -- it seems to help DS settle, block out background noises, and stop him waking so easily between sleep cycles.

Nah, no more sleep Kate! But I did get 9-1:30am and 3:30-5 so I don't feel too bad at the moment.

Oh yes, we love white noise. We use the tumble dryer noise for sleep and the 'shhhhh' lady for tantrums.

I have it on my phone and ipad so I can be on one whilst he has the other!

Well DS managed his first poop for a week so that was good! He's fractious again now but how does one entertain a 3 month old?? Pouring with rain so se can't go outside :(

Writer I agree you probably don't need to wake DS at this age. As for DH, mine struggled in the same way. Try to be as open and honest as possible, remind him that you're a team and don't be afraid to ask for his help even if he's being a selfish ahem or acting like a petulant toddler he will respond to being able to do something. DH stettles DD far easier than I can now.

Keep in mind that either DH will learn to cope, or DS will get past this stage, whichever comes first.

Hello everyone, thanks for your support and advice. I don't really know the 'rules' about how long babies can go without a feed but I know now to leave him to sleep next time. I managed to get another two hours sleep after his feed this morning but although I had more sleep last night than I have done for about a week, I feel shattered today.

I have tried to think why he's suddenly had a personality transplant and all I can think of is that he had his jabs last Friday and his Rotavirus drops. The information leaflet says the drops can cause abdominal discomfort, excess wind and flatulence - which he definitely has. I assumed those side effects would be short lived though? Oh I don't know. This could just be a normal baby phase that doesn't actually have a cause.

Me and DH were supposed to be going into town today to open DS's bank account but between my fatigue and the rain I just can't be bothered

Cariad a combination of things with a 3 month old, I'm desperate to try a door bouncer for my 4 month old, she's very easily bored so I'm constantly switching toys, position, people...

Hoping that everyone that didn't get much sleep has a chance to nap today, myself included.

Cariad you need a Jumparoo in your life if you can run to one. I cannot wait to put DS in DD's old one. It was the best toy we have ever, ever had.

Actually, how many weeks is your LO? Might be a bit wee for a Jumparoo still..... Think DD was in hers from about 16 weeks maybe?

Anyway, they are fab and sell well on ebay when you've Fi is he'd with it.

Just been amusing myself reading reviews on Amazon of people who also think it is the most marvellous invention ever. DD was like Michael Flatley doing Riverdance in hers.

He's nearly 14 weeks. DP's sister has bought him a Jumperoo but it's still up north with her atm. He stays in his bouncy musical chair but not for more than about 20 mins at a time. Tried to put him in the sling as I needed to go to the shops but he was having none of it. I couldn't be arsed with the pram as the shops are only across the road.

Jumperoo is great but makes my DS spew...every time...without fail. He doesn't seem to mind though, it is super exciting.

Thanks Shrew! Nothing worse than the warm wee patch...and their little faces as you are changing them. DS looks at me as if to say Why? Why mum? Why are you undressing me? WHY? Hehates being changed at night.

Writer - shifts are the way forward til you come through other side of this. And I'd agree with everyone...don't wake him!! He clearly needs the sleep, he must be as shattered as you. Hope you have a quiet day.

I have just stuck DS in front of CBeebies for a few minutes peace. Clearly I am a terrible mother!