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!

Up again after I think about an hour and a half sleep.

I did think he can't possibly be hungry after such a short gap but he was sucking his fist and fed voraciously when I put him on.

However he's fed about 5 minutes and has now fallen asleep.

Maybe a bottle would solve this?

Should I start refusing the breast if it's been less than say, two hours since last feed?

It would be horrendous....

Mugoo, I can't believe this, same here! Not even two hours. My first thought was that this is just taking the piss now.

I rocked him for half a minute to see if he'd settle and he arched his back and screamed, onto boob now and eating away. It's a joke. 1 hour and 45 minutes...really DS, really?!?

DH will be back on Friday. Can't wait.

That moment when you think they are finished but then you're up again half an hour later...

Oh it's just bleak it really is. I'm starting to feel creeping despair and anxiety. Wish DH was next door as I'd probably wake him.

Mugoo - sorry to hear things are still so difficult. Hmm, it's so hard to know what to suggest... Personally, I think you might make your life harder rather than easier by refusing the breast - as there's a chance you'll end up with a wide awake baby and no way to soothe them. Also, be a bit wary of assuming the bottle would definitely help - my DD was much older when we started a bedtime bottle and it made no discernible difference. She just did longer stretches when she was ready. I think the thing is, when babies are teeny the need for comfort is as real and as physical to them as the need for food. And the other thing I think is that some babies are good sleepers and others just aren't and there's only so much we can do. I say this as the Mum of a non sleeper who tried everything and was constantly disappointed/ frustrated! Having said that - it might be worth trying just in case as long as you aren't expecting a definite improvement. It's so hard because there is no way of knowing what will happen in order to make an informed decision, babies are completely unpredictable curious little creatures!

Misty - hugs for you. My DD was a under the weather a few days ago. It is relentless when they both need you at once. I hope things get easier soon!

Thankfully I have been blessed with a sleeper this time! He's managed a 4.5hour stretch in his crib tonight and unlike DD who fought sleep with every fibre of her being he will happily nod off cuddling. He's like a snoozy little cat! Hoping it continues beyond any dreaded sleep regressions...

Singsong - cross posted! Sorry to hear things are horrible for you too, especially with DH away. Hang in there! Sending you much sympathy.

I think the thing is, when babies are teeny the need for comfort is as real and as physical to them as the need for food.

I agree and wholeheartedly want to be available emotionally and physically for him....you just lose sight of it when you're so tired. Thank you notadoctor!

Up since 1.30 and on second lot of both sides. I lost patience long ago and feel awful for being so frustrated with her :( only just turfed ds back to his bed too. Why did we think it was a good idea to have another? :( I'm not cut out for this. Need to stop co sleeping at least then I might not feel so claustrophobic.

Sorry to hear about bad nights. I shouldn't complain really. I at least got a few hours at the start of the night. Bloody birds are singing now.

Is it sad that my achievement for the day is mumsnetting while double pumping?? I'm sorry for those of you with frequent wakers, I have the opposite problem and it is totally against the grain to set an alarm and wake her when the whole BF, EBM, express, sterilise everything cycle takes at least an hour. I wouldn't mind so much if she was piling on the ounces pounds.

Wombat. - Wake and feed. Hungry screaming baby in the car is so awful and stressful. Or feed when you arrive to collect your eldest? I've fed DS in car before - needs must. Good luck.

Up again. He woke at 3.40 but settled back to sleep without boob. Now up for a spot more milk. I feel like you Misty - DH and I have agreed no more which makes me sad as always wanted 2 dc but the reality is just so hard that DS will be an only child.

Oh what a horrid night :(

I'm only thinking bottles as a way of maybe stopping the snacking? But he doesn't even take one so it's a bit of a moot point! And as for refusing the breast - I actually don't think I have it in me to do so.

I'd like to think I'm quite an instinctive parent and my instincts tell me just carry on and ride it out, however frustrating it is.

I guess I must be used to the sleep deprivation in a way. I go to bed when he goes to bed to clock up a few more hours in a stretch. I definitely wouldn't be able to cope if I went to bed later and missed out on that.

Anyway, have just done third and final feed. I always pray I can make it to 7am from here, that's the goal but not sure I will today, have a feeling I'm in for an early start!

Singsong - I must be totally insane but even though DS is still not sleeping, I am already thinking about what it would be like to have two and I'm so excited to give DS a younger sibling. I think we will start trying in the new year. I would love another boy - I always thought I'd be desperate for one of each but the thought of two little boys is just wonderful.

Morning all.

Sympathies to mrsmugoo, singsong and everyone else who had a bad night.

Can I join in, we had a terrible night here,Fin hasn't pooped for 2 days now which is very out of character. He only slept in 15 to 20 mins intervals between straining and farting, still no poop.I feel so sorry for him he must be so uncomfortable but I just wish he would stay asleep a bit longer I'm exhausted! Every time I drop off he's awake again!

It sounds like a lot of really horrible nights out there. I'm sorry to hear you are all so tired.

mrsmgoo - It's hard when it comes to trying to choose what course of action to take (in terms of offering the breast or not) but I think you're making the right decision to keep offering to him if only to have some comfort.

On the flip side of the coin I've had a really good night over here as DS slept for over 7.5 hours straight

Not a great night. DS was no worse than usual but I had real trouble sleeping. Don't know why, I've always been like thus. Takes me at least an hour to fall asleep and it's an hour I can't afford to squander when I have a DS who's up every 2-3 hours :(

I also have trouble falling asleep sometimes Cariad, it's because I hate the feeling of just dropping off and then he wakes minutes later, I'd rather stay awake to make sure he's sleeping deeply.

To be fair, last night was pretty typical for me, not bad, not particularly good.

I'm accepting I have a crappy sleeper!

However we've just done tummy time and he's lifting his head right up now! So at least he's good at something!

Mugoo you are crazy!!! . During the day I think I could have another but at bedtime and nighttime I think no way....ever! Ds such a good, contented baby but what if next one is cranky and even worse sleeper? Oh no, I'd be terrified to have another. I know I have anxiety issues!

Looks like we have similar babies Cariad and puggy. DS farted himself awake at one point in the night....babies, honestly!

Not a great night here either. Boy didn't want to go to sleep at bedtime despite having been feeding for hours. I ended up sitting up with him feeding till 1145 (we go to bed at 10).

Then he woke at 3 for another hour long feed! Luckily he's slept through till just now. He's 3 months today so maybe it's part of the growth spurt, maybe he was just hot, who knows?

I too am already thinking about when we might have another! Crazy isn't it?

owlina - when I went through a phase of DS waking up every 2 hours I think it was because he was too hot. We now only cover him with a really light blanket and he seems much more comfy that way.

I'm starting to worry now that DS is sleeping too much! He had his 7.5 hour stretch over night, work up for a feed, went back asleep and he's still asleep 3 hours later. I only feed him now a maximum of 7 times a day. He is getting weighed tomorrow and I will be interested to see if this long sleeping overnight and reduced feeding overnight is having a negative impact on his weight....

Writer, enjoy the sleep, take every second of it and savour it! He'll maybe change so just roll with it while it lasts. You've had your fair share of issues so enjoy the rest! Good luck with weigh in tomorrow, let us know how your LO gets on!

Haha Singsong my DS has farted himself awake before too! He did a massive poop this morning so I guess he's good for another week

singsong - I'm already trying to mentally prepare myself for things to change My husband naively seems to think we have 'cracked it' now and DS will sleep through the night until the day he moves out

Is it at 12 weeks they are supposed to regress??
Only 8 days to go

He's just woke up, had another feed and is asleep again.

I'm going to get him washed and dressed though as I need him awake! We are starting a Baby Sensory course this morning, which I've had to pay for, so he WILL be alert and enjoy it. He sleeps his way through the other baby groups I go to