Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Night feeders thread part 3 - Up all night feeding? Come join! [title edited by MNHQ]

954 replies

mrsmugoo · 08/07/2014 20:45

Part 3!

Quick recap - DS, 17 weeks, EBF (stubborn little bottle refuser), crap sleeper! Super knackered Mummy, surviving on 1-2 hour sleeps :(

So I am hoping for a better night tonight seeing as bedtime went smoothly. Last night was hideous and I've eaten a twirl, a bounty and a salted caramel brownie today just to get through the day!

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 31/07/2014 11:02

mrsmugoo - I only went up earlier last night because come 8pm he looked absolutely exhausted Sad He was sucking his fingers could barely keep his eyes open so rather than 'miss the window' as it were, I decided to take him up. He had a feed, fell asleep on the breast and went down in his cot ok. However within 15 minutes he started crying and when I checked on him he had rolled onto his front and has got himself in a right state. I picked him up, shushed him etc but unfortunately it was just the start of his refusal to go back to sleep. He wasn't screaming for 3 hours fortunately, just crying whenever we put him down. We'd pick him up, rock him to sleep, but the minute he was down he was wide awake again. It was just relentless.

He's in his cot now because he suddenly came over really tied and he is having a right grizzle but I'm hoping he will have a little nap.

bumpies - do you have any support at home? I have found that when DS gets himself in a state he want to feed if I am with him. However, if I hand him to DH and leave the room, DS seems to realise that milk isn't an option, gives up with the crying and actually settles well for my DH.

Have you contacted your health visitor for any support or advice?

Do you attend any breast feeding support groups? I find mine absolutely invaluable - the relief itself to talk to other mothers and know I'm not going through the hard times alone makes me feel so much better.

KateTheShrew · 31/07/2014 12:51

Hi all. I haven't posted much lately as we've had people staying and we are getting ready for a trip down to see my parents so it's been v busy.

bumpies Sad your situation sounds slightly similar to mine, with nights of multiple wakings and only settling with boob. I have no advice, just sympathy. My Ds was up screaming every 1-2 hours last night. We've recently started weaning too, but he has taken to solids quite enthusiastically. Perhaps a little too enthusiastically... Yesterday he shoved down half a banana (we're doing blw) and this morning his nappy had an almost completely solid poop in it Shock so I think he might have overdone it a bit and given himself a sore tummy.

Sorry, rambling, but what I'm trying to say is that my DS has become a horror at night since starting weaning and he IS eating lots. So we can't win, bumpies -- they keep us awake either way Hmm

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 31/07/2014 13:09

Hmm Writer it is annoying that your LO doesn't seen to settle even when he looks tired.

When he falls asleep on the boob can you just let him stay there? Maybe he's doing a bit of a snoozy cluster feedy thing? I.e he's tired and he wants boob and cuddles but he's not ready for his long sleep yet? Almost like he wants one more nap.

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 31/07/2014 16:42

I let him sleep for an hour on the breast earlier once he'd finished his feed - I didn't dare move him Grin

He's also had another hour nap this afternoon whilst I was out and about in the car.

I was going to take him on a walk shortly to try and squeeze in another short nap but it's just started pouring it down Hmm

Cariad007 · 31/07/2014 21:38

How are we all this evening? I'm just trying to feed DS to sleep. He was struggling and straining and grunting, almost pulling my nipple off in the process, but then let off the most enormous fart and almost immediately dropped off! He's still sucking though so I daren't try and unlatch him just yet.

Not sure if anyone else's babies are like this but DS's farts are so loud and smelly that you'd think they were adult ones. Seriously, sometimes when I'm out with him and he lets one rip I worry that people think it's me and I'm trying to blame the baby!!!

Writerwannabe83 · 31/07/2014 21:47

My DS does the same cariad - I honestly can't believe how loud they are sometimes!!

It's awful trying to feed them when they need to trump isn't it?!

I have just put DS in his cot following his final feed and he is grizzling. I'm hoping so, so much that he will settle off to sleep but I can't see it happening...

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 01/08/2014 03:50

Good morning (!) feeders!

Just done his first night feed and popped him back in his cot but he appears to be wide-a-flipping-wake!

He seems to have stopped the incessant rolling over so I think I'll just go back to sleep and let him get on with it!

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsmugoo · 01/08/2014 07:32

He took til 4:30 to drop off then was up again by 5:30. Fed him back to sleep in with me but he was up for the day by 7. I feel shattered!

I'm going to have to start going to bed earlier again at this rate, I'm just not getting enough sleep :(

OP posts:
bumpiesonamission · 01/08/2014 07:57

mungoo arrrg rubbish!

Thanks all to your replied yesterday, it means so much when I am so low and exhausted.

I do have a fantastic dh but he has to drive on the motorway every day and I don't want him doing that on little sleep. He is great however and we have agreed he will do a exbottle for the first feed of the night this weekend so I can get a bit of bulk sleep.

I am leaving dh in charge tomorrow for the whole day as I am gping to a hen do. I am excited for the me time but sooooo worried about leaving bubba. Not that dh isn't great but he's (Z) is Sooo little! I have exp 8 bottles so worse case he has one for every 2 hrs whilst I'm away!

My sister is coming in a few weeks, I'm going to try some sleep training with her help I.e cuddling and water! I will need you guys!

How was everyone's night?

PollyP0429 · 01/08/2014 08:38

That's it. I have hit my sleep training mark. DD had the first 2 feeds fairly well spaced (as is normal) then we had 2 2 hour gaps, though I'm sure DH got up with her at some point to shush her... but at quarter to 5 we had full blown paddy.

I needed the loo first so DH went in to calm her and she screamed and screamed and screamed she was well pissed off. Quiet and happy as soon as I take her then jist plays with my nipple. Not a happy mummy. It was pure temper as it didn't set off my mummy spidey senses. So though I wasn't going to, I think it's necessary.

'"The time has come" the Walrus said "to talk of many things"'...

Not looking forward to this

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 01/08/2014 09:20

It's not a cure all though beware - since sleep training my DS can now self settle and goes down in his cot and this has improved our sleep enormously but I am still struggling with the post 3am wake ups where he's been asleep 7+ hours and he isn't settling back to sleep easily without being boobed and/or cuddled in with me.

Last night I halfheartedly tried rocking him to sleep and he stayed smiling - he thought it was a game. It's self settling or nothing for us now - and if he can't / doesn't want to, there's not much I can do about it!

I don't mind 2 or even 3 wake ups but when it's basically bitty broken snoozes from 3am onwards it's a bit much!

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 01/08/2014 10:42

I'm tire this morning too - despite the fact. It's 10.30am and we have only just got up Shock

22.45pm - he finally falls asleep.
03.10am - he wakes for a feed, doesn't go back to sleep until 04.00am.
05.40am - he's awake again, just gurgling to himself in his cot for 25 minutes.
07.30am - he's awake again for another fed this time.

After that feed I lay him next to me to see if he would drop off to sleep again and next thing I know it's 10.30am and I'm being woken by my mobile phone ringing and DS is still fast asleep next to me.

He's now feeding again and is full of smile!

polly - we all have our breaking point! What training approach do you think you'll try??

puggywug81 · 01/08/2014 11:20

Argh longest stretch I had last night was 1 and half hours, Fin learnt to roll over yesterday and that coupled with the teething and the fact he has caught my cold left to a sleepless night. We are now Cuddling on the sofa sniffling, sneezing and feeling sorry for ourselves!

PollyP0429 · 01/08/2014 15:41

Mugoo I shall readily bear that in mind. As you say its the bitty sleeps that do it. And usually from 2/3am. The witching hours or what...

Writer I need to look into this more thoroughly before we try anything. Utterly against any form of CIO, I understand exactly why some people resort to it and I completely sympathise, but it never has and never will be on the cards for us. Looking at the no-cry sleep solution atm but I think we might need sometjing a bit tougher for madam. Perhaps bottles of water and cuddles.

The thing is I can hear she's hungry at her first 2 feeds, then after that its just mummy comfort. Part of my wishes we could cosleep but it just doesn't work for us

AuntieMaggie · 01/08/2014 16:16

writer ds is now 5 weeks - thankfully the he'll is nights only lasted two nights

Why is it the most natural thing in the world seem to be most difficult? Do you think other species have these problems with their baby's?

bumpiesonamission · 02/08/2014 08:21

Oh blimey, did everyone sleep through and are still asleep?!!!

My right nipple is sooo sore today, not sure why but I have a day of not bfing as I am leaving my bubba with dh for the first time and going to a hen do!! ahhhhh

Cariad007 · 02/08/2014 08:59

DS is till asleep, after being up for a feed every two hours during rh night. I'm exhausted. And we are moving house today and still not finished packing. AARGH!!

PollyP0429 · 02/08/2014 09:44

Much better night last night, only had one 'episode' and from her 12am feed she went til 2:45. She got DH up twice after that and me up at 10 to 5 after that.

But we got a lie in! 5 to 8 she got us up. It's unprecedented

Cannotbelieveit · 02/08/2014 10:01

After all his 7-10 hour sleeps he decided to get up and feed after 5 hours (which in itself is good but I stayed up with DH til midnight so did myself out of sleep!)

Original poster
mrsmugoo · 02/08/2014 11:07

Yes bumpies that was almost exactly it.

I dreamfed him at 10pm as I was shattered. I did hear him wake a couple of times overnight but ignored him and he resettled himself.

He finally whinged for a feed at 6am when I brought him in with me. He looked really wide awake and I really didn't want to get up then so DH said pop him in the middle and go back to sleep. If he doesn't go back to sleep he would get up with him.

Next thing I know it's nearly 9am and we've all had a lie in!!

Bliss!!

OP posts:
Original poster
mrsmugoo · 03/08/2014 08:09

Very quiet in the feeding thread? Have we all cracked it?

I fed him at 4am and he went back down in his cot til 7:15 this morning so a good night.

Tried to replicate yesterday's lie in by plopping in the middle of our bed and closing my eyes but he just pummelled me in the side with his legs - he was ready to get up!

OP posts:
Cannotbelieveit · 03/08/2014 08:26

9hrs45 woo!! I'm sure tonight will be 5hrs again!

bumpiesonamission · 03/08/2014 08:54

Urg I wish, after the hen do yesterday, I could have done with not getting up every 2hrs. At 5am I brought him in with me and we cuddly slept till 8!

On the upside, is full of praise today after Z didn't nap for him yesterday and so he got not PlayStation time!

Cariad007 · 04/08/2014 10:58

We have moved! Still lots of unpacking to do but getting there and DS has been behaving himself. It's so weird hearing birdsong and even church bells in the morning rather than ambulance sirens and drunken pub goers! Even though we're only 10 mins drive from where we were it seems like a different world.

puggywug81 · 05/08/2014 06:58

Aww sounds lovely cariad, glad things are working out for you,