Night Feeders Part 5. Calling all women who find themselves feeding when they'd rather be sleeping!!

[Writerwannabe83]

This is a thread for anyone who wants support when things seem tough - especially for the women whose babies don't like sleep!!

We'll do the usual introductions:

I'm a first time mom to my 6 month old, EBF son. It's been a rocky few months, lots of ups and downs but we've finally reached a point where he's asleep by 7.30pm and only waking once during the night.

He very rarely naps in the day - and when he does it's only when he's in the car or his pushchair. It's very frustrating!!

And the last little thing about us is that we have just started the weaning journey - it's fun but messy!!

Squizita I've too been there in the last 4 weeks, and I'm sure I have more to come. It really tough, but your doing a great job just remember that x

I was going to try today putting Hudson to sleep in his cot for his day time naps, any tips? As he usually sleeps on a cushion on the sofa, maybe put the cushion in the cot to start with? I'm trying to do this as mapping on the cushion isn't safe so I have to either sit with him or check him every couple of minutes.

Omg!!

Eli had the best night! Had a bottle at 9.30, slept till 1.15am usually only manages 3hrs! Ok then the bottle teat wasn't in correctly and poured out all over him so he had a complete change of outfit and sleeping bag (this reminds me I need to wash my duvet cover) so had to make another bottle (thank god I have a perfect prep) went back down and slept till 5.40! He has been a bit unsettled since but I his mb till 8.15. Is now our out and sleeping on me!

writer have you looked on ebay for sleeping bag spares, I got two extra 1 tog ones (warm flat) both under a fiver!

Sammy with cot napping I only started a few weeks ago and he's 22 weeks now. I did let him whinge in there and fall off to sleep on his own so it depends if you're ok with that? I saw a pattern of when he slept and it coincided with 2 feeds so at 10am/3pm I change Ryder and put him in his gro bag and then feed him and put him in his cot awake

Also we have a video monitor so I can with them both once I've put them down for naps/sleep

Sounds like marginally better nights for most of us

We just needed to wait for dd (Suzy) to have a big enough neck for the bags. Will definitely try. Our bedroom rarely goes below 19 degrees so a summer tog should be ok. The Hv had kittens about our house being "warm" but it's not heating it's just a mid terrace. MW not concerned just said use summer tog longer.

Morning all

After the whole palaver of changing him at 4am after soaking himself through due to a leaked nappy, he finally went back to sleep at 5am. He didn't wake up again until 09.50 so we've both had a lovely lie-in.

We dozed til about 9ish but DS was wanting to comfort suck every 20 mins or so since about 6am. He's still a bit sniffly so I guess that's why. I really hope it clears up before our flight on Monday otherwise takeoff and landing will be really uncomfortable for him.

ds slept for 6.5 hours last night and then after a feed, change etc went for another 2 hours but I still feel exhausted. I haven't tried to get him to nap in his crib this morning because he's not asleep enough to move him and when I put him down awake he screams rather than whinge or cry and I mean really screams. so ideally I need to settle him to sleep before putting him down like I do at night.

Right. Just got DD to bed. Feeding DS now and then he's going to bed in his own room for the first time... Wish me luck!

Good luck doctor!!

DS has been really fussy feeding today, all feeds have been 5 mins or less apart from his mid morning one. He's just screamed after his bath whilst being dressed and won't feed but is currently sucking his thumb and drifting off? I think gums must really be hurting him as he keeps touching his ear he's had nurofen.

I'm sure if he sleeps now he will be awake soon to feed, poor boy his cry was a really distressed one.

DD2 now 9 days old is still being the easiest baby of all time so far, but I feel pretty wiped out today. Went to museum and park today with DP (still on paternity leave) and DD1 and DD2, it was lovely family time but I feel like I've overdone it... I am so impatient to be back on my feet Been back in bed since 5- Dd2 just feeding then sleeping then feeding again then straight back to sleep (surely this can't last?) DP is sorting out DD1 who is adorable but boisterous.

My body isn't my own it doesn't look like me or move like me or fit in my clothes.... someone remind me this will get better

I wonder if I'm a bit anaemic I'm bleeding much more heavily than I did last birth. The night feeds are ok (to be frank the sleep is better than I got in pregnancy) but I'm beginning to feel really run down... and how the hell am I going to look after 2 when DP goes back to work??

Did you lose a lot of blood during or after the birth? I did and blood tests showed I was VERY anaemic and they were trying to make me have a transfusion. Is there any way that it can be checked for you if that's what you suspect wee?

Wee sorry to hear you feel rough. :(

Am feeding dd right now. DH 1st day back at work: she was awake 4 hrs in the middle of last night. Just hope she does her reliable 2 hourly feeds again tonight.
She just had random anger screaming with DH (he did have take away breath??) But has fed to a snooze with me. Might try to pop her down soon.
Midwife tomorrow MORNING so no lie in if she sleeps badly!! Grr.

Well, DS lasted about an hour in his cot before wailing as though we'd left him to the wolves! Back asleep on me now.

Weebairn - sorry you're feeling bad. Hope you feel better soon - I found with DS (who is number 2) I was less good at looking after myself - eating healthy snacks and drinking lots of water etc, could that be it? As for looking after 2 on your own I can honestly say I have found having a baby and a toddler much, much easier than being pregnant with a toddler. Do you have a decent sling?

Cannot - no, they estimated only 300ml (though I don't think they could tell really as I was in the pool). Small 2nd degree tear which didn't need stitching. It was a very straightforward short home birth (I didn't even let them do any internals!) No significant bleeding first week, just like a heavier period really, but heavier the last few days.

Midwife is coming again on tuesday - perhaps if I'm still feeling ropey then I'll see about taking some iron or getting my levels checked. Quite constipated at the moment and post birth poos aren't much fun so not at all keen to take iron unless I have to!! I just don't remember feeling quite this washed out after the last birth, but I may not be remembering it that accurately.

It may be just that I'm trying to do too much - you know how it is with an older child. DP is very hands on and my mum has been around quite a bit too, but it's very hard to stay in bed with a 2 year old… we've been out for a walk and for lunch and to the park and to the museum etc, and even just around the house she wants me to hide in her tent or sit and play lego with her... I guess I spent a lot more time reading/watching films last mat leave!

Hope everyone's nights go ok. DP is watching footie with a sleeping DD2 in his arms so I might get some early sleep.

Thanks notadoctor - actually I already feel LOADS better than I did pregnant, I have felt like complete shit all year (but had a straightforward healthy pregnancy so felt like I shouldn't complain!) But yeah, just tired and a bit run down. I'm trying to eat and drink ok. I do have a good sling yes!! DD1 was a complete velcro baby. DD2 doesn't seem to be so much as yet but yeah I'm still hoping to go out and do all my usual stuff with DD1 with DD2 just in the sling … only walking at a slow wobble right now though and can't quite imagine play groups etc!

Ryder already woke up and fed. He was feeling very sorry for himself. He's back to sleep now

Dd is very screamy tonight. Not like her.

Arron is absolutely wired!!!

His napping has been horrendous, in the twelve hours since he woke up this morning he's not even had 2 hours worth of sleep. I'm trying to get him off to sleep now but nothing's working.

We are spending the night at my dad's house and because it's somewhere new and exciting he just won't sleep!!!

Hudsons hardly slept this avo and the mother in law (well soon to be) came over tonight I showed her just how much fun the witching hour can be! She was good to be fair. So I figure once hudsons asleep he may give me a few hours. Ever hopeful
I've put him in a sleeping bag tonight as it's been chillier and hope it may help him sleep better, we shall see.
I have a concern, at the moment when he cries I put him on the boob, but when I eventually go to formula I won't be able to do that, so how the hell do you stop them crying? I'm scared about this thought

Instant comfort is the main reason I have stuck to breast feeding!!!

I have absolutely no idea what mothers of FF babies do

I love the fact DS can go from screaming to silent in 5 seconds thanks to the wonderful act of breast feeding

Tell me about it! Even if DS falls over and bangs his head all I need to do is stick him on the boob for instant soothing. I love feeding him, have got the most gorgeous picture of us that I took last month while I was feeding him that is probably my most favourite photo of myself ever.

Arrr - I have got soooo many photos of Arron on my phone!! I keep meaning to upload them to the ASDA website and get them printed but it keeps slipping my mind.

exciting news alert - for the first time in months my Arron has settled himself off to sleep!! I decided to just put him in the travel cot and ignore him and within 10 minutes he was fast asleep!! He's been sleeping in there for over half an hour now so we will see how long it lasts!! I'm just so happy he self settled!!!

Nice one writer you might find he sleeps better now he's settled himself.

DD was in bed at 7.10pm tonight, the earliest she has ever gone down. Am doing first feed already though and wondering when she will start dropping some of these night feeds she's still up 3-hourly except perhaps after 3am when she sometimes sleeps till 8. I know I'm lucky that she goes back to sleep easily but I would like some longer sleeps myself now!