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!!

How depressing all our threads are this morning - it seems our babies are giving us quite a hard time at the moment. DS didn't to back to sleep until 5.30am - I can't believe he only 50 minutes sleep in 4 hours. I was about ready to cry with exhaustion by the end of it.

However, he then went from 05.30 to 09.30 and we've only just woken up. His nappy had leaked and he was very so I wonder if that's what woke him.

It's heavily raining outside and I think I'm going to put the heating on!!

My dd doesn't want to do anything but be held. She screams and cries otherwise. So frustrating before the big cluster feed she wasn't like this, I fear I've accidentally trained her into it.
Any tips for getting 2-3 weekend to allow you to put them down???? It's maddening.

Cookie mine is like that too. Hates being full of poo, likes it just after. Touch wood she's still in the very frequently pooing stage.

Writer first heating of the year here too. Hope the cool weather will be soothing to some extent, humidity us horrible and you can't get rid of it at a flick of a switch.

writer squiz we don't have any heating

Currently sat waiting to be weighed, gonna ask the hv if she thinks it is constipation or reflux.

Squizita it's to early for you to have 'trained' your DD into any bad habits, it's normal behaviour for a baby of that age. It is exhausting though, I've been there twice! You just have to ride it out really, then eventually one day you'll just realise that things have got better. Can you get a sling, like a Moby stretchy wrap? They are very comfy for newborns (and the wearer) and it means that baby is content but you still have your hands free to do stuff...

writer it's sounds like you are having a really rough time at the moment. (((hugs))) Hang in there, it will get better, honestly. My dd1 was just like that and I had many meltdown moments but eventually it gets better and you'll probably find that he ends up being a great little sleeper!

Curly my sling is recommended from 7 1/2 lb. Baby is 7 lb bless her little bones! Ah the irony the constant feeding will get her there but my poor arms!!

Cookie our last flat was unheated. Our next door neighbour used flat plug in oil filled radiators in the baby's room, with a timer plug. Our landlords were TFL - just like with their trains improvements were eye watering slow: 5 years to get heating! When we left the new manager was shocked at how lax the old one was.

ds woke at 2 for his first feed but then was awake for two hours and then I couldn't sleep because I couldn't get warm so I've had about 4 hours sleep. He then screamed the minute dp left for work took me ages to comfort him and then he wouldn't take my boob so I've been crying all morning because im worried there's something wrong with my milk :(

cookie my DS only pooped once a week for his first three months! He wasn't constipated, that's just how he was. Now he goes every day or every other day but didn't go yesterday and I suspect that's behind his current grumpiness and him being wide awake by 7 this morning. Fortunately managed to get him back to sleep til 9!

auntmaggie - please don't cry My DS went on a nursing strike once and it lasted about two days. I can't recall how old your baby is but it happened to my DS when he was 5 months. I felt so frustrated and upset at every feed and like you I was convinced there was something wrong with my supply. I spent a lot of time crying too. Sometimes even now when DS is really upset he will just scream and refuse the breast which feels awful because I would be offering it to try and comfort him. I even took it as him rejecting me which is another reason why I was so upset. I hope you are feeling a bit calmer by now and DS had taken a feed, even if it's just a short one x x

Thank you writer - I ended up giving him some formula cos he was hungry and now he's sleeping on me. He's been asleep for almost 2 hours so I'm hoping when he wakes he'll feed.

I think you did the right thing as it calmed him down and you down. I definitely think our babies pick up on our stresses and I bet our breasts are relaxing places for our babies to be if we're crying, trying to force them on and pleading with them just to feed!!!

I'm sure he will wake up in a settled and contented mood and normal feeding will resume

aren't relaxing places for our babies to be

Cariad mine considers no poo for 4 hrs constipation and grizzles! They're yellow and seedy and enormous! and stain everything abd leak Oh well they keep the Hv and mw pleased!!

Auntie I think sometimes they get themselves in such a state they don't know why they're crying anymore. It's so upsetting. I'm sure now he's calmer he'll feed again.

Thanks ladies - he woke up fed straight away but an hour later was similar so have wrapped him up tightly and he's gone back to sleep but when I watched him he was putting nipple in his mouth but didn't even try to suck!

squizita what sling have you got? Most can be used for much younger babies as long as you follow the TICKS guidelines... Is there a sling meet near you? You could pop along for advice. I am also part of a great facebook group where there is lots of info and advice on babywearing - don't know if you're a facebook user but if you are the group is called Slings and Things FSOT and advice (FSOT means for sale or trade) Wearing your little one might just save your sanity!

Just a generic mai tai and DH has a structured one from M&P which is also from birth but bulky for inside use.

Forgot to say I've had the tula carrier a week and it's fab! So comfy and we've used it so much it's from 15lb but you can get a newborn insert for it

DS had a just under 2 hour nap earlier and just feeding him before his afternoon nap

Thanks Curly have asked to join. I need to be able to carry her for London living (transport ) and to get anything done once DH is back at work.

Guess who is happy in their little basket now? DH settled her really well for a nap. Shes feeding 2 hourly today thankfully too. Went to the local for a lunch today and she slept in the pram. Had a small merlot and the barmaid sniffed at me grr I'm not pregnant anymore! I can have 1 small drink at lunchtime.

Bedtime feed is taking place and I'm praying for a better night. DS is still really snotty though so I won't hold my breath

Bedtime feed is taking place and I'm praying for a better night. DS is still really snotty though so I won't hold my breath

Started bedtime feed at 7, good naps today (not that it's made much difference with night wakings/feeds!!)

Don't know what is wrong with DD this evening. Just doing bedtime feed but she was screaming before and after her bath, almost inconsolable at one point. Have tried teething gel just in case but wondering whether to dose up on Ibuprofen too - no idea what the problem actually is as she's been fine all day. Hope this doesn't mean we're in for a bad night!

Squizita reds this I just have and helped ALOT
kellymom.com

Mine has woken v hungry (6 side feed hungry! ). My DM just told me to go with the flow... poor DH is in the spare room again! Have the little sleep bed in with me in case as before she is satisfied later.

DD just woke up screaming and is feeding already! Think it must be teeth. Have given Ibuprofen now and hopefully after this feed she will sleep well. It's so unlike her to wake up and really cry like that, she usually just makes noises to let me know she is awake and ready for a feed. Poor little mite