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!!

DS has only just dropped off, don't know what was up with him tonight. Am shattered! Not holding out much hope for him seeping thru :(

Ds is already struggling tonight he had 5oz at 5.00pm, 5oz at 7.30 and 5oz at 10.30pm. He had been backed up but pooed lots I was hoping he might sleep ok. But really doubt it now :(

My DS slept for 2.5 hours but is now wide awake. I'm so tired. I can't see this being a good night. What is wrong with all our babies???

writer they are mean babies :( bjt cute so they get away with it.

I'm sitting here crying because I'm so tired and he just won't bloody go to sleep. I feel like just walking out.

I'm sitting here crying because I'm so tired and he just won't bloody go to sleep. I feel like just walking out.

He's just having his 2nd! I don't understand how he used to be able to sleep anywhere from 8-11 hours and now it's 5-6 hours for the first stretch if I'm lucky!

He's just having his second feed now and I'm praying after it he can sleep til at least 7!

I'm up now and it's only just been 4 hours since he went to sleep.

I can't believe he used to go 12 hours with one wake up in the middle of it to now being so utterly shit.

I bet he's awake now for hours My head feels like it wants to explode because I'm so tired

I'm up now and it's only just been 4 hours since he went to sleep.

I can't believe he used to go 12 hours with one wake up in the middle of it to now being so utterly shit.

I bet he's awake now for hours My head feels like it wants to explode because I'm so tired

Oh writer
What do you think has changed or is this just baby behaviour. They are all different I suppose. I've always said I need a sleeping baby, I just don't function on no sleep, although all my wild nights in Ibiza should of prepared me for this. Kinda different when you want to stay up though!

And ladies surely this is all normal if we are all up and all feel the strain.. Babies are just owls in disguise, vampire owls at that!! ????!!!!

I have no idea why he's suddenly like this.

He's been awake an hour so far, hopefully only one more to go.

It is normal for new babies to be up all the but not 6 month olds. Things are supposed to get better, not worse

I can't have a break until Saturday when my DH if here. DS is EBF so I can't be away from him for more than 4/5 hours as my boobs get rock hard and so painful. DS won't take a bottle so when I last went out for a bit (2 months ago) DH syringes EBM into DS's mouth.

In the 6 months since DS has been born I have only had time away from him on about 3 occasions.

Three times (for a maximum of four hours) in 6 months - it just isn't enough.

I need a break from motherhood for half a day or something because it's just wearing me down.

I'm in exactly the same boat hun, I feel the same! I haven't even had that amount of time away from him - MIL had him for about 4 hours the other week and my parents look after him for about 3 hours while I'm in the hairdressers. I've been out for one evening meal while he's slept before too - but then only got about 4 hours sleep that night when you factor in his feed at 4 and getting up with him at 6:30.

I'm going back to work to force the issue though - the nursery are confident they will be able to wean him off the breast in the day and onto a cup, they do it all the time.

I love him to pieces but breastfeeding, lifting him and carrying him, singing nursery rhymes, changing nappies and playing with baby toys on the floor every waking hour for almost 7 months has driven me almost potty.

It doesn't help that so many of my best friends have also got babies (there were a group of 12 of us pregnant at the same time) so when I see my friends all we talk about is sleep and poo.

I do miss my old life but I have to be careful what I say around my other friends because I know they are struggling with TTC and I don't want to sound ungrateful.

I've had no time away from DS2 at all, he's 5 months and won't take a bottle at all. Plus my milk has high amounts of lipase so even when he learns a cup, when I express I will have to scald the milk before freezing it! Or it has to be used immediately, pain in the bum

With DS1 as he couldn't bf and got used to bottles in SCBU he had my ebm til 6 weeks then was mix fed, so I did KIT days at work from when he was 3 months old!

DS woke and fed twice then woke again at 6 and his nappy had soaked thru poor boy

Well that was a strange night. Thought it was going to be awful after DD being up at 10 and again at 1.30, but then she slept from 2-7.45 not that I'm complaining of course!!
Sorry to hear about all the bad nights everyone is having. These babies are definitely in charge and letting us know it, aren't they?!

DS mustve woken in the night as he was on the other side of me when I woke but I can't remember putting him there! He slept til just before 7, had a feed and went back to sleep. Will try not to repeat the evening nap tonight as I think it contributed to him being up past 10pm.

Dd was OK last night but I have the most terrible headache. Don't know if it's dehydration or a cold coming on.

I tried introducing a bottle at 4 months but it was too late, I'd missed the window and DS was just not interested. He had got a sippy cup that he will drink from but he will only take 1-2 ounces and it does take him a while. I really struggle to express these days too bit in going to try and pump some off each day so that when I leave DS with DH on Saturday there will be sufficient amounts for me to be gone for a long time!! If it means DH has got to syringe milk into DS's mouth then so be it.

I love him to pieces but breastfeeding, lifting him and carrying him, singing nursery rhymes, changing nappies and playing with baby toys on the floor every waking hour for almost 7 months has driven me almost potty.

mrsmugoo I could've written this paragraph and ds is only 14 weeks!

writer let dh try a bottle/syringe while you're away.

Out of interest when would people suggest doing the expressed bottle 1st?

I first gave DS a bottle of EBM at 6 weeks and have been fairly lucky since as he is quite happy to take a bottle. I do find expressing a bit of a faff though as it takes me forever to just get 3oz but it's been invaluable in helping me to get away from DS for more than an hour at a time.