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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Senior HV says Co-Sleeping is very dangerous

94 replies

MoonlightMcKenzie · 08/10/2008 12:03

She's actually a very good HV in lots of ways but trained a long time ago. Her bf knowledge isn't brilliant but I have never heard anything damaging from her.

I know she would be openminded and interested in information I could provide on co-sleeping NOT being very dangerous, so this is a request for links and research.

Many thanks

OP posts:
TinkerBellesMum · 09/10/2008 23:56

It seems we have differing ideas on what semi co-sleeping is.

I would say it would mean not having a baby in all the time, that becomes dangerous because you aren't used to the child being there all the time so won't respond in the same way as someone who is used to a child being there all the time.

Co-sleeping when done all the time in a safe way is safe.

TinkerBellesMum · 09/10/2008 23:57

And I agree totally with what Hatrick says.

StudentMadwife · 10/10/2008 00:02

I think again its personal risk, most people do not realise even small things can affect their sleeping eg taking a painkiller

HV's, MW's etc are told to advise not too because its a disclaimer for them and also there is not enough time for HCP's to educate each individual on the dos and donts

hatrick · 10/10/2008 00:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

TinkerBellesMum · 10/10/2008 00:19

I've had nurses in The Children's Hospital, my HV, the BF MW, the BF HV, the BFing coordinator and NN MWs talking positively about co-sleeping. The only time I've been told not to is when I was in hospital because the beds are narrow and the floor hard.

tiktok · 10/10/2008 00:23

StudentMadwife, there needs to be evidence that using a painkiller can effect awareness when co-sleeping...we know enough about how sleeping pills can effect it, but I am not aware of any research or guidance that advises against paracetamol or ibuprofen, for instance.

If HCPs are told to advise parents not to co-sleep as a disclaimer (that is, so they will not be 'blamed' if something awful happens) then that is a very bad thing - the needs of mothers and babies should be at the heart of advice. I do not believe it should ever take 'too long' to discuss safety aspects of it all - they're discussing safety aspects of cot sleeping, surely, already (eg feet to foot, sleep on back)...why not spend one more minute or so talking about the safe co-sleeping guidance?

What do your tutors tell you about this?

StudentMadwife · 10/10/2008 00:32

Were told not to advise it, but if parents enquire specifically about it, to give them all the info on the risks and leave it at that.

Unfortunately postnatal care is on a downturn, the goverment wont pay trusts for postnatel care, which makes your job as HCP harder as your splitting your time constantly and dont feel able to give each women 100% time and attention.
the goverment is trying hard to paint a rosier picture of maternity care, but in reality its getting worse, just like breastfeeding rates are often fixed.

StudentMadwife · 10/10/2008 00:33

-and untrue

hatrick · 10/10/2008 00:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

InTheDollshouse · 10/10/2008 09:22

My midwife gave me the Unicef leaflet on safe co-sleeping. She wasn't advising to do it or not do, just said that it could help with night feeds and that if we decided to do it, we should know how to do it safely. I thought that was a reasonable thing to do/say.

Original poster
MoonlightMcKenzie · 10/10/2008 11:34

No information from HCPs here. Think the Edgeware may well have been pro. but as a second timer they pretty much left us to it.

The way I co-sleep is a little odd, which may be part of the concern of the HV.

Firstly, there is no way I'm getting my norks out in the middle of the night for anything less than 22degrees. AND I'm not keen to get tangled up in blankets.

So, we've put a single bed on the side of our double which DH sleeps on with a single duvet. Baby Starlight sleeps on the side of the double closest to DH, wearing a vest and sleepsuit and no covers. I sleep on the other side of the double with my single duvet.

DH and I both tend to sleep facing away from baby Starlight cuddling our duvets to out front with exposed backs. When sleep-feeding I move over to her and when finished roll away, leaving her where she fell asleep. Also, DH can reach her if she needs winding.

Not exactly the cosy picture most co-sleepers paint, but finding this baby sooooooo much easier like this. Can anyone flag up any obvious dangers?

OP posts:
gingerninja · 10/10/2008 11:49

Moonlight, is the baby warm enough if she hasn't got any covers on?

I suppose there is a possiblity of her rolling under the quilts but if it's single and you're under it I'd have thought that was unlikely.

I suppose the one thing I'd change is to try and face her when you're sleeping. I think you'd be much more aware of her.

When we co-slept we had a king size bed, a bed guard to stop DD falling out and she slept on the outside with me in the middle and then DH. We used to tuck our quilt in tightly and have it drapped over DH's side so not near DD and she slept on the outside in her sleeping bag. She wasn't that close to me to benefit from the warmth.

One thing that suprised me about co-sleeping is how much my DH's sleep habit's changed. When DD was in the middle, we'd both lay facing inwards and he wouldn't move a muscle all night and would sleep much more lightly. (normaly nothing could waken him)

TinkerBellesMum · 10/10/2008 12:04

I second facing in. You are less likely to notice baby if you roll onto your back than rolling onto your front. If you are facing baby your arms are there to protect them.

oneinamillion25 · 10/10/2008 12:25

my baby is 10 weeks i am a single parent with 5 children one of which suffers from asthma requiring hospital care
I co -sleep if i didnt i wouldnt get any sleep ..... but my baby goes to bed in crib then around 2am comes into bed with me but my quilt comes off and i move my pillows off the bed and use 1 of his cellular blankets he is quite happy with this i know where he is in the bed at all times because i sleep with him in my arms
Health visitor knows and said every situation is different and as long as your aware of the dangers and avoid them the best way u can

Original poster
MoonlightMcKenzie · 10/10/2008 12:33

ginger tink I couldn't sleep in one position all night. After feeding on that side, I have to turn over to fall back to sleep iyswim. No chance of me rolling though, I have never ever changed position in bed without waking first to do it.

Admit thought that it is nice and snuggly to face the baby!

I don't think the baby is too cold. My DS sleeps in the room next door without covers, and most of the night my DH is uncovered and he sleeps in the nude. I check her chest occassionally, but she always seems to be warm. If she wasn't, I'd probably just turn up the heating!

OP posts:
oneinamillion25 · 10/10/2008 12:41

if i need to turn over i change arms with the baby before hand and I still lie facing him with him in my arms ( to be honest i enjoy sleeping this way with him and he settles alot better ) and enjoys his cuddles

TinkerBellesMum · 10/10/2008 12:43

Me too, always took her with me when I rolled over. I would roll towards her, bring her in close and then roll over.

Original poster
MoonlightMcKenzie · 10/10/2008 12:54

LOL Sounds lovely!

OP posts:
oneinamillion25 · 10/10/2008 12:55

I think you just do what you need to and whatever you feel comfortable with and thats the way i do it too tinkerbellesmum move him with me when i turn over ......
For anyone who isnt sure about c0-sleeping my advice would be not to do it, its that simple

oneinamillion25 · 10/10/2008 12:55

I think you just do what you need to and whatever you feel comfortable with and thats the way i do it too tinkerbellesmum move him with me when i turn over ......
For anyone who isnt sure about c0-sleeping my advice would be not to do it, its that simple

TinkerBellesMum · 10/10/2008 12:57

This is making me miss having a baby! Good job I'm pregnant or I'd be getting broody hehe. When Tink comes in with us now one sleeps at the bottom and the other clings on for dear life to the edge!

cafebistro · 10/10/2008 13:07

I was working in a childrens A&E 8 years ago when a 12 week old baby was brought in having died from SIDS. The parents had woken up to find the baby not breathing and led at the bottom of the bed. I had to sit with the parents while they were told that there baby had died and listen to the parents blame themselves.
I know that research suggests that co sleeping is safe in certain situations but personally i wouldnt risk it even though I BF, dont smoke, take sedatives etc etc. Because accidents do happen.

Original poster
MoonlightMcKenzie · 10/10/2008 13:11

cafebistro I'm sorry I don't understand quite 'what' accident led to this poor baby's death! ?

OP posts:
gingerninja · 10/10/2008 13:26

terrible story but SIDS isn't the same as the death of a baby who is found at the end of a bed, dead. Had it fallen out? suffocated?

tiktok · 10/10/2008 13:39

ginger is right - if the baby died from an accident, then it isn't SIDS. Babies sometimes die in cots, from an accident -

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/4415066.stm

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/6176677.stm

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/7596514.stm

Tragedies, each and every one, but they do not prompt calls for sleeping in cots to be banned.

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