How do exclusively BFing mums do it?!

[Newmum288]

Serious question. I’m pregnant with my 2nd. I would love to EBF but pumped with my 1st, largely so that we could ‘split’ the nights and I could sleep for 4/5 hours in one go before taking back over. I want to EBF my 2nd and not pump, but is there some sort of hack to this?! I know postpartum mums are basically superwomen but seriously how do people manage if baby feeds every eg 2 hours?

I was a lone parent so it was just me doing the feeds anyway i co slept which made it easier

I shared a bed with my 2nd, fed lying down and so didn't need to get up. It did mean that I didn't share a bed with my husband for that time, but also I (and he) got far more sleep

Used a Snuz Pod, after about one/two weeks I think they were down to waking every 3 hours and I was able to sleep inbetween so this was fine. I did used to wake them to feed just before I went to sleep, to lengthen ny first bit of sleep!

It was plenty doable and absolutely no issue for me, but also appreciate that all children are different.

You just do it. I had no choice as DD wouldn't take a bottle! 13 months in and still going!

Co sleeping will probably be the headline answer..

I co slept overnight. So any interruptions we minimal. It's still broken sleep. Every few months OH would take DS for a long walk overnight.

Share the bed with your baby with no top on and let baby latch on their side. No nappy changes unless poo, no getting up. My 12 month old still feeds 5/6 times a night and my 3 year old did the same till 18 months.

I just suffered the night wakes to be honest! I have a supportive husband who took the toddler in the morning so the baby and I could sleep in quite late. It wasn’t long before she was sleeping through, about 11 weeks I think.

Cosleeping and being able to feed lying down

I had a one of those cots that goes by the side of the bed so you just sort of scoop them across when it’s time to feed and feed lying down.

I bf all mine. The secret is cosleeping and bf on your side.

It doesnt take long to get used to it, i found that i barely got disturbed this way. If someone asked me how often they woke to feed, my answer was that i didnt really know/remember!

Co sleep safely (lullaby trust have good advice) and feed lying down. The key is not getting out of bed at night. I used to keep nappy change supplies and a bin by the bed and empty in the morning. It’s the getting up and walking around that’s a killer

I’m still EBF my 8 month mostly because I find it less faff then sterilising bottles, pumping, storing milk etc. I just whip out a boob in the night then roll back over which seems much less effort. It’s hard at first when they’re waking up every 2 hours but in most cases this turns into longer stretches.
One thing I will say to consider though is offering a bottle alongside. My little one now refuses bottle completely which means I can’t really leave her for longer stretches of time with DH or family. And will find it a struggle to return back to work (will hoping she will be eating more solids by then!)

I did pump a enough for a bottle a day, so I went to bed 8pm and OH had baby until midnight or so, could give a bottle, but meant I got 4+ guaranteed sleep in a block every night

Check out happycosleeper on Instagram, she's just had another baby and lots of her content is now about safely bedsharing and BFing. Echoing others to say it's all about cosleeping, only nappy changing for poo and feeding lying down! Did that with my first for 21 months, 11 months now with my second (and counting)

I fed lying down mostly and did co-sleeping (following all the guidance). I did all the nights but I also did absolutely zero in the home apart from baby. Her dad did all cooking, cleaning, food shopping etc and left me meals ready when he was at work eg sandwiches made in fridge, or food that just needs microwaving so I basically just did full time baby. That worked for us.

I fed for 26 months and never pumped or used formula.

I went to bed with baby for all naps too to start with. I think I also completed Netflix 😂

I found breastfeeding loads easier than pumping. When I breastfed I just scooped the baby out of the moses basket next to my bed, fed him and then put him back. When I was pumping I had to get up, go downstairs, warm the bottle, feed the baby, pump, sterilize all the equipment and go back to bed. Took 2 hours in total.

Coslept, husband took older child or winded baby if needed. I hate pumping so I would always rather ebf. Also too lazy to get out of bed for bottles. DD did 5/6 hour stretch from 6 weeks so I was super lucky (her older brother didn't!).

DH moved to the guest room so dd and I could have the whole bed.

You just, kind of, do it. There’s really no other explanation. DC2 went in a cot in our bedroom until she was 8 months, then went in her own room. Luckily DC1 is a good sleeper I guess because DC2 is shit 😂 I do all the night wakings, well, everything with the kids altogether really, due to DHs work, so it can be quite tough, but I didn’t go into it expecting to get a round 8 hours undisturbed sleep every night 😅

Co sleep and feed lying down. I’ve been doing this for nearly 6 years (3dc incl 6 week old baby) and it’s the only way to make it work for me at least.

I coslept following the Safe Seven guidance and with an Owlet monitor on baby. It was great once I got the hang of feeding lying down. I barely woke for feeds and we were both back to sleep quickly. I doing it far easier than the pumping I did in the early days.

But if you want your partner to give a feed, trying collecting milk in a Haaka during the day whilst feeding on the opposite side. You may well be able to get a bottle's worth that way. Just be sure to do paced bottle feeding to reduce the risk of bottle preference.

There are no hacks you just get through it. I tandem fed my 16 month old and my newborn - it was hard and yes, I was the only one who could do feeds but I coped. Don't get me wrong, it was HARD but the thought of having to pump/make bottles/get out of bed was enough to continue.

I just did it. I didn't cosleep but my baby was a good sleeper for the first four months. I woke her every two hours overnight still, until she was above birth weight and then I stopped.

Co sleeping. And one bottle of expressed per day for 1 longer stretch and so baby doesn’t have a bottle aversion later down the line! Still bf at 14m