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Parenting

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Original poster

Terrified at night times... So scared

14 replies

Newtobecomingamum · 19/06/2013 05:35

My baby is 5 days old and he is my first. I'm fine during the day but I absolutely dread nightimes as I am so scared of falling asleep and something happening to him. I can't sleep at night and just lay there most of the night watching his chest moving up and down in his moses basket so that I know he is breathing. His Moses basket is right next to my bed and my husband has tried to reassure me but I just can't relax to sleep. It's really ruining what should be a special time. I get scared of him stopping breathing or his hands covering his face. I don't know what I can do to try and get over it? God anyone else experience this with their newborn? Thanking you in advance for any advice.

OP posts:

Original poster

Newtobecomingamum · 19/06/2013 05:36

*Has not God!

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Ann4New · 19/06/2013 08:21

We did the same the first couple of nights home. I was in hospital for a few days with him and was worried about not being able to see him so would pop him on my chest under my top where a could feel him and then wedged myself with pillows...prob not the safest. First night home we did the same as you - lying in bed staring. Second night we took it in shifts - one sleeping, the other keeping watch. We have a baby monitor with a mat that senses breathing/movement - an alarm goes off if it can't sense anything for 20seconds. Pricey but might be worth it if it'll help you get some sleep - you'll need it!

Anxiety is totally normal. I was a basket case for the first week or two, and still worry that I'm inadvertently breaking bub somehow - but don't worry about him sleeping. Maybe watch him a few times when he's asleep during the day to see how he sleeps, get used to the noises and positions he takes, and reassure yourself that he's perfectly ok. In these early days he prob doesn't care if it's day or night so won't be doing anything drastically different at night! If you're really worried about his hands you could swaddle him?

Longdistance · 19/06/2013 08:34

I had an Angelcare monitor with my two dd's, and used it in the Moses basket too.
Really kept me reassured.
There is a mode that you can switch to that bleeps every breath baby takes, or you can switch that off, and just leave the light flashing, and it'll bleep if no movement is felt.

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Ann4New · 19/06/2013 15:14

Yup that 's what we've got too

NatashaBee · 19/06/2013 15:38

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pebspop · 19/06/2013 15:49

i use the angelcare as well. it saves me a lot of worry as i know that if the alarm isn't beeping, the baby is ok. people told me it would make me paranoid but i find it's the opposite. i would be worried sick if i didn't have it.

i had a couple of false alarms but they were my own fault. i put the baby in the crib at the end to where i usually did and he wasn't on the mat. the alarm went off when i rocked the crib so it must not like too much movement.

OddBodd · 19/06/2013 16:29

Yes I was like this with my first. Not so much with my second but mainly because he screamed all night so never gave me chance to worry

I think it's pretty normal for mum's to be anxious and especially when he's so young and your hormones are everywhere. I had one of the angelcare alarms for DS1. Worked brilliantly. I know it's easier said than done but try not to panic.

Original poster

Newtobecomingamum · 19/06/2013 16:48

Thank you so much for all of your responses. Just on my way with hubby to buy the Angelcare alarm from Toys r Us. Sounds exactly what I need. Thank you! X

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Newtobecomingamum · 20/06/2013 07:59

Wow first night with the Angelcare alarm and what a difference! It's fantastic! Although I didn't get much sleep anyway because the baby was restless, I got a couple of hours and felt so reassured hearing the beeping for his movements and when I forgot to turn it off and picked him up it went off so I know it def works. Thanks so much to everyone who responded!! The monitor is great!

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Ann4New · 20/06/2013 08:41

So glad it helped! Yeah I sometimes forget to flick it off when I pick DS up for a night feed...tends to wake dh with a start! The blue light is also good to feed by at night, not too bright but light enough to see.

Good luck with your little one, enjoy the sleep!x

Original poster

Newtobecomingamum · 20/06/2013 09:04

Many thanks Ann. I just feel so much better! : D

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NatashaBee · 20/06/2013 10:50

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pebspop · 21/06/2013 21:55

glad it helped. I love my angelcare. just listening to the beeps now!

SandyChick · 22/06/2013 21:36

We've used the angelcare monitor with both of our boys. I used it even when ds1 went into a bed (cot bed). I take it on holiday and my parents have one for their house too. I definitely wouldn't be able to sleep without it. It went off one night when ds1 had rolled off it. Dh and myself have never moved so fast!!

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