I keep falling asleep while breastfeeding

[Moonshine160]

Any tips on how to stay awake? This is during night feeds, never in the day. I used to feed him with us both lying down but it was guaranteed that I would doze off into a deep sleep and it scared me so I started feeding him sitting up and managed to stay awake but over the last couple of weeks I’ve been that exhausted that I keep falling asleep sat up with him in my arms. I put a lamp on and have tried reading and going on my phone but I’ve even embarrassingly fallen asleep holding my phone. I am just that tired. He is 4 months old and feeds either 2 or 3 times in the night. I only do it for a few mins at a time before I wake up and DS is usually asleep with his head rested on my boob. It’s scaring me that I keep doing this

If you're that tired you're falling asleep sitting up, the safest thing to do is set up your bed following the safe 7 rules. Have a look on the lullaby trust website. It's still safer to fall asleep breastfeeding lying down following the safe 7 than sitting up with baby in your arms.

It would be safer to co-sleep in a planned way that minimise risk, then risk falling asleep holding baby.

Much better to fall asleep lying down with baby next to you, following safe sleep 7. I dropped off with my first sat up in bed and woke up to find she'd slipped off me. Can't beleive I didn't feel it happen. I Absolutely terrified me and I've never fed sat up at night again when I'm tired. Cosleeping saved me (and my baby) and I got so much more sleep, it was amazing.

Make sure you and the bed are set up for safe bedsharing, and just feed lying down and go to sleep. This is what nature intended and is why breastfeeding makes you and baby sleepy, and it’s a great way to make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Safe bedsharing is safe. It’s much less safe to try and stay awake and potentially fall asleep where baby can fall between pillows or something.

Just to say I remember that exhaustion and you are doing great, not sure I would have had the wherewithal to ask for this advice! This phase doesn't last long, keep at it xxx

I had an app with my first that had an alarm go off… at first it was silent and you just pressed the screen to clear it (to show you were still awake) and if you ignored it then it got gradually louder. I can’t remember for the life of me what it was called and I’ve googled but it’s just suggesting standard feed tracker apps. I’ll keep racking my brain! You could possibly replicate with a standard iPhone alarm. I’m not entirely convinced I’ve explained that very well, but it might be a moot point if I can’t recall what it was anyway!

That’s lovely, thank you x

Thanks everyone, I do make sure that the duvet is never above my waist but I will follow the lullaby trust guidelines and try the side lying position again. Another reason why I switched to feeding him sat up is because he was always more fussy when feeding lying down, he would latch on and off constantly and get agitated. He has reflux though but is slowly growing out of it so I’ll give it another go. I initially start off feeling quite awake but breastfeeding itself makes me so sleepy! Thanks all for being kind

I was the exact same! I think bf at night is meant to make you both sleepy for some evolutionary reason. I started co - sleeping around that age. A literal life saver, it does get better x

That would be a great idea, I’ll look into that! In the earlier weeks my DH would also be semi awake too so it put my mind at ease but those times are long gone now and nothing wakes him at all

Breastfeeding releases a sleep hormone

'Breastmilk contains a hormone called Prolactin which helps to induce sleep. Breastfeeding mums release this hormone into their own bloodstream whilst feeding their little ones, which allows them to fall asleep faster & easier after a feed (both nighttime and for naps during the day).'
From
babymori.com/blogs/lifestyle/how-breastfeeding-affects-sleep

Feeding on your side in a bed set up for safe sleep is your best bet. SIDS risk also begins to tail off at four months.

I co slept and bf, typically had no real memory of feeding during the night (I didn't get great sleep, but it was still the best option for a while).