Does BF always mean sleep deprivation?

[SqidgeBum]

I am pregnant on DD2. I ff DD1 for personal reasons. I want to give BF a go this time around, but I have been put off a bit by scary stories from friends and peers. All my friends, my NCT group, my colleagues, and family seem to have had a really hard time with BF and sleep. Basically, they dont sleep for months and months. My neighbour has an 11 week old and hasnt had more than 2-3 hours sleep a night since the day he was born. Half the time she doesnt get one minute of sleep. He can cluster feed for 17 hours a day!

Did anyone have a good experience of sleep and BF? I dont mind being up in the night. Even with FF DD1 I was up a lot, but I have zero family support, a toddler under 2, and a husband who works 12 hour shifts. I cant have basically zero sleep for months and months, not to mention I cant sit on a couch feeding for 8 hours a day with a toddler who still needs attention. Someone please tell me its easier than I have been told? I dont want to start with the mentality that I am destined to give up.

I have a good news BF story for you! My little girl has been BF since birth and she has been a great sleeper from birth too. I am under no illusions that this is the norm though! My son was a terrible sleeper and also BF. I do think overall, BF babies seem to wake more frequently compared to many ff babies but there are exceptions and my little one is an exception. I do feel more sorry for mothers who's first babies were great sleepers because if it doesn't happen with the second one they are so unprepared! I am (in hindsight) incredibly grateful that my first born was such a bad sleeper because anything different 2nd time round was just a happy bonus. But, in answer to your question, yes! BF babies can sleep at night. Just don't expect it and you won't be disappointed

My bf DD1 was a very frequent waker for a very long time, but I think she would have been with formula too although I can't say for sure. Once she built up to two-three hour blocks of sleep at a time it was quite manageable and she first slept through at 2.

I have another on the way so a bit worried about the sleep, but I did find that being able to roll over and pick up baby from crib, feed and pop back was much easier than I imagine going downstairs to mix up formula would be, I'm really worried that I won't be able to breastfeed next because the idea of making up formula at night, or to prepare to take out and about fills me with absolute dread!

I breast fed and co-slept. I know it’s not for everyone. But I barely had any issues with sleep, they’d wake, I’d barely move and just latch them on, they’d feed and go back to sleep. Even nights when they’d wake 5 or 6 times to do that, I’d still overall get a decent nights sleep. Both brilliant sleepers now. About to have a third and plan to do the same.