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Sleep

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Original poster

Breastfeeding baby can't put down to sleep

137 replies

firsttimemum15 · 05/01/2016 23:15

I don't expect my 6 say old to sleep through the night by any means but I can't out her down to sleep at all. She will sleep after feeds but only on me or partner. She did not sleep for the standard 3 hours in hospital but would sleep in the cot. We've been home for two nights and for both of those I've been feeding at night pretty much constantly. I don't mind but when I put her down she's wakes and wants feeding.

I'm worried about Co sleeping and don't want to do it. I have a bedside crib but I think it's too big for her so have been using carry cot.
Also don't understand how bedside cot works. Babies are supposed to sleep with their feet at end of cot so have been putting her feet at the end towards my head.

Due to the way it had to be set up eg not level with our bed I'm unsure how to use this as an extension of our bed to feed her when we eventually get to that point.

Can anyone help. So many times I've questioned what I'm doing and why. Partner is v supportive

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Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 20/01/2016 19:47

We will try to get out u get ready then she wants to feed which takes a while.... then I need to pump. ... then the cycle repeats. We have to go out tomorrow to an appointment and hoping to get to a baby group next week. I can't drive yet so getting to BF group will be hard as I have people to take me to the other places. If partner is off on the days of bf groups I'm sure he would take us. X

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fluffikins · 20/01/2016 20:11

I'd relax about going out for now unless you're desperate to. I remember those early weeks just sitting watching box set after box set (it was fabulous!) I used to set up a station of food, drinks and my phone before she started feeding and settle in for the day, making breaks for the loo when possible.

If you're still wanting to pump why not pump as you feed?

You're doing really great, keep up the fluids and oats etc.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 20/01/2016 20:38

I am feeding and pumping. It's hard. I have no hands. Partner still off work so is a bug help. I'm nit in a rush to get out just the odd to me I've wanted a change of scenery thought it wpuld be good for her. But I think staying in for now is the way to go. I just started to climb the walls a bit. I'm not wanting to pump. I think I will be pleased when I can stop all that now. Initially I wanted to combination feed. But now sure how easy that would be you don't know what amount to leave etc and after being tied to pump I don't think I want to do it now. 0lus we've only hired pumps short term.

Tell me about it woth the oats last night I ate raw oats. Not sure whether I'm eating enough oats.

But again how long should you keep religiously eating oats for if breast feeding and how long do I take fenugreek for?

I love how supportive people r thanks fluffikins. X

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Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 20/01/2016 20:40

PS just wondered if others found it hard. Aw I love her being this tiny though. Just wondered if not going out was the norm... or whether we were struggling due to feeding and pumping cycle....
PS sorry for all typos - no hands ...

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Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 21/01/2016 01:42

She's now been on me pretty much constantly from 3pm -8ish. Fell asleep at 8ish bt we woke her for her bath. Been on me since end of Bath at 8.30/9 until now petty much constantly.

Do I give bottle of expressed? Worried she isn't getting what she needs

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WilLiAmHerschel · 21/01/2016 01:55

My dd used to feed constantly. If she fell asleep I'd stroke her cheek to get her to feed again. She would be on me for hours like you. Usually once she got to the more asleep stage I'd take her off the breast and hold her tight for a bit, then lay her down. We found our dd slept better on her front then her back, which is against guidelines but as we had a breathing monitor we felt confident in doing that.

I never worried about her constant feeding as she was gaining weight well and her nappies were normal. I never could get much milk out by expressing, it's never as good as a baby at getting the milk to come so not really a good guide of your supply.

It's perfectly normal not to go out much with a newborn. It was a longish while before I was physically up to walking much anyway. I started with small trips, building up my confidence to breastfeed out and about. I don't think I really started going out regularly until dd was about 4 months. I did go out before then of course! Just not as much.

shiteforbrains · 21/01/2016 02:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 21/01/2016 03:56

No she doesn't have wind. Some times she brings some back u9. To night I found a bug wet patch on the matress don't know if she'd dribbled some out of of it was sick. It was bigger than the usual amount of sock.

She was on me until 2am. She's slept from then until about 3.30am. Not really had any poops overnight. Should this be cause for concern.
I know pumping isn't an indication of supply. But I know I've had low supply whether it's still low remains to be seen.

It had just felt like an excessive time to feed. She had a growth spurt the other day and was off and on then she wasn't even on me constantly then.

Wil IAm- why did you wake her up if she fell asleep? My baby often gets dopey feeding and at the end will fall asleep but I let her sleep.

S for brains- I wondered if I'm doing wrong feeding her in laid back positions as she does sometimes seem to snort. The problem is I'm so tired I just can't sit upright the whole time. I've also tried to feed her on her side too.

Unfortunately we don't have a spare bed otherwise I'd definitely make use of it.

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fluffikins · 21/01/2016 15:06

The falling asleep is natural, but if you're worried about weight you can wake them every 2 hours for a feed if you wish.

And yes, I found it hard, we had tongue tie and I had flat nipples and then we found out she was allergic to dairy so I had to give that up as it was causing constant screaming and breast refusal and I've had a host of other problems but now 8 months on I'm in the swing of things and pleased I persisted. I also remember my first trip out to aldi and being so pleased with myself, I was only out 20 mins

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 21/01/2016 15:51

How did you find out about dairy allergy. She's just done a green poo and ive read it could be a sign of allergy or not enough hind milk.

Gosh you start dealing one thing and something else comes along.

We are back at clinic to get the remaining tongue tie sorted. It was dine in hospital but bf midwife thinks a small bit remains. I really really hope that that is the magic solution. It's only a tiny bit not sure how much difference it will make.

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fluffikins · 21/01/2016 16:29

My dd screamed oretty much constantly for 7 weeks which is how I knew something was up. I wouldn't get worried over one green poo, if they're doing it a lot then you might want to find what's causing it but one days worth is nothing to worry about in my opinion.

Yes get the tt sorted, could well sort it out, go private if needs be. I did and was the best thing I did as they were making me wait about 16 weeks on the nhs

WilLiAmHerschel · 21/01/2016 17:19

Wil IAm- why did you wake her up if she fell asleep? My baby often gets dopey feeding and at the end will fall asleep but I let her sleep.

I'd wake her up by stroking her cheek if she fell asleep too quickly (in my opinion) and I wanted her to get more milk.

Btw my dd had green poos when she was teething. From what I've read on mumsnet it's pretty common.

Have you looked at Kellymom? I think someone linked it earlier. Here's their page on hind and fore milk. It's worth having a read.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 21/01/2016 19:03

Thanks will have a look it's a great Web page. Oh yes I try to keep her sucking if she falls asleep too quickly but with pump in one hand a d baby in 9th er it's often hard. I do the same though.

She's too young to teeth just yet

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BeagBoo · 21/01/2016 19:10

Get a sleepyhead for the cot. Worked for us.

WilLiAmHerschel · 21/01/2016 19:14

Hmm maybe not teething then. Still it seems pretty common and nothing to worry about. I found Kelly mom to be so useful when I first started breastfeeding. That and mumsnet were always my first ports of call for everything! How old is your dd now? Hopefully removal of final tongue tie will help you.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 21/01/2016 19:37

3 wks old today.

I've looked at the sleepy heads/cocoons but they are expensive. If it didn't work I'd have spent a lot of money that I can't really afford.

They look like they have great reviews from people who use them from overnight sleeping but my cousin has one and has been told not to use it overnight though.

It's so confusing.

OP posts:

WilLiAmHerschel · 21/01/2016 22:25

I never had anything like that but I think I would definitely have got one when

WilLiAmHerschel · 21/01/2016 22:26

I never had anything like that but I think I would definitely have got one when

WilLiAmHerschel · 22/01/2016 08:39

Sorry I was having problems posting last night and it obviously ended up posting the start of my message twice! Sorry.

I was trying to say, if I'd heard of those sleepyhead type things I would have definitely bought one for dd. Is there any where you can rent one from temporarily or could you borrow your cousins for one night to see how your dd finds it? It says on the nct they can be used as a travel cot so that must mean for overnight sleeping.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 22/01/2016 08:59

I wouldn't rent one fir tge same reason 8 wouldn't rent a matress for her. I've read mixed things about the sleepy head. I think I'd be more inclined to use a cocoon.

It's so confusing by tge time I make up my mind she won't fit in it x

OP posts:

fluffikins · 22/01/2016 11:46

The sleepyhead has been fantastic for us. Technically it's all washable so a second hand one isn't really a problem and know they're a lot cheaper on eBay

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 22/01/2016 12:50

I can see why people get them they look amazing There's just so much conflicting info.

Aside from that baby was weighed this am and only put on an oz in 5 days so I've been advised to give top ups of expressed milk again.

Will I ever be able to EBF. She put on weight before without top ups. Feels again like a step bk.

OP posts:

WilLiAmHerschel · 22/01/2016 15:02

I think if you search kellymom they have lots of info on weight gain and some tips. My dd lost her birth weight as expected, then gained normally but she went down again when she was a few months older (sorry I can't remember exact age). I was told this is bad but found out on kellymom it is normal for bf babies.

I know your dd is a lot younger so weight loss has to be treated differently but there were tips that helped me like feeding fully on one side until the baby stops, then swapping and then when she finishes go back to the first. Also what I said about stroking her cheek if she gets drowsy mid feed etc.

Try not to see giving her top ups as a step back. The importsnt thing is that she gets fed and grows. It may be thT you end up topping up with formula, it doesn't matter. As long as she is thriving that is the main thing.

Original poster

firsttimemum15 · 22/01/2016 15:43

Yes she lost 10% of her birth weight then put it back on and more. Started with top ups and she still put on amazingly even when I stopped the top ups.

I keep her on one boob until she finishes then swap or offer the other. I t9ok advice form.kelly mom last night 9f starting her on the boob she last fed from to get hind milk.

It's so frustrating. X

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fluffikins · 22/01/2016 16:38

You will get there. I remember those first weeks feeling so long but soon you'll have got into a rhythm with the feeding and it'll all seem a million miles ago when you were worrying about weight and fore and hind milk.

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