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Original poster

Awake with newborn, anyone else? :)

979 replies

Jellybean2017 · 14/08/2017 01:35

My little boy is nine days old. He sleeps pretty well during the day but at night just wants to be held and breastfed. He doesn't settle in his moses basket at night (but he will quite often do so during the day)

Anyone else up doing the same?! I'm not keen on the idea of co-sleeping but would be grateful for any advice. Baby sleeps in a gro-snug and we have a dream sheep but I'm guessing this frequent feeding and love of cuddles in the night is probably just par for the course at this early stage? 😊 I am napping during the day so I'm probably averaging about 6 hrs sleep in a 24 hr period.

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NinaMarieP · 16/08/2017 23:10

I've just had 2 hour sleep to prep me for whatever is to come. Baby is still asleep so I'm going to try for more sleep myself. Good luck everyone, wishing you all much sleep!

NinaMarieP · 16/08/2017 23:31

Nope, I must have a sixth sense that he's about to be hungry as we are now feeding. Yet to know if it will be a cluster or not as he doesn't do that every night. Seeing as he didn't last night I kinda expect him to do it tonight.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 16/08/2017 23:38

Think we are in for another night of cluster feeding too - he keeps settling for ten mins and then wants more milk every 35 to 45 mins...

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NinaMarieP · 16/08/2017 23:41

I found that my cluster feeds were shorter if I didn't try to soothe/placate him in between. If he was the slightest bit hungry I just keep feeding him. Awfully relentless at the time but it was over quicker.

Lallypopstick · 16/08/2017 23:55

Evening all. My little one decided to mega sleep for over 3 hours until about 10pm. We've done a couple of feeds and I'm feeding a sleepy baby currently. I had some sleep when he did, and so did my partner, and I've managed to have a shower. Feeling ready for the night shifts now, though hopefully he'll follow the pattern of the last two nights and get decent stints.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 00:01

Will give that a try Nina, thanks.

Glad you're feeling ready for the night ahead Lally, it is much easier to cope that way. I managed a couple of hours of sleep earlier today too so hoping I will be able to stay awake if necessary. Midnight already I suppose!!

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NinaMarieP · 17/08/2017 00:18

I'm not promising anything mind you, it might have been a fluke. Hard to tell in these early days.

We've just had the worst nappy change! He was dirty and wet and as I reached for a new nappy he peed on himself, the mat, the sofa (in two places) my v pillow, his muslin swaddle and my pyjama leg...I got him cleaned up and into another nappy and as I fetched him new clothes he did a massive poo... 😫😰

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 00:41

Oh no! Not a good start to the night 🙈 I feel like you have to be almost ninja like to avoid being covered in anything during nappy changes 😲

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NinaMarieP · 17/08/2017 00:44

At least he waited until the nappy was on to do the poo. Silver lining and all that! He's just had a good feed now, and I'm wondering if he'll go down for a bit as he's fairly zonked.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 01:33

True, that was good of him! Still carrying on with 30 mins feeding then 30 mins sleep here. He gets so.sleepy when he is feeding!

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NinaMarieP · 17/08/2017 02:10

Yep, I'm I'm always jiggling his uppermost arm to keep him going and he pretty never much comes off awake.

LadyNymeriaGhost · 17/08/2017 02:41

2am, like clockwork. We've got gas I can't
get up. DH is taking both kids out for a bit tomorrow so at least I can recover.

Lallypopstick · 17/08/2017 02:57

Had a couple of hours which I was surprised about - didn't think he'd settle for so long after the last stint being a few hours. Short feed now and he's asleep on my knee. Will give him a few minutes and we'll go back to bed.

I don't know if this has made a difference (or whether it's just because he's getting a little older), but using a grobag / sleeping bag seems to have coincided with longer sleeps - I'm thinking it's because he keeps all the warmth in it and doesnt wake up when he goes in the snuzpod.

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 03:11

We are still going strong with the every 30 minutes feeds! Aside from being exhausted I am really hungry myself now! He is asleep at the breast so I'm going to change him soon see if I can wake him up a bit for the other one.

Are any of you expressing milk / thinking of doing so yet? I thought the advice was to wait six weeks but my midwife said I can start now as then husband could work with a night feed. This sounds great but just don't want to compromise my supply or confuse my baby...

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NinaMarieP · 17/08/2017 03:37

As fas as I know advice is to wait until breastfeeding is "established" around.4 weeks before adding a dummy or bottles but I plan to try both I think.

guesswhosback · 17/08/2017 03:46

Morning
Party time whoop whoop
I started my shift at 3.
Changed her
Fed her
Half way through she pooed
Changed her again
Finished bottle
Burping now
She is falling asleep on my chest
But has a bit of congestion so heavy breathing at moment.
Will have to use snot sucker in the morning.
How's everyone else partying at this hour?

Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 03:47

Yes I thought that was the case... I seem to get different advice from different Midwives which is a little frustrating. Would be so nice if my husband could help with the feeds though!

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Original poster
Jellybean2017 · 17/08/2017 03:49

My party is sounding very similar to yours guess. Including the congestion! We have saline drops to go in his nostrils which Dr prescribed. Seem to be helping but still very snuffly like a piglet!

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DeliciouslyHella · 17/08/2017 03:52

Can I join the newborn 'sleep thief' party?

DD2 is 5 weeks and currently on my chest after a fairly unsuccessful feed of just 2oz. She's point blank refusing any more so now has the dummy. She also has a congested nose and is snoring. Need to pluck up the courage to do the transfer to the crib...

abigailgabble · 17/08/2017 03:58

mine is nearly 17 weeks now! so I'm just doing my (pride comes before a fall) once nightly wake up to top up his tank before I pop him back in crib.

my advice is this .. we co slept for the first 6 weeks. it wasn't planned but within 2 nights it was apparent he wasn't ready to be alone/uncurled... so we broke a load of 'rules' Hmm but it meant he barely cried and we both all slept well and kept our shit together (DP moved to spare as he sleeps for the dead). and... it was lovely. if I have another baby i will do it again without question. google the fourth trimester. i wasted a lot of time in those first 6 weeks feeling guilty that I was somehow damaging the baby and worrying i was going to somehow hurt him during the night which is clearly nonsense, so if you do (which i recommend! please follow the guidelines and please enjoy it! it's lovely, and the kindest thing for your baby, imo)

so at about 6/7 weeks I started putting him into his crib (pre warmed with a HW bottle Hmm) and after a few nights it became v easy. now he is quite interchangeable.. my DP is away a lot so sometimes he does his first stink from 2130-330 in the crib then stays in my bed for rest of night (cos I'm half asleep and don't want to get up!), all night in his crib if daddy here, or if mummy has watched a horror film or the news ans scared herself silly he sleeps with me ☺️. basically he's turned out to be a really great night sleeper and I think that's because we were v kind to him and listened to him telling us what he needed (to not be alone in cold crib) in the early days, so he learnt that night time is for sleeping! just wish i had enjoyed it now felt guilty about it! sort out your advice NHS, don't see how it's possible to have a happy newborn without co sleeping tbh.

abigailgabble · 17/08/2017 04:01

stink Grin = stint!

guesswhosback · 17/08/2017 04:02

@DeliciouslyHella
I have put a blanket over her back to keep warm so when I put her back down she won't be cold and the just quick swaddle with blanket inside .. it works for us.

@Jellybean2017 haven't tried any drops with her but seeing a dr today so will ask. Wish I could let her sleep on me all night as it is best position for her, bless her my little munchkin.

Hope they all feel better soon xx

Lallypopstick · 17/08/2017 05:23

Jelly I haven't expressed yet (baby is nearly 4 weeks). I'm struggling to get my head around when I would do this. I've got a Haakaa pump that I could put on the other boob during a feed, but then what if he wants the other boob as well? I also don't mind the night feeds - if I can get enough sleep beforehand, though my partner could maybe do a late evening feed if I did express.

Abigail I have found myself wondering about safe co-sleeping. It definitely feels much more natural and intuitive and I'm sure there are cultures who just do it without any issues.

Hopefully that's me done with feeds until 'morning' now - morning being 7am, though if he wants to do a sleep after the next feed, that would be great!

NinaMarieP · 17/08/2017 05:29

I feel bad now for you all now, he went down at half 12/1 ish (I forget) and he is still asleep. I've had some pretty good sleep!

My turn for more sleepless nights will come though,'I'm sure.

LadyNymeriaGhost · 17/08/2017 07:11

DS slept 10-2 and 3-6.30. He got a little farty so I put him on my chest and he's still asleep now. I've got to say so far he's a much better sleeper than my first. She woke every 45 mins for 6 months - silent reflux.
As for co-sleeping, we had to do it with DD and it worked well. At 6 months she went in her cot in her own room and has slept through barring illness since, so don't worry about forming bad habits etc.
We got a side sleeper cot for DS and I love it. So much easier to blindly reach for the dummy and shove it in. DS spent about a week only sleeping on my chest, so I just slept upright and rolled with it not advised. Now, atm he settles really well on his own in his cot in a doomoo. He wears a sleeping bag and sleepy wings with quite loud white noise, and this seems to be working, though I'm aware it could all change.