Still awake with newborn

[HashtagTired]

Part 2 ... everyone welcome

@WhoAteAllthePercyPigs another thing that really helped me was being told to take each day or even feed as it comes. you can always decide that the next one is going to be a bottle, fed is best after all.

@WhoAteAllthePercyPigs and @Bobbiepin we also supplement here with formula. In the evening dh looks after him whilst I get sleep. He does he evening feed with a bottle. We have done this from very early in and there has never been any problem with him feeding from boob or bottle. Each baby is different though. But agree, don’t beat yourself up over it. Just do what works for you guys. Glad you are getting support with bf though.

@Efferlunt I totally get that. It’s not the no sleep which is the torture (although it doesn’t help) it’s the waking up when drifting off that gets me. If I New I would have to stay awake all night, I could figure something out but it’s the constant up and down and uncertainty that makes me so exhausted.

Oh and whilst the bf bit isn’t the problem, sitting up in bed is now beginning to get so uncomfortable I dread it. I’ve tried different pillows, but arranging them in the night each time we feed is just another aspect of night feeding that pisses me off. I’m sat here feeding now but haven’t quite got them arranged in ideal position and it’s so flipping uncomfortable. If I was in the chair downstairs that would be fine.

It’s got so annoying (and I’m quite often stiff the next day because of it) that I’ve convinced dh to buy a new bed! I now hate this one. Plus with all the night sweats and occasional boob leakage the mattress could do with changing

I’m not sure if this is feed #2 or an extension of #1

Can’t reach EBLL. Silence is deafening.

@Ohb0llocks he just loves your cuddles ☺️

We’re a fan of EBLL here but also EFLL also is very effective. DS likes EFRL but I have to be very tired to tolerate it.

Another one with night sweats here. Glad it’s not just me. DS only hand a small feed at the last one so wasn’t surprised when he started fussing early. Always hard to tell if he’s waking or just doing the cries he makes in his sleep. He did some massive farts just before I changed him so it could have been the later, but I wasn’t able to sleep through the cries and grizzles and they were getting closer together so I just went for it. Now he is falling asleep on the boob, as per usual.

PercyPigs my midwife and lactation consultant fully support DH giving out DS a bottle each night so I just. Their view is that tired mama’s produce less milk and the quality reduces also. So why wouldn’t you?

Oh yes I feel you on the uncomfortable bed thing Hashtag! I have about 4 pillows which are a massive faff to arrange. And I can't find a position that is comfortable, doesn't help with DS faffing about on the boob. Don't think it's doing my section recovery any good either.

Ugh, DS will not settle, keeps grunting and rooting. Go to sleep child!

Still not settling and feeding again. Sat in tears now I’m just shattered.

DP is also exhausted. Thinks we should just get done formula and ‘it’s just not worth it’ but I don’t want to give up on DS like that. It’s not the feeding that’s the issue it’s his refusal to settle in his bed meaning I don’t get any quality sleep. Don’t think I’ve slept for longer than 2 hrs in a go since he was born.

4th feed of the night, also DS fussy on boob at night. Very strange, feel like more comfort feeding at the end too. Can’t manage to get him to sleep without feeding first. Also goes wierd and hyper wriggling and grunting until he starts feeding / comfort sucking. I also have really strange dreams as no proper sleep. Argh!

@ohb0llocks I am sorry that you are having such a hard time. I’d just advice that fed is best and if mama is tired and stressed she is not able to produce lots of good milk. LO relies on you so try to be kind on yourself and do whatever is needed for your family to be happy.

@GingerHanna isn’t EFRL the harp musical one? I stay well away from that one, especially at night time. I accidentally pressed EBRL the other night and ds did raise an eyebrow at me as if to say ‘what’s this shite? Put on the LL’. Of course it was probably wind in his case, but I nodded and duly corrected my mistake.

Harp or some yes. Last resort for me. EBRL does not exist. I hacked it off after the first press and ate it. A bit tough but mint sauce helped.

@Ohb0llocks try not to be so hard on yourself. You could try one bottle of formula a day, just so you can get some rest? It’s totally up to you as parents but don’t see it as giving up, see it as a way to extend bf because if you’re too tired to bf then you might switch to formula sooner. At least this way you get to continue bf for most feeds. Honestly, it isn’t the end of the world although it may feel differently. It’s not giving up. It’s not anything but survival at this stage. Big hugs.

@GingerHanna I have mental images of Ewan’s little grey legs on a plate with potatoes, veg and gravy. And mint sauce.

Not much to them. Can’t imagine one is enough.

I am a bit concerned about the welfare of GingerHanna ‘s Ewan.

He’s well treated. Loved in fact. Just sans limb.

Wish I was any good with photoshop...

Right, DS has had his mammoth burp so time to Ewan it and see if that drowns out DH’s snoring.

Not even Ewan can drown out the snoring here. Good tip for a leg hack haja

Having a difficult night here. I think DS has reflux I can’t even put him down at all anymore. I feed him then keep him upright for at least 30 mins. S soon as I lay him down, he starts writhing around until he’s crying again. 😢

We have been awake every hour, the Ewan discussions have been making me smile though! I'm going to get some new batteries in our Ewan and give him another try tomorrow (tonight!) I think.

Contemplating waking DH so he can take baby away for a few hours.

OhB0llocks I remember feeling like you describe in the early days, as the other ladies have said as long as baby is fed that is the main objective. Sending you a hug and

@GingerHanna you have made this very sleep deprived lady giggle this morning.

I’m on feed 2, we have been awake for an hour. DD was not playing ball, was hungry but refused to actually eat any of the bottle. Ended up loads dribbling down her requiring an outfit change. Am I doing something wrong.

She is now wide awake and I am desperate to sleep.

Morning all. Clocking in for feed #3 here.
Last night I had a glorious 5 hour stretch which was fab and tonight it was a big feed at 8, up again at midnight, 1am and now 5am so a bit of a step backwards.

Also I found out that I have a tear in the lining of my sphincter so that’s fun  the third degree tear obvs wasn’t enough. The only silver living to it all is that sphincter is a really funny word and I had to hold back my giggles from the very serious GP when she gave me my diagnosis.

@HashtagTired I’m buying DP the most boring of Xmas presents; some ‘posh’ boxers from Levi’s that he likes and these biscuits from M&S that are ‘more chocolate than biscuit’ which is like crack to him. May also get a little Barcelona football team outfit for DS as a gift for him and DP.

Ahh noo DS just did a poofart post feed. To change or not to change, that is the question..

@EEandEmakes3 have you tried lying ds down in your arms after 15-20 mins the transferring him 10 mins after that? He might just be waking up rather than the lying down always being the issue?

Feed #3
And I think I have a sty in my eye

@HashtagTired my DH is a landrover fanatic so I’ve bought him a t-shirt that says ”a landrover dad is like other dads, but cooler.” I’ve also printed off all the photos he took when he renovated our house, I will put them in a nice photo album for him. I can’t afford to get him anything else.

Aaaand the day begins.

So damned tired. Put Ewan on overtime in an attempt to delay the inevitable - made sense in my sleepy haze but yeah, I’m a muppet. No fricking joy, just a slightly irritable DH. He still helped me bring everything downstairs though so I could keep DS down here whilst he gets a couple of hours solid sleep. Good thing he is not working right now!

Glad I could make you lovely ladies smile. Tune in tomorrow night for more sleep deprived mumblings. 😆