Hi all,
I’ll try and put all detail in so not drip feeding- apologies if this makes it a long post.
I have a newborn DS who is 2 weeks old, and the lack of sleep is starting to sting. Im going to describe how our nights currently look, and would appreciate any suggestions on how best DH and I can manage the nights to get the most sleep.
For background, I had post natal MH problems with my first and high risk again (although feeling good atm!)
DH works from home at present, mon-fri 9-5. Dealing with clients, can operate tired but does need to be on the ball.
I’m currently on maternity leave, but when I work, it’s part time of an evening 3 evenings a week (4 hour shifts wfh). I’m returning to work in may (various reasons, not needing to go into those now, having a long mat leave is not an option or desired)
We have an older DS who is 3, and he sleeps through (mostly!) from 7pm-6am fairly reliably.
I am exclusively pumping breastmilk for our newborn - every 4 hours, pumping takes 15-20 mins. My schedule is midnight, 4am, 8am, midday, 4pm and 8pm. I’d rather not give formula as me and older DS have CMPA so possible this DS will too. I had hoped to direct nurse at night but having trouble with latch, so putting that in a back burner for now until breastfeeding groups open up again. I’m not bothered if we don’t crack direct feeding hence why happy to put it on backburner.
Baby feeds every 3 hours in the day, but as soon as he hits 11pm, he is every 1-1.5 hours for milk 😭
The way we currently work it:
DH puts older DS to bed, then takes newborn downstairs so I can sleep - I do my 8pm pump and go straight to sleep. He brings baby back up at midnight, I do my midnight pump then take over for baby.
I “cover” midnight-6am, then DH gets up at 6 with both DC and takes them down, leaving me in bed until my 8am pump.
By 4am though I’m ready to crack. Between pumping, feeding baby and settling baby I don’t sleep at all between midnight and 6am. He’s such a noisy baby when he sleeps - constantly snorting, snuffling and squeaking.
DH has been doing the inevitable 4am bottle while I pump, so I can get back to sleep quickly. But 1-1.5 hour later, baby is awake AGAIN 😴
Is the way we are working it as good as it’s going to get for now, and we just need to ride out the crap sleep?
Any idea why baby is going longer in the day as opposed to night? And how do we reverse that?!
With the details given - how would you manage it with your DH/DP?
Any exclusive pumpers know how to go about dropping the midnight pump? I’m a bit worried about going a long stretch without pumping (I have a huge oversupply and currently pump 1300ml a day over 6 pumps)
I appreciate I have it very good compared to a lot of mums who are left to do it all.