DS is 16 days old now and I've been struggling with the frequency of BF and how long he can take to settle in the night. A couple of pretty poor nights had left me a bit of a wreck. We decided last night to co-sleep from the outset, with DH sleeping on the spare mattress in what is, in theory, the baby's room, and baby and I in DH's and my bed.
It worked like a dream. DS zonked out on DH around 9.30 so DS and I went to bed and DS didn't wake til nearly 2am, woohoo! I haven't had that much sleep in one go for over a week. Fed lying in bed, didn't seem to take too long or be much fuss, then DS awake again somewhere before 5am. Not so good then, he was a bit fussy, bit awake, filled nappy so I changed it, fed on and off and then was asleep again by 6.30 when I made a nest of pillows and snuggled into it with him. I wasn't too keen to wake up at 7.30 when my alarm went off (other children to get ready for school) but I still feel dramatically better than the last couple of days, and there were no anxiety attacks in the night either which is fantastic as they were really getting me down.
Still wish I could wave a magic wand and have sleeping totally sorted, but that will take months if not years I know. Also wish I could spend the night with my husband, but perhaps better wait til I've been sterilised for that! Here's hoping co-sleeping continues to be such a godsend - also felt I bonded well with DS last night, better than I have so far