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This is a space for anyone looking for support, tips on helping your baby sleep or just for a chat with fellow wide-awakers to get you through the night feeds. Sponsored by MAM.

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This is a space for anyone looking for support, tips on helping your baby sleep or just for a chat with fellow wide-awakers to get you through the night feeds. Sponsored by MAM.

The Wide Awake Club

What do you do to keep awake whilst breastfeeding at night?

38 replies

justamumnow · 20/08/2023 02:13

I've now got a 4 week old baby who I breastfeed...I need to look at something on my phone to keep me awake in the wee hours but I'm not on social and the news is so miserable. What do other people do to stay awake whilst breastfeeding at night? Breastfeeding now and little cherub is staring wide eyed back at me...

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MayMi · 20/08/2023 02:19

I used to read books on my phone or kindle, or plus in wireless earphones and listen to a podcast, or play a game on my phone

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Youdontsay87 · 20/08/2023 02:20

I haven't breastfed for 10 years so can't really remember but I think often I would doze off a bit but my mum powers would wake me when they unlatched. They did sleep co sleep with me so I think most of it was done in half sleep.

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twoandcooplease · 20/08/2023 02:28

Congratulations!!
I'm a MN scroller, I like to read the Daily Mail and have Hayu app subscription and watch series like The Real Housewives on my phone with Bluetooth headphones

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LillyLeaf · 20/08/2023 02:48

Earphones in and watched crap trash TV on my phone. I actually really got into Married at first sight Australia which helped stay awake. DS also had reflux so I had to keep him upright for a while after feeding. God I really remember those days. Although I've just been up with my 3 year old so the fun does continue I'm afraid.

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WalkiesAndBiscuits · 20/08/2023 04:06

I downloaded the library app to read books on my phone for free, it would backfire if I got into something and baby had fallen asleep and I would stay up reading it.

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positivethoughts1 · 20/08/2023 04:08

I scroll through MN lol!

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positivethoughts1 · 20/08/2023 04:09

Wish they had a dark mode though...

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JosieB68 · 20/08/2023 04:10

Also breastfeeding my 4 week old.
I scroll mumsnet and Twitter or play solitaire on my phone but also dose off for 5/10 minutes here and there as sometimes it is impossible to stay awake.

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Vault687 · 20/08/2023 04:11

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

DomesticElf · 20/08/2023 04:13

Here with a 3 week old. I actually go to a different room with him, sit on a sofa and scroll MN. The action of physically leaving the bed, taking DS and going to a separate room to BF keeps me awake enough through it.

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AcornHaircut · 20/08/2023 04:18

My husband would wake up with me and take the baby from crib to bed.
I'd sit up and watch TV. Later I coslept.

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peonyjam · 20/08/2023 04:34

Up feeding my 9 week old right now and scrolling Mumsnet. I sometimes read on the Kindle app on my phone. In the earlier weeks I read baby books like the Baby Whisperer in a bit of desperation. But I do remember that first month or so where the sleep deprivation was so intense I would have to pinch myself to try and stay awake. I'd still fall asleep sitting up in bed feeding.

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Mama22b · 20/08/2023 04:35

In the early days I would watch quiz shows as I felt like I needed something to keep my brain active, a new TV series or read a good book. I also used to keep little snack bars in my bedroom and fill a huge flask up with a drink to keep me going through the night.

When baby got a bit older I started to co-sleep and feed in the side lie position which meant I got more sleep. Have a look at safe co-sleeping guidelines on lullaby trust if you haven't already.

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justamumnow · 20/08/2023 04:39

Thanks so much for your replies...ye I scroll MN too...books is a good idea I'm going to download the kindle app on my phone. I didn't think to put headphones in and watch programs/ listen to podcasts so I might try that...its also wanting to stay sleepy enough that you can go back to sleep though isn't it! She's up again now....Good job she's so cute!

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RLmadmum · 20/08/2023 04:44

Some drunken arse has very kindly woken my 7month old so now she's up having a feed on me 🤣 I scroll on MN, social media and read a book on my kindle x

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smilesup · 20/08/2023 05:03

I was obsessed with making sure that mine slept well so I did nothing with any light. I just fed and put them down with no interaction or stimulation just to remind them it's realllly boring at night. Worked well with mine

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Writerscompanion · 20/08/2023 05:17

Awake with my four year old and loving these suggestions - just downloaded Solitaire! She's up 6/7 times a night (is this normal?!) so like others I really struggle not to drop off. At the moment both partner and I have vibrating alarms to check I'm not asleep which helps a bit.

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Writerscompanion · 20/08/2023 05:17

*four week old!

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jellybe · 20/08/2023 05:21

Watched Buffythe vampire slayer. It was my go to night time watching whilst breastfeeding in the early days. Once dc were a few months old I'd bring them into bed with me to feed laying down so I could snooze then my mum instinct would kick in when they were done and I'd put them back in their crib.

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user8665439 · 20/08/2023 06:48

Youdontsay87 · 20/08/2023 02:20

I haven't breastfed for 10 years so can't really remember but I think often I would doze off a bit but my mum powers would wake me when they unlatched. They did sleep co sleep with me so I think most of it was done in half sleep.

Same.

Like fuck I was properly waking up several times in the night!!

I would lie on my side, baby would feed while I dozed, then would pop baby back in to the cot next to me once finished.

I don't understand women who are properly waking up, turning a lamp on, watching TV, reading books etc, aren't ya'll tired?!?!

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Hunkydorybalamory · 20/08/2023 06:53

I coslept (following guidance from lullaby trust), didn't have to try to stay awake and all but "slept through" most feeds. Personally recommend for sanity and safety.

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Mummy08m · 20/08/2023 06:57

I also recommend cosleeping.

But also I play board games online on a site called board games arena - got world class in some niche games when I was on mat leave!

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headcheffer · 20/08/2023 07:08

I didn't try to stay awake. I would either feed in a semi reclined position or feed laying down, and I would doze back off.

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Supertayto · 23/08/2023 13:44

I’ve downloaded our streaming services onto my phone and I watch something with the subtitles on. Or, once past the baby stage I close my eyes and have a bit of a doze but only if I’m awake enough that I won’t fully zonk out or they’re old enough that if I do it’s safe (toddler, co-sleeping, etc). I also relentlessly scroll MN.

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Supertayto · 23/08/2023 13:48

Writerscompanion · 20/08/2023 05:17

Awake with my four year old and loving these suggestions - just downloaded Solitaire! She's up 6/7 times a night (is this normal?!) so like others I really struggle not to drop off. At the moment both partner and I have vibrating alarms to check I'm not asleep which helps a bit.

My 4.5 year old still wakes at least once a night. We’ve found that if she’s even slightly unsettled about anything then all hell breaks loose and she’s up every hour. Illness, worried about something, bad dream, excited about something, etc etc. Not feeding her anymore but when it’s those nights me or DH sleep on her floor. I feel for you. It’s not fun.

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