How Do You Stay Up Through Night Feedings?
(Alternately titled: Zombie Mom Seeks Advice)
While Paul has already proven that it’s possible for him to sleep through the night (he’s done it once, maybe twice), it still happens pretty rarely.
During a typical night, I still get up with him at least once (sometimes twice) a night. Since I’m exclusively breastfeeding, the nightly feeding fall all on me. The truth might be personally exhausting, but my husband has never gotten up with our babies for a feeding. Not once in over 7 years. And yes, I remind him of that little fact all the time.
So I’m doing my best to keep my eyes and ears open every night while burning the midnight oil. But friends, I’m really tired. And my wits are unraveling quickly.
I need suggestions. How do you all stay awake while feeding in the middle of the night? Or do you let yourself fall asleep in the chair/bed/sofa?
There was a time when I would bring Paul into bed with us and nursing him laying down, but for me personally, it just doesn’t feel safe. I’m so tired I’ll fall asleep, I know it. And turning on the TV I fear might wake me up more than I want to be, making it hard to fall back asleep once we’re finished. I know, I have a problem here on my hands.
What do you do? Watch infomercials? Play on your phone? Stare off into space like a zombie mom?
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My 6 month old sleeps through the night now, but even when I do his last feeding at 10-10:30pm I am ready to fall asleep after a long day at work. I tend to play games on my phone or check facebook. When he was younger and up a few times a night to eat I would watch tv, usually Sportscenter, which gets old when you watch it every 3 hours.
I bring my son into bed and nurse him. I’m not worried about rolling over because I know I’m a hyper sensitive sleeper. I wake up when he rolls over, when he moves an arm or leg or sighs. You know there are studies that prove that breast feeding mothers accommodate to their young while still asleep. We were hesitant at first but we do all the safe co-sleeping precautions and after reading the literature I no longer have that fear. Good luck to you!
I don’t have any suggestions since I never tried to stay awake once my baby was past a month or so. I just popped her on in bed with me and went back to sleep.
I agree with Sandra – I never had sleep deprivation issues with either of my two girls, because we bed-shared and I would sleep while baby was nursing. It was a win-win for us; I would get more sleep and they would literally sleep-eat, so I knew they were getting the sleep they needed, too. I’m not suggesting you haven’t done the research, but while I was nervous about it at first, I quickly realized that there was nothing my baby could do without my noticing it, especially since I slept with my arms around them (and do; we still bed-share with both of them, even while being 8 months pregnant). Maybe revisit the issue, at least until he is sleeping through the night or you are rested from the extra sleep? Best wishes to you!!
I bring my 2 month old daughter, who sleeps in a cosleeper, into bed with me but I sit up in bed. I usually play on my iphone, checking Facebook or reading blogs, but sometimes I lean my head back against the headboard and drift off a little. I’ve never got the hang of the side lying position.
I usually play games/check facebook and such on my iPad. I also use it to time the feedings and sleepings so it is always handy in the nursery at night. It will get better and it doesn’t last that long. My little guy is almost four months and he either makes it through the night or gets up just once to feed. I don’t change him or turn on any lights so he stays pretty sleepy and usually does only half a feeding. I’m back in my bed within 15 minutes. But it certainly wasn’t like this two months ago. So stay strong!!! Pretty soon Paul’ll be walking and talking and you’ll miss those middle of the nights together (so they say).
I would put a timer on my phone on vibrate give myself too 20 mins for each breast if needed. Also make myself not to comfortable no putting my legs up no reclining. When I bottle feed I would still use this method. This was with my own children. Know I work nights and have gotten use to the feeding and putting back to bed. But its not easy
take care sweetie it will get better.
I keep my phone close as a distraction but now that she is older and the feedings are shorter I fall asleep in the chair. Likely not the best option but as soon as she moves I pop awake.
I just lay my daughter down next to me in bed as she is nursing. I usually don’t fall asleep, but just kind of snuggle with her while she eats. Luckily, now that’s she’s eight months old, it’s only about 5-7 minutes on each side, then she goes right back to sleep in her crib. In the beginning, she wouldn’t let me lay down, and it took her almost an hour to eat each time, so I’d just sit up and nurse. There’s no way I’d try to play a game or watch tv. Too much light for me, too much distraction for her.
I used to play on my phone (draw something is fun, but hard to do one handed). Or I’d send long emails to my husband to see in the morning about how ridiculous it is that its 3am and I’m awake and I hope you’re enjoying your sleep blah blah blahh… well, I only sent those once or twice during the first 6 weeks when I was up constantly and there was no ‘night feeding’ because it was constant feeding. Anyway, my baby is almost 6 months old and she still sleeps in our room, in a bassinet right next to my side of the bed. I can scoop her up when she wakes and lay side by side and nurse and we fall asleep together and I just put a pillow behind her and behind me to keep me propped and keep her from rolling away. I can’t see the point of having her in her own room when she is still feeding once a night. What a hassle to get out of bed, turn on lights, walk down the hall, and get her out of bed, walk back to bed, nurse, then walk back and put her back! So, yeah, I never thought I’d be “that mom” who co-sleeps with her baby, but for someone who is also breastfeeding, it just makes sense.
I access blogs on my tablet – in fact, I’m breastfeeding and reading this post right now. I used to feel like I woudn’t survive through the night, until I started doing something that pleases me. Good luck!!
I use to use Pinterest.
Honey my baby is up 5 times a night (he’s 7 months) and I work full time. To maintain my sanity we co-sleep so I’m not usually awake for the entire feeding. Other times I’m on my phone reading email and other posts online.
I have two words for you co-sleeper and iPhone. I too would fall asleep while nursing in the night and I have rather large breasts which would get into my baby’s way if not monitored. I now just pick up my iPhone and visit my favorite sites (like I’m doing now at 1 am)! And our co-sleeper allows for baby to be close yet stil safe in their own area. Good luck!
I usually dvr my favorite shows to watch. That and i surf the internet and facebook. My son will be 6 months next week and luckily he’s been sleeping through the night since he was 2months..or when hes going through a growth spurt he’ll get up and fall asleep afyer eating so its never more than 10 minites.
honestly, i let my son sleep in the bed with me sometimes if he refuses to lay down on his own after a feeding,. i am such a light sleeper, that i am aware of his every movement. just keep co-sleeping as safe as possible. if you are a heavy sleeper, on meds that make you tired, drink, etc don’t do it, but for light sleepers in a bed with moderate bedding i don’t think it should be a problem.,