Will I Still Be Able To Breastfeed?

[Anonymous]

I have a newborn and this no sleep thing is really hard. I do want to breastfeed but I know I need sleep to make milk and also just function. My husband has decided to do the bedtime feed and the first night feed so I can get some sleep. My son is only two weeks old and I’m a little worried this will talk my supply. I know supply is supply and demand at this time and I do worry going to long at night will decrease my supply. I don’t have a supply large supply so I don’t want to tank this early.

[Anonymous]

What if he brings baby to you while you are half asleep to nurse?
I used to nurse lying down all the time. It’s safe if he’s up and managing the baby.
You’ll get the hang of it all soon

[Anonymous]

How long will you go between feeds? How often does he eat now? How is your supply?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if he brings baby to you while you are half asleep to nurse?
I used to nurse lying down all the time. It’s safe if he’s up and managing the baby.
You’ll get the hang of it all soon

OP here. I want to sleep uninterrupted because I’m a light sleeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How long will you go between feeds? How often does he eat now? How is your supply?

OP here. He eats 10 times a day. He eats every two hours during the day.

His feeding schedule ( times change depending on when he wakes up).

7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, 10pm, 1am, and 4am. I plan to feed him at 7pm, pump at 9/9:30pm and be in bed by 10. My husband will feed him at the 10pm and 1am. I will feed him at 4am.

If this will tank my supply, I’m thinking of feeding at 10, pumping, and then sleeping until 4am.

[Anonymous]

If you pump at 9 and feed at 4am, you should be fine regarding supply.

[Anonymous]

If you finish pumping at 9:30 you should be able to feed at four, but you may not be able to sleep comfortably that long at first with engorgement. Keep a manual pump by the bed and pump to relief if needed, or take the baby if you wake up uncomfortable.

[Anonymous]

I know you’re exhausted but it can affect your supply. My DH brought my first one to me at night and I did sleepy breastfeeding. I nursed for 1.5 years. With my second my DH did the night feeding (formula) but I BF’d all the rest and I only made it to 6 months. I couldn’t keep up my supply. But I felt that that was ok too. Both kids are doing great now and I’m pregnant with #3. I’m probably going to try to nurse at night though to continue a little longer, but we’ll see.

[Anonymous]

I did both. Formula and nursing. I don’t think it impacted my supply and it kept me sane. Lack of sleep was breaking me. We have a formula bottle at night. I continued for over a year with both my children doing both.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if he brings baby to you while you are half asleep to nurse?
I used to nurse lying down all the time. It’s safe if he’s up and managing the baby.
You’ll get the hang of it all soon

I would try this - it sucks, but it will get better. Obviously if you are experiencing severe ppd/ppa then maybe do something different. What helped me was having my husband get up with me and do every thing but nurse - just for the first 4-6 weeks I say and hopefully you will start getting some longer stretches.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it might hurt your supply, but if lack of sleep is truly threatening your mental health, then I guess you have to choose.

Life with a newborn is really hard and you’re still in the toughest part. Are you napping/resting at all during the day? Can you start your night super early - like feed baby at 7, give her to your husband for a couple hours, then go to bed? These are things people do to survive newborn days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if he brings baby to you while you are half asleep to nurse?
I used to nurse lying down all the time. It’s safe if he’s up and managing the baby.
You’ll get the hang of it all soon

I would try this - it sucks, but it will get better. Obviously if you are experiencing severe ppd/ppa then maybe do something different. What helped me was having my husband get up with me and do every thing but nurse - just for the first 4-6 weeks I say and hopefully you will start getting some longer stretches.

OP here. No PPD. I’m just tired and need to sleep. I don’t want him to bring the baby to nurse because I’m a light sleeper and will be up. It takes me a while to fall back asleep at night after feeding. I want a solid stretch of sleep.

I’m willing to supplement but I do want to breastfeed and do not want to tank my supply. I’m fine if it decreases a little but I don’t want it to tank.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it might hurt your supply, but if lack of sleep is truly threatening your mental health, then I guess you have to choose.

Life with a newborn is really hard and you’re still in the toughest part. Are you napping/resting at all during the day? Can you start your night super early - like feed baby at 7, give her to your husband for a couple hours, then go to bed? These are things people do to survive newborn days.

OP here. I can’t sleep during the day. I’ve tried and I can’t fall asleep. I have a hard time falling asleep and I usually only get 1 hour of sleep in between feeds. My husband and I eat dinner around 7:30 and it’s been nice having a little time with him before I go to bed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if he brings baby to you while you are half asleep to nurse?
I used to nurse lying down all the time. It’s safe if he’s up and managing the baby.
You’ll get the hang of it all soon

I would try this - it sucks, but it will get better. Obviously if you are experiencing severe ppd/ppa then maybe do something different. What helped me was having my husband get up with me and do every thing but nurse - just for the first 4-6 weeks I say and hopefully you will start getting some longer stretches.

OP here. No PPD. I’m just tired and need to sleep. I don’t want him to bring the baby to nurse because I’m a light sleeper and will be up. It takes me a while to fall back asleep at night after feeding. I want a solid stretch of sleep.

I’m willing to supplement but I do want to breastfeed and do not want to tank my supply. I’m fine if it decreases a little but I don’t want it to tank.

You're a light sleeper NORMALLY, but if you're as exhausted as you say, you shouldn't have any problems falling back to sleep.

I would worry about supply, yes... but I'd also be concerned about engorgement.
Have you had a solid stretch of 8 hours since birth? If not, be prepared to wake up engorged and in pain.

[Anonymous]

I would do the 10 pm feed before going to bed and then just fit a pump in during the day for the overnight feed. It won’t be long that he is doing this. If you call do the 10 ok feed in bed, and then your husband can take baby and put him to bed, that should help you get to sleep.