Will I Still Be Able To Breastfeed?

[Anonymous]

I say give it a try, OP! My baby started doing longer night stretches early on (I’m not smug because she made up for it by cluster feeding ALL DAY) and my supply was fine. The 5-6 uninterrupted hours of sleep were an absolute life saver for me. Hope it works out for you!

[Anonymous]

Read 12 hours by 12
Weeks

[Anonymous]

I’m also a light sleeper with no ability to nap during the day. But since I can’t nap, I “sleep in” and don’t get out of bed until I’ve cobbled together a decent amount of sleep. I typically stay in bed from 11pm-10:30am in the early weeks to get 7-8 hours off sleep. It’s easier to get back to sleep if you stay in bed than it is to take a nap for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP here. I’m exhausted and still not able to fall asleep for a long time when he wakes up at night. It takes me up to an hour to fall back asleep each time. I’ve dealt with insomnia for many years.

I haven’t slept more than two hours at a time since he was born. I’m not really sure what the 8 hour stretch has to do with anything since I wouldn’t be sleeping for more than a 5-6 hour stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP here. Thanks. Right now I use a Haakaa when I nurse and will be pumping before bed to have that for 1-2 night feeds. I want to fully empty before bed so that it won’t be painful trying to sleep. We might supplement with formula for one of the feeds if my supply decreases.

I don’t feed him laying down. I feed him in every chair or couch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Read 12 hours by 12
Weeks

This doesn’t usually work for a breastfed baby or a newborn. The feeding schedule is 4 feeds 4 hours apart. Most babies who are breastfed eat more 4 times a day. Most breastfed moms need to feed more then 4 times a day to keep up supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also a light sleeper with no ability to nap during the day. But since I can’t nap, I “sleep in” and don’t get out of bed until I’ve cobbled together a decent amount of sleep. I typically stay in bed from 11pm-10:30am in the early weeks to get 7-8 hours off sleep. It’s easier to get back to sleep if you stay in bed than it is to take a nap for me.

OP here. I will start trying that. Usually I just get up when he wakes up anytime after 7am and start the day.

[Anonymous]

I did this and I did lose some supply but it was well worth it. I started at two weeks sleeping a 4 hour stretch and then a 5-6 hour stretch. My supply decreased by a couple of ounces but u supplemented with formula. I would do it if you’re willing to supplement. You feed frequently enough during the day that you shouldn’t lose your supply. If you do start drop, you can always pump when you wake up at 4am or early in the morning. I would take sleep over a couple more ounces of breast milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m also a light sleeper with no ability to nap during the day. But since I can’t nap, I “sleep in” and don’t get out of bed until I’ve cobbled together a decent amount of sleep. I typically stay in bed from 11pm-10:30am in the early weeks to get 7-8 hours off sleep. It’s easier to get back to sleep if you stay in bed than it is to take a nap for me.

Uh, that's almost 12 hours of sleep, not 7-8.

[Anonymous]

I would have had trouble sleeping that long of a stretch at 2 weeks, to be honest. I am a light sleeper as well and waking engorged or in a cold wet bed is no fun at all. If it were me I would do all the feeds but hand over to husband to settle him afterwards and go back to sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m also a light sleeper with no ability to nap during the day. But since I can’t nap, I “sleep in” and don’t get out of bed until I’ve cobbled together a decent amount of sleep. I typically stay in bed from 11pm-10:30am in the early weeks to get 7-8 hours off sleep. It’s easier to get back to sleep if you stay in bed than it is to take a nap for me.

Uh, that's almost 12 hours of sleep, not 7-8.

Because she’s waking up and feeding and taking care of a baby throughout - duh…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP here. Thanks. Right now I use a Haakaa when I nurse and will be pumping before bed to have that for 1-2 night feeds. I want to fully empty before bed so that it won’t be painful trying to sleep. We might supplement with formula for one of the feeds if my supply decreases.

I don’t feed him laying down. I feed him in every chair or couch.

If you really want to breastfeed, I would try cosleeping. At least for an afternoon nap and the first/last stretch of the night. I am pregnant with 3rd and tortured myself with chair feedings for first baby and somewhat with 2nd baby. I am not going to even try with 3rd bc I am too good at falling asleep sitting up now, which is more unsafe that cosleeping. Anyway, lying down nursing is more relaxing.

But I dunno, are you anti-formula? It sounds like you want more sleep and more time with your husband, so maybe you should just start supplementing. You really can’t exclusively breastfeed a newborn without ever napping during the day and while expecting couples time with your husband in the evening.

Also, at 2 weeks my husband was still on leave from work, so we were together at home all day long.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP here. Thanks. Right now I use a Haakaa when I nurse and will be pumping before bed to have that for 1-2 night feeds. I want to fully empty before bed so that it won’t be painful trying to sleep. We might supplement with formula for one of the feeds if my supply decreases.

I don’t feed him laying down. I feed him in every chair or couch.

If you really want to breastfeed, I would try cosleeping. At least for an afternoon nap and the first/last stretch of the night. I am pregnant with 3rd and tortured myself with chair feedings for first baby and somewhat with 2nd baby. I am not going to even try with 3rd bc I am too good at falling asleep sitting up now, which is more unsafe that cosleeping. Anyway, lying down nursing is more relaxing.

But I dunno, are you anti-formula? It sounds like you want more sleep and more time with your husband, so maybe you should just start supplementing. You really can’t exclusively breastfeed a newborn without ever napping during the day and while expecting couples time with your husband in the evening.

Also, at 2 weeks my husband was still on leave from work, so we were together at home all day long.

OP here. I’m very anti co-sleeping. I don’t believe it’s safe and I will never do it.

I feed in the chair during the day and before bed. It’s not torture for me because I have a big comfy chair. I also sit on the couch and feed. He sleeps in the Snoo during the night and I do feed him in bed, he has no issues sleeping and goes right back to sleep once he’s fed. I’m the one with the issue of falling back to sleep.

I’m not anti-formula. I said in another reply that we might start supplementing if my supply decreases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

OP here. Thanks. Right now I use a Haakaa when I nurse and will be pumping before bed to have that for 1-2 night feeds. I want to fully empty before bed so that it won’t be painful trying to sleep. We might supplement with formula for one of the feeds if my supply decreases.

I don’t feed him laying down. I feed him in every chair or couch.

If you really want to breastfeed, I would try cosleeping. At least for an afternoon nap and the first/last stretch of the night. I am pregnant with 3rd and tortured myself with chair feedings for first baby and somewhat with 2nd baby. I am not going to even try with 3rd bc I am too good at falling asleep sitting up now, which is more unsafe that cosleeping. Anyway, lying down nursing is more relaxing.

But I dunno, are you anti-formula? It sounds like you want more sleep and more time with your husband, so maybe you should just start supplementing. You really can’t exclusively breastfeed a newborn without ever napping during the day and while expecting couples time with your husband in the evening.

Also, at 2 weeks my husband was still on leave from work, so we were together at home all day long.

Not OP but many women breastfeed while not sleeping during the day and spending time with their husband or other kids in the evening. This is a load of crap.

Many people are not comfortable co-sleeping. As a woman with an MD husband, we were firmly against it. It’s unsafe no matter how safe people claim it to be.

You can still breastfeed and supplement.

[Anonymous]

It may or may not be fine. Can't make the call now. I was told you can you one four hour stretch in 24 hours, the other stretches should be no greater than 3

I have hormonal insomnia issues too and I take chewable kiddie benadryls. If you try this route DH needs to be responsible for baby for 4-6hrs (SIDS risk)