Will This Ruin Breastfeeding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he swaddled tightly OP? My babies are every 2-3 hours during the day, but developed one 5-6 hour night stretch really quickly, like 11-4am or so. I credit the swaddle.

It sounds like you just had a good sleeper and easy baby. I doubt the swaddle has much impact on whether your baby got hungry or not.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it can’t hurt to try, OP! The first few weeks are absolutely brutal and also is necessary. If it helps both my kids settled into better nighttime habits around 3-4 weeks (one did a longer stretch and it didn’t impact my supply; kid 2 is still waking up every 3-4 hours at 7 weeks BUT he eats for 15 minutes and zonked right back out so it doesn’t disrupt my sleep as much) so there’s hope that things will get better regardless. Do whatever works for you and enjoy the baby! <3

[Anonymous]

I used to nurse around 9:00, and then pump around 11 and go to sleep. Husband would bottle feed around midnight, and I'd do the next feeding around 4:00. Having those 5 straight hours of sleep was great for me, and I exclusively breastfed for one year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not exactly the same thing but I did this at 4 weeks when my baby started sleeping 4-5 hour at a time. I breastfed on-demand throughout the day and then last feed at night. My son cluster fed from 9-11pm very night and then took a big feed at 11pm. I pumped until fully empty after he ate and he would sleep until 3/4am. It did start to get uncomfortable around the 4 hour mark but I pushed through and waited until he woke up. I didn’t lose my supply but I did have to feed on one side and then pump on the other at the 3/4am feed because I was so full. Now my baby sleeps 8 hours and my supply has adjusted.

Are you me? Same exact trajectory for my baby. No impact on supply.

OP, don’t skip feedings. Your boobs will wake you up anyway. It will get better.

[Anonymous]

Try it once and see how you feel at 4am the next am. I would go for every other bight first. Sounds like you are making a bunch of milk but 2-4 weeks is when supply is regulating to babys needs. So draining at least every 4 hrs is helpful. He should get longer stretched by 4 weeks as well. Good luck. The first month is brutal with nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he swaddled tightly OP? My babies are every 2-3 hours during the day, but developed one 5-6 hour night stretch really quickly, like 11-4am or so. I credit the swaddle.

This was not because of the swaddle - you got lucky friend ops baby sounds very normal (and yes it’s so exhausting op). My LC said fine to do this one night that research shows a six hour stretch really makes a difference so mental health over breastmilk always but I think it’s hard to imagine if you do it every night this early that it wouldn’t have some impact but that’s also ok - it really is. If you supplement with some formula it will be completely fine too

[Anonymous]

I did this once and was mad at myself afterward because I felt like it set us back because of nipple confusion, so that might be another thing to consider

[Anonymous]

For more sleep during the day can you nurse side lying on the bed? Clear all blankets off, and when baby is done dad (or another helper) can take baby to burp him and you can go back to sleep.

Full disclosure, I co-slept like this from day 4 or so because I got zero sleep if I didn’t (and my ex flat refused to do any feedings even day or night when I was still healing from birth and I needed some sleep). My son was big though, and had head control from day 1 (so without blankets I felt comfortable - I know many don’t and that’s OK but mine is now 13).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did this once and was mad at myself afterward because I felt like it set us back because of nipple confusion, so that might be another thing to consider

There is no such thing. Nipple confusion is a myth. Babies tend to want the bottle because it’s easier and they don’t have to work as hard to get they milk out. Many babies go from bottle to breast. It’s much more common for babies to reject the bottle than to reject the breast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did this once and was mad at myself afterward because I felt like it set us back because of nipple confusion, so that might be another thing to consider

This is a myth. There is no such thing as nipple confusion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did this once and was mad at myself afterward because I felt like it set us back because of nipple confusion, so that might be another thing to consider

There is no such thing. Nipple confusion is a myth. Babies tend to want the bottle because it’s easier and they don’t have to work as hard to get they milk out. Many babies go from bottle to breast. It’s much more common for babies to reject the bottle than to reject the breast.

Well what I meant by nipple confusion is my baby seemed to want the bottle because it was easier. Maybe it is more common for babies to reject a bottle than reject a breast but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. I am telling you what my experience was and OP can consider whether the possibility is something to take into consideration.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it will.

[Anonymous]

The engorgement in this situation would’ve absolutely killed me. It wouldn’tve actually netted sleep for me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For more sleep during the day can you nurse side lying on the bed? Clear all blankets off, and when baby is done dad (or another helper) can take baby to burp him and you can go back to sleep.

Full disclosure, I co-slept like this from day 4 or so because I got zero sleep if I didn’t (and my ex flat refused to do any feedings even day or night when I was still healing from birth and I needed some sleep). My son was big though, and had head control from day 1 (so without blankets I felt comfortable - I know many don’t and that’s OK but mine is now 13).

OP here. I know many others do but I would never be okay with co-sleeping. There are too many babe things that can happen when a mom is sleep deprived and I don’t think I would get any rest because I would be worried about rolling over. I’m a heavy sleeper when I do fall asleep and it would make me worry too much. I have many friends/family in healthcare who advise against it and my husband would never be okay with it. I’m glad it worked for you but I feel it’s dangerous and I wouldn’t do it.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for all the responses. I did it last night and it went okay. I decided to do one feed and went about our normal evening and then fed at 10pm. I pumped right after and went to sleep at 11. I slept until about 3am and then I started feeling uncomfortable. I held out until he woke up at 4am but it was tough. I’m not sure if I’m going to wait until he’s older or I’m going to wake him to eat. I’m not sure if I can do this every night. I haven’t had any issues with supply but it’s only been one night I do. I do feel a little more rested with the 4 hours I was able to sleep.