Will I Still Be Able To Breastfeed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It can still top up your tank a little bit to lie down in the dark with your eyes closed.

[Anonymous]

Note that just because you are anti osleepijg you can still feed in bed and just have spouse picked him up when he is fed. Will make it easier for you to sleep—you can even fall asleep with him on breast and then have spouse take him off breast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Note that just because you are anti osleepijg you can still feed in bed and just have spouse picked him up when he is fed. Will make it easier for you to sleep—you can even fall asleep with him on breast and then have spouse take him off breast.

Stop trying to push co-sleeping. OP said she is not comfortable co-sleeping and doesn’t like to nurse laying down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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)

What? Why would her husband be responsible for the baby while he is sleeping?

[Anonymous]

I didn't breastfeed or pump from 11 pm to 7 am or so the first week postpartum because I was so exhausted from labor (2 days labor, unplanned c section, infection = very long hospital stay). And my supply ended up being fine.... but I know everyone is different. At about 2 weeks postpartum, I got into a routine of waking up at 3 or 4 am to pump (after breastfeeding or pumping at 10 pm) ... and now I go from 10 pm to 5 am without BFing / pumping and my supply is still strong. But my lactation consultant walked me through all this. I also spent a lot of time pumping in the early days to build my supply. (I had a premie who couldn't latch / BF for several weeks, hence the pumping).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP I have breastfed two babies and my setup was the same as yours (especially for my second baby, who had a Snoo by my bed and fell back asleep after feeding). For me, my supply would have dropped a lot if I had cut feeds at two weeks. The supply really regulated around two months. Not trying to discourage you but I think that is normal in terms of building a growing milk supply for a growing baby. I always got good advice on milk supply from the lactation consultants at the Breastfeeding Center. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I would try this. Just skip the 1am. Also give baby extra time to nurse during the day. That may help with supply.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes, many women do it, but the women with OP’s sleep issues usually need to try cosleeping or napping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Then what is the point of this thread? If you don’t care whether your supply decreases, then try sleeping more and supplementing if necessary! Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Yes, many women do it, but the women with OP’s sleep issues usually need to try cosleeping or napping.

Also, she’s talking about a TWO WEEK OLD. I honestly have trouble believing “many women” happily exclusively breastfeed a newborn that small while only trying to get their sleep between 10 pm and 7 am.

[Anonymous]

Don't obsess over supply. Sleep > where the milk comes from. I supplemented at that stage and then did full formula at 2 months

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
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.

It's not about your chair comfort. The point is that some people - especially people who are insomniacs or sensitive about sleep - find it very hard to get up, go sit in a chair, stay away while feeding the baby, put baby down, get back in bed, and then fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time before baby is up again. Cosleeping can make it easier to fall asleep when your baby is done eating.

But I get it, cosleeping has risks. It's just a suggestion.

But also, you don't really seem to be considering the risks of feeding in a chair or on the couch while sleep deprived. Even your plan to have husband do a night feeding is going to leave you sleep deprived if you're trying to recover from childbirth and you're not napping or going to be early. One of these days, you're going to fall asleep feeding in the chair or on the couch, which is honestly much more dangerous than falling asleep with a baby in bed.

I just think you need to think about your circumstances more. You sound like you are just trying to somehow fit a newborn baby in to a normal childless person's sleep schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

It's not about your chair comfort. The point is that some people - especially people who are insomniacs or sensitive about sleep - find it very hard to get up, go sit in a chair, stay away while feeding the baby, put baby down, get back in bed, and then fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time before baby is up again. Cosleeping can make it easier to fall asleep when your baby is done eating.

But I get it, cosleeping has risks. It's just a suggestion.

But also, you don't really seem to be considering the risks of feeding in a chair or on the couch while sleep deprived. Even your plan to have husband do a night feeding is going to leave you sleep deprived if you're trying to recover from childbirth and you're not napping or going to be early. One of these days, you're going to fall asleep feeding in the chair or on the couch, which is honestly much more dangerous than falling asleep with a baby in bed.

I just think you need to think about your circumstances more. You sound like you are just trying to somehow fit a newborn baby in to a normal childless person's sleep schedule.

Stop with the scare tactics. I nursed both my babies and never did co-sleeping. I had huge sleep issues but I never once fell asleep in the chair or on the couch. She said she feeds in the bed at night and puts him back in the Snoo. OP will be getting a 5-6 hour stretch, which is way more than most at this age. She will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

It's not about your chair comfort. The point is that some people - especially people who are insomniacs or sensitive about sleep - find it very hard to get up, go sit in a chair, stay away while feeding the baby, put baby down, get back in bed, and then fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time before baby is up again. Cosleeping can make it easier to fall asleep when your baby is done eating.

But I get it, cosleeping has risks. It's just a suggestion.

But also, you don't really seem to be considering the risks of feeding in a chair or on the couch while sleep deprived. Even your plan to have husband do a night feeding is going to leave you sleep deprived if you're trying to recover from childbirth and you're not napping or going to be early. One of these days, you're going to fall asleep feeding in the chair or on the couch, which is honestly much more dangerous than falling asleep with a baby in bed.

I just think you need to think about your circumstances more. You sound like you are just trying to somehow fit a newborn baby in to a normal childless person's sleep schedule.

Stop with the scare tactics. I nursed both my babies and never did co-sleeping. I had huge sleep issues but I never once fell asleep in the chair or on the couch. She said she feeds in the bed at night and puts him back in the Snoo. OP will be getting a 5-6 hour stretch, which is way more than most at this age. She will be fine.

I’m not really telling her to cosleep. I’m just sort of annoyed that this is yet another thread where a poster is having an issue but refuses all standard advice. I’m not sure why she even asked the question bc yes, there is a chance her supply will drop if she drops feeds at 2 weeks, obviously, but if she’s not willing to try any of the other ways breastfeeding moms get more sleep, then oh well I guess her supply might drop and she’ll have to use formula. Which she is fine with, so that’s cool. It just seems like a pointless thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
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.

It's not about your chair comfort. The point is that some people - especially people who are insomniacs or sensitive about sleep - find it very hard to get up, go sit in a chair, stay away while feeding the baby, put baby down, get back in bed, and then fall asleep in a reasonable amount of time before baby is up again. Cosleeping can make it easier to fall asleep when your baby is done eating.

But I get it, cosleeping has risks. It's just a suggestion.

But also, you don't really seem to be considering the risks of feeding in a chair or on the couch while sleep deprived. Even your plan to have husband do a night feeding is going to leave you sleep deprived if you're trying to recover from childbirth and you're not napping or going to be early. One of these days, you're going to fall asleep feeding in the chair or on the couch, which is honestly much more dangerous than falling asleep with a baby in bed.

I just think you need to think about your circumstances more. You sound like you are just trying to somehow fit a newborn baby in to a normal childless person's sleep schedule.

Stop with the scare tactics. I nursed both my babies and never did co-sleeping. I had huge sleep issues but I never once fell asleep in the chair or on the couch. She said she feeds in the bed at night and puts him back in the Snoo. OP will be getting a 5-6 hour stretch, which is way more than most at this age. She will be fine.

I’m not really telling her to cosleep. I’m just sort of annoyed that this is yet another thread where a poster is having an issue but refuses all standard advice. I’m not sure why she even asked the question bc yes, there is a chance her supply will drop if she drops feeds at 2 weeks, obviously, but if she’s not willing to try any of the other ways breastfeeding moms get more sleep, then oh well I guess her supply might drop and she’ll have to use formula. Which she is fine with, so that’s cool. It just seems like a pointless thread.

OP here. I made this thread because I wanted to know if my supply would tank. I knew it would decrease a little but I wasn’t sure if it fully tank.

I’m not refusing all the advice. I’ve tried sleeping during the day but it hasn’t worked. I know my body. I also do not want to do co-sleeping. I have taken advice from others that said to start with skipping one feeding instead of two. I have been doing that and so far it’s going better than expected. It’s not ideal to skip a feed but it’s important I get sleep. I’ve also been sleeping in later like another poster suggested.

I’ve been doing the normal 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm, and 10pm feeds. I pump after the 10pm feed and my husband changes him and I go to sleep. I’ve been sleeping 11 - 4am and 5-7am, and then 8-9am for the past two days.