I keep falling asleep during middle of the night feeds

[Christa]

Does this happen to anyone else? I must be overtired because I keep drifting off when I am feeding my lo at night. Its happened the past few nights in a row... I jerk awake and realize that I am still sitting in the rocker, with the baby on my lap (luckily tucked in between me and a breastfeeding pillow) and I'm not sure how long I've been there. LO just lying there asleep... thankfully he hadn't fallen or anything, but still worried me

[JacobMarksMummy]

It was always happening to me! So much so I decided co-sleeping was the way forward for us, obv. that isnt right for everyone thoug. Is there anyway you could snatch a couple of lay-ins in the morning to catch up with your sleep? Or maybe take a couple of early nights? I know how tough those night feedings can be, esp. when you feel like you the only person in the world who is still awake. 

[daisymelan]

This is completely normal.  I believe there is a scientific reason for it, something to do with hormones or chemicals in the brain.  It's to help the mom relax as well as the lo.  We discussed it in my bfing classes. 

It doesn't happen as often to me anymore, but I remember in the early days how peaceful I felt afterwards and how easy it was for me to drift asleep while he was nursing and right afterwards.

I started nursing on our bed with my back against the wall and pillows on either side.  That way if we drifted off we were nice and comfy.  And like you, it happened often.  I loved it.  I thin k this is why a lot of moms really enjoy the late night feeds.

Again, this is completely normal and I think almost all moms feel it.... especially during those late night feeds.

[Christa]

Whew, glad to happens to others! And tonight is going to be an early night, dh is away (which is kinda nice as he keeps me up) and I'm going to be asleep by 9.

Maybe I will bring the lo into bed with me whe he wakes up. I used to co-sleep, we even had a "mini co-sleeper" that attached to the bed, but we stopped when he was 6 or 7 weeks old. Kinda miss those days.

[Samuel's mum]

I was exactly the same! It turns out there's a clever hormone that doesn't just help the baby go back to sleep but the mother too. I felt that co-sleeping, feeding lying down with bedding all pushed away was safer. The times I felt less safe we when I was feeding with a nursing pillow and would drift off. Once I was lying down I would also sleep much more deeply. You could semi-co-sleep e.g start the night with your husband and only move over for the first night feed. If you don't want to go back to co-sleeping at all just make sure your position is safe and don't feel guilty/weird if it happens!

[Christa]

Now I remember why we quit co-sleeping! I can't sleep with my lo in the same room, I just listen to him breathe... brought him into my room last night at 3am and didn't fall asleep until 5:30 

Anyway, the falling asleep had only happened a few times and just recently, so I think if I get some rest, I should be okay

Thanks all

[Samuel's mum]

That sounds familiar!!! I did get used to it though. Good Luck with whatever you decide.

[maggieruth]

co-sleeping doesn't have to be an all or nothing proposition... what i tend to do is bring ds into bed with us for night feeds which invariably results in me sleeping too. 

when i wake up (i don't sleep as heavily because i have my arm carefully placed over ds's head and aren't as comfy on my side as when i have unrestricted space) i put him back in his cot in his own room.  then i don't have grumpy husband (as ds can take up more bedspace than both of us when he is on form!!) 

HTH!

[lisi's mum]

this all sounds very familiar! My latest problem is not remembering if I've put her back in her crib or not and searching around in the dark in my half sleep for my baby, only realising she's back in her crib once I'm fully awake. Ho hum.

[Christa]

hee hee

Me too!

I've awoken a few times, back in my own bed, not remembering what I did with the baby... I've actually had to look around the bed and then go check his crib to be sure!

[jbepko]

I did the "where is the baby" scene every night for 6 months straight....and she never spent one night in our bed. Either neurotic first time mom or sleep-deprived mom. On other topic...I always felt safer sleeping in rocker with baby completely supported on Bobby pillow and my legs on the ottoman.

[daisymelan]

You know, I've been giving this some more thought.  I originally started out sitting up with the pillows on my bed, as mentioned earlier.  But, as he got older, I laid down to nurse him and we would both fall asleep and I would take him back to bed as you all have said.  Funny thing is, I completely forgot cuz I was sleep walking through all of!  That is so wild.

I have bad bad mommy brain!!!!!!

Thanks for keeping the memories alive.

 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

My latest problem is not remembering if I've put her back in her crib or not and searching around in the dark in my half sleep for my baby, only realising she's back in her crib once I'm fully awake. Ho hum.

I TOTALLY remember doing that!! What a panicky feeling, searching around the bed feeling for her in the dim light.

Now that those days are becoming more distant, I admit I miss some of the co-sleeping nights.  There's just a lovely feeling having your lo curled up against you, sleeping peacefully.  But then I also remember some nights when I swear she stayed latched on for hours...  I'd wake up later and she'd still be sucking away... It was much easier once I figured out how to swich sides without having to roll over!