BF-How do you keep from falling asleep during night feeds?

[jennas mommy]

My little guy is 3 1/2 weeks old now.  I have been finding myself falling asleep during the night feedings.  I keep pulling him into bed laying on my side, with his head supported by my arm and him on his back/side and on my side.  (Or else in the recliner, with him supported by my arm) Later, I wake up with him still there.  He is in a safe position, I don't have fears that I would roll over him, but I am concerned that he is already deciding that sleeping with mommy is the way to go.  I have been so careful to always lay him down drowsy and awake, but the last few days really seem like I have to be holding him to go to sleep.  My 19 month old daughter got off track about this time also, because of me falling asleep BF her too many nights in a row. 
How do you keep yourself from falling asleep during BF?  (Without keeping DH awake?)

[MJMom]

I can't even tell you how many nights I fell asleep in a row with DD in bed with me or in the recliner.  (just did it again yesterday as a matter of fact!) 
The only sure fire way for me is to make sure I get enough sleep. 
Apparently, DH would sometime wake up DD to feed while I slept.  I had no idea as... I was sleeping!

[jennas mommy]

 
HA, HA, HA
Make sure you get enough sleep?  I have a 19 month and 3 1/2 week old; I have given up on getting enough sleep.  (Still wake up once or so with 19 month old each night...currently working on that)

[MJMom]

HA, HA, HA
Make sure you get enough sleep?  I have a 19 month and 3 1/2 week old; I have given up on getting enough sleep.  (Still wake up once or so with 19 month old each night...currently working on that)

Did I mention I just fell asleep with DD in bed yesterday?  (or was that this morning... too tired to remember! )  Therein lies the joke!

[daybyday]

Falling asleep while BFing...I did it lots too! The best thing I could do was get out of bed and feed her in a different room. I totally understand about having another one too...My DS was 16.5 months when my DD was born and it's Hard...REALLY hard.

So feeding her in the living room or in the rocking chair were my best options. And when you wake up after feeding/falling asleep...make sure you put your DS back in his own sleep place (whereever that may be)...therefore you are teaching him that mommy's arms are not where he'll spend the night! Good luck and don't stress. Do what you can to get as much sleep! (Get your DH on board as much as you can too...to give you a nudge if he sees you've dozed off etc...)

We went through horrid NW's from the time my DS was about 17.5 until about 24 months and I almost killed myself bfing 3x a night and dealing with him...my DH HAD to step up and help out (and it was hard as he works shift work etc and a dangerous job...) but I like to think that we work dangerous jobs too! Responsible for our LO's and multi-tasking until our heads spin....

Good luck and know that you're doing a GREAT job...Hope that helps...maybe a little?

[AngelaAnne]

Not falling asleep for those night feedings is so hard.  Especially at first.  There is just something about breast feeding that makes me sleepy!  If you don't want to fall asleep I wouldn't feed your lo in bed.  If I bring my babe into bed to feed it is guaranteed I will fall asleep! LOL  I have a rocker in his room that I feed him in if I don't want to fall asleep or don't want him in our bed.  hth.  Good luck on getting some sleep.

[Samuel's mum]

At the beginning levels of oxytocin hormone are higher in the milk. This is what causes mother and baby to both get sleepy during night feeds. It's pretty hard to resist but it might get a little easier.
Hopefully people will have some more ideas for you.

[VickyB20]

For me, being able to fall asleep during night-feeds kept me sane!  I would feed my twin boys one at a time in bed beside me, then kick (!) hubby for him to swap them over when one had finished.  Invariably, however, I would fall asleep and not wake up until 'the other one' woke up wanting milk.

It really wasn't a problem though.  It only happened like this for the first few weeks and we didn't get into long-lasting bad habits.  I always insisted on putting them down awake for naps and at bed-time so I knew they could fall asleep on their own and in the early days, night-times were more about survival than long-term plans!

I worried about it at the time and wished I had saved myself the worry and just gone with the flow.  It's a wonderful feeling to fall asleep (and wake up) cuddling Baby so you could just try to enjoy the precious moments!?!

Just wanted to offer an alternative way of looking at it.  Sorry if it's not helpful!!

Vicky

[EllenS]

I still do this sometimes!  I am trying to stay vigilant and switch her, put her back in the crib when she is done.  I motivate myself mentally by remembering that I will get more sleep if I stay awake for the half-hour and put her down, rather than snooze for an hour and have her wake me up over and over to switch sides.  I also keep remembering the scary snort/wheeze noise she made last week when we both slumped down and (I think) she got a nose full of boob and couldn't breathe!

[Samuel's mum]

I have to say I can see where Vicky is coming from. I always felt Sam was in more danger when I was trying to feed sitting up and trying to stay awake. I used to feed him sitting in bed and once woke to find he'd fallen off the pillow - that really could have been serious.
Once I'd read more about the co-sleeping guidelines from UNICEF and co-sleeping safety I felt much much safer feeding him in a lying down position and then if I fell asleep it wouldn't matter.
I know BW is not pro-cosleeping as such but in the early days of breastfeeding I think it can be really useful.
This is the UNICEF leaflet I was given at the hospital in my discharge paperwork:
http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/pdfs/sharingbedleaflet.pdf