I have a one month old baby and I doze off while nursing her in the middle of the night. My boyfriend wakes up and yells at me telling me what a horrible, negligent and white trash mother I am. Please tell me I am not alone. I am exausted and I always wake back up to burp her and put her back to bed.
2006-12-08 04:49:05 · 22 answers · asked by bsdragonfly 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
I am strictly breastfeeding right now and even if I am sitting up I fall asleep.
2006-12-08 05:02:48 · update #1
I use to fall asleep all the time while nursing my son. In fact, it was the only way I could get sleep. Your baby will most likely continue to nurse while you are asleep. Dr. Sears advocates co-sleeping. Co-sleeping is where the mother brings the baby to bed with her. They enjoy a safe sleeping/nursing relationship while the baby is still young. There is research to suggest that mothers and babies, when sleeping together, regulate each other's breathing. Often times, a mother will be so intune with her sleeping child's breathing paterns that she will fall into the same breathing patern. The mother will also waken if the baby fails to take a breath or the breathing starts to labor. It is facinating research.
If you or your boyfriend drink alcohol or do drugs, you should not have your baby in bed with you.
Your boyfriend probably just does not understand and should do some reading on breastfeeding and co-sleeping.
Good Luck.
2006-12-08 05:03:58 · answer #1 · answered by Katie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do you nap during the day when she naps? If not, DO IT. There was a story on the news recently where a mother fell asleep while breastfeeding and suffocated her baby. You don't want that to happen--it would be tragic.
Also, I wouldn't listen to your boyfriend--you're not a horrible mother for dozing off. Any woman here who says, "Oh, I NEVER fell asleep while nursing/bottle feeding my kids! That's awful!" is a f*cking liar. Disregard anything he has to say about your parenting skills. He, afterall, isn't the one getting up with the baby at night. Have you thought about pumping your breastmilk and letting him feed the baby her bottles everynight? Might make him sing a different tune...
Just try to nap during the day when the baby does. Forget housework and errands. Unless it's something truly important (need antibiotics from the drugstore or every dish you own is dirty and you don't have anything to eat off of, lol) forget it--it CAN WAIT!
2006-12-08 06:27:01 · answer #2 · answered by brevejunkie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're not the only mother who does that. As long as the baby is in a safe spot while you're nursing, it's okay. If your boyfriend is so concerned about this, why doesn't he get his *** up in the middle of the ******* night and feed the baby? Or does the baby only take breast right now? Whatever the case may be, if he thought you were negligent, he wouldn't keep letting you feed the baby, because he'd be worried about the baby's safety. But since he only wakes up to yell and not help out, then his opinion shouldn't count anyway.
2006-12-08 04:57:56 · answer #3 · answered by dorky_goddess 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was feeding my youngest...I would lay on one side and let him eat...when I would wake up I would check how full the breast was and roll over and let him eat on the other side. Those 6 wks of breastfeeding was the most sleep I had in his first 2 yrs of life!!! He is now 3 1/2 yrs with no ill effects. Every breastfeeding mom dozes off. Hey, I would even fall asleep bottle feeding with both my kids. Your boyfriend should be up with the baby too and see if he doesn't nod off.
2006-12-08 07:58:27 · answer #4 · answered by doom92556 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell your boyfriend that a sign of a good latch and productive, successful nursing is sleepiness experienced by the mother...I could be wide awake with my kids, but once I would begin nursing them, I would always nod off, day OR night.
You can also tell him that sometimes I never woke back up to burp or put the baby back in bed...it happens.
Just take precautions beforehand to keep baby safe. Uncover yourself to keep the dangers of blankets to a minimum. I doubt that any baby has ever died from not burping, for crying out loud! Please let your boyfriend read these answers!
2006-12-08 05:03:31 · answer #5 · answered by єЖтяα ¢яιѕρψ 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With all three of my babies I used to fall asleep while breastfeeding at night. I always fed them while sitting in the recliner and had a pillow under them. With my one little guy, who would eat every two hours around the clock and it took him 45 min to eat (you do the math here) I was so completely exhausted that I don't think I could have stayed awake even if I were to breastfeed while standing up. Don't feel bad, I am sure that you are doing a wonderful job and you really have your hands full. Keep up the good work and your little guys will be very lucky to have you. Also, remember that it does get easier!
2016-05-23 06:53:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
omgosh. ur boyfriend is very mean. and dont worry, most mothers do end up falling asleep, i did so much. i ended up with my daughter sleeeping in my bed. (bad idea) lol. but you are not a bad mother for falling asleep or dozing. but you do need to be careful. if u fall asleep, ur baby could roll off ur arms and into the floor, if ur laying in the bed, make sure youre baby cant fall off the edge. the best idea is to get a sleep wedge for that. they are pretty cheap. and keep the baby from rolling around. but when sitting up. you gotta be careful!
2006-12-08 08:31:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Firstly, congratulations on your baby!!! It certainly is a joy to bring a new life into this world. May God bless you and your baby.
It's very bad that your boyfriend uses such horrible language against you. Whataver be the case, he cannot abuse you like this. Both he & you both have to figure out a way to solve the situation.
It's normal for nursing mothers to feel exhausted. Please do try to get as much rest as you can in between nursing times. For the next few months, you have to rest a lost, and regain your strength. In the meantime, enjoy your new role as a mother of a lovely baby. I pray that your boyfriend cooperates with you soon.
Our best wishes with you!
2006-12-08 06:52:28 · answer #8 · answered by Jags 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would be very suprised if just one woman said that she hasn't had this happen! Of course it happens. You are a new mom and you are exhausted! Tell your boyfriend that if he is so concerned...you could pump out a few ounces of breast milk and he can take over the nighttime feedings!!
I would suggest though...that you make sure you are not in a position where you can harm the baby by rolling over on it or smothering it.
Chances are, for most mothers...instinct kicks in and as soon as that baby makes a noise, you are awake and alert...unlike the father who can sleep through even the loudest of cries!
Congratulations on the baby...and don't let him make you feel bad for something that he knows absolutely nothing about!
2006-12-08 05:04:46 · answer #9 · answered by Sunshine 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is completely normal!!! I would fall asleep as soon as my son would latch on...its as if they are sucking the energy right out of you!! You are after all a working food factory!! If your boyfriend would like to help, ask him to stay awake while you nurse to make sure the baby is okay if you doze off....oh!! and he could go grab you a glass of water, I'm sure that you are thirsty too!! Hang in there...I promise these days don't last long and you will become yourself soon!!
2006-12-08 05:02:15 · answer #10 · answered by elsewhere 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋