Sleep issues, for the mommy

I nurse exclusively and rarely even give bottled/pumped milk. Sometimes I am so delirious from exhaustion I guess that I fall asleep wtih the baby on my lap/chest.

The other morning I woke up and found him nestled in a pillow but dangerously close to the edge of my very high bed. I hadn't even put him in the middle

Now I'm petrified of going to sleep at night. My husband and I are trying to work out a system where we are both awake for feedings. But still. I can't help knocking myself over this. And the worry about the what-if's are killing me.

I know plenty of people who intentionally put their babies to sleep with them. It's the unconscoius actions that scare me. So many people say to me that you never really sleep when you have a baby, but I do! And I'm so upset.

Re: Sleep issues, for the mommy

I was always afraid of this because my son continued to wake up about every3-4 hours till he was about 10 months. I was a zombie! I kept the tv on and would sit up...I would wake up your husband if you are really tired.

Re: Sleep issues, for the mommy

Oh no. Please dont tell me this has only happened to me.

Re: Sleep issues, for the mommy

I wasn't able to breastfeed so my DH ended up helping out with a LOT of the nighttime feedings.

I think that it's a good thing to get into -- maybe alternating nights with him, or at least having him give you one night a week that you have "off" where he feeds the baby breast milk or formula from a bottle so that you can get a good nights rest that night.

One night or even a few nights a week can make a world of a difference. It is hard to give up on doing EVERYTHING becuase it's a new baby and I think a lot of moms have the urge to want to do everything for their baby, but if you can let DH take over once in a while then the nights that you do do it you won't be as exhausted.

Re: Sleep issues, for the mommy

I can totally understand. I am a night owl, however when I had my son it was a different tired that I felt. It is a lot harder then going to work. I all so only BF and didn't pump. But it got to be to much so I now let DH bottle feed once or twice a night. He takes care of him from 6-12 so I can try to get some sleep or just time to myself.
Because I did fall asleep with him on my chest once, he didn't fall off me. But what scared me was that I never remembered falling asleep and I never did that again and I make sure my DH doesn't either. Good luck and try to get some rest.