Does your lo stay latched most of the night? I think I have created a bad habit. Kiernan will fall asleep next to me, face against my breasts as per lc suggestion. She will latch on and suck gently and stay latched the majority of the night. When I assume I am out of milk on one side she starts to wiggle around and I will turn her over onto the other side. I get very very little sleep but it seems this is the only way she will sleep.
Even tonight, usually she will take a nap in her swing but was fussing. I brought her over to the sofa and she latched on next to me while we laid down and she fell asleep, I wiggled out from next to her though so she is sleeping on her own for a bit.
Re: For those of you that cosleep
In my opinion co-sleeping is just sharing the room, bed sharing is more specific and what you are doing. I could be wrong though. Also I don't believe you have to leave her latched all night to consider it bed sharing. FF mama's can co-sleep and bed share.
As far as in response to OP. I'd be super concerned about her being able to sleep on her own if she is used to being on "tap" all night. I have no ill feelings towards co-sleeping or bed sharing, but getting her used to be latched all night could be an issue. Especially if it is not allowing you, yourself, to get any sleep.
Does she take a pacifier? Or her hands/fingers?
Good luck!
laura- that is what I am worried about, that she is getting too used to this and will refuse any other way. She will not take a pacifier and gets frustrated with her hands. I kind of see it as a mixed blessing because we have had bf/latch/supply issues and when she nurses at night its like a silent victory. But it going on for hours and hours concerns me. Just curious if I was the only this was happening to.
Thanks
Bedsharing does not mean self service for all nursing babies but many moms do this and what you described OP is very common. Call it ecological breastfeeding call it pacifying whatever as long as you are both happy there is no harm. But it doesn't sound like this is working for you in terms of sleep. Some can sleep through a nursing session but I cannot and side lying rarely works for us so I wake up, sit up, and do more traditional night feeds. I would keep trying the paci and try to offer full feeds if you are ready for a change but don't want to cease bed sharing.
I think this works better for us than any other option it seems. I have tried putting her down but I can't get sleep and neither can she. I do get a bit of sleep so I guess it is not fair to say I get no sleep at all, it is just not restful.
Thanks for everyones responses, at least I know this is not totally abnormal behavior. I prefer bedsharing with her and for the most part it works well, it is just this one thing that had me concerned. I was more concerned that it may become a habit that would be unbreakable later on.