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bedsharing help

sthomas1222sthomas1222 member
in Attachment Parenting

I never thought I'd bedshare. As a nurse it's just been so engrained in me that it's bad. But as it was the only way me & DD got any sleep I quickly began researching. DH is still really nervous, his dad had a sibling who was suffocated as an infant. BUT that was a long time ago and it was a family member in the bed (not mom or dad) and lots of blankets involved. I pointed him to all the research and told him during our 5 day hospital stay that 1. the nurses didn't even say anything when they'd catch me dozing with DD on my chest and 2. I immediately realized how aware I was of her even while sleeping. Every little movement wakes me. I felt this was much safer than the time I was so exhausted that I remember picking her up and putting her to breast but then I looked up and it was an hour later. Then I did it again. I literally lost 2 hours, waking up and realizing I was still holding her and not remembering even falling asleep or anything! 

Anyways my question is, DD is only 2.5 weeks old but already prefers to sleep on her side. It makes me nervous when I wake up to find her on her side snuggled up against me. Literally has her face smushed up against my chest. I reposition her on her back with a few inches between us only to wake up and find her back on her side against my chest. Any solutions? Is this ok? I sometimes sleep on my back with her on my chest. Is this any different with me on my side? 


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Re: bedsharing help

  • Ginny0211Ginny0211 member

    I can't help too much because we didn't start bedsharing until we were past the newborn phase, but when we did start to bedshare, I snapped the Snuza Go breathing monitor on her and that really help with my worrying. Might be something you may want to look into for extra peace of mind. Just have to make sure it's not picking up your breathing movements for it to work. 

     

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  • ldpmldpm
    As a nurse you might find Kangaroo Mother Care an interesting website. KMC is much more than the KC practiced sometimes in the US. The newborns stay skin on skin on moms from birth, and procedures are done while mom/baby are together. U used to have a KMC shirt but one of my doula clients lost it I can't find a replacement. The babies sleep tied onto mom, too.

    My daughter and I slept sidelying facing each other from newborn on. She would latch on when she wanted slip off when she fell asleep. I got more sleep than moms who think they have to sit up to.nurse. She also slept daytime in the Mayawrap, which held her in a nursing position.
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  • ForeverEverAfterForeverEverAfter member
    That's me too-as a nurse I never thought I would bedshare, and I dutifully put a bassinet in arms reach of the bed. But LO had other plans lol. She sleeps soo much better next to me, still waking to eat, but going right back to sleep afterwards. I guess she was a couple weeks old the first time I did it on purpose. Once we started side lying nursing at 4 weeks its been more often, and now she goes in the bassinet until she wakes and stays in the bed after the first feed. She won't suffocate against you. Just make sure blankets and pillows aren't next to her. There are good guidelines online for safe bed sharing. Once I read up on it more I felt more confident in my choice.
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