What is your nighttime nursing routine? Please share!

JM712 · March 2014

I am wondering how everyone has been handling nighttime nursing sessions, particularly in the first few weeks after you got home. Specifically:

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?
2. Who changes baby?
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

I am 35 weeks with my second and would like to discuss with DH how this is all going to go once the baby arrives. The first time around I had a c-section but still got out of bed myself to change the baby and nurse her on the couch because I couldn't get comfortable in bed, but it was really a lot on me. So I am looking for different ideas. Any thoughts you guys have would be great!

olivj100 · March 2014

I had a c-section as well. I would be the one to get up every night to do the diaper changes and feeding. Dh would do the 6am feeding because that's when he got up for work so I knew he would have some bonding time with DS. I'm okay with being the only one getting up because my husband is the provider in our family and this is what works for us. My sister however would have her husband get up with her and change dd while she got comfy on the couch. Then he would go back to bed. Congrats on baby number 2!!!

jessib10 · March 2014

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?

Me, but if I need to use the restroom DH will hold BB to soothe her until I'm ready.
2. Who changes baby?

Me. DH has this fear that he'll hurt her with his big strong hands. (he also is VERY nervous to pull her out of her car seat, or stand while holding BB)
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?

I nurse a combination of places. At first, I nursed in bed sitting up. With my older daughter, I used to nurse her laying down so I could go back to sleep. But she was a cluster feeder, this baby doesn't usually cluster feed at night.. also when she would be done nursing she'd usually spit milk out all over the bed. I'm not wanting to wash my sheets daily this time around. I'm getting to the point with this BB though, that I want to nurse her in her own room in the glider there. DH still isn't ready to have her in her own crib just yet, he wants to be able to hear her and see her in two seconds flat. The 5 seconds it takes to walk down the hall into her room is too many apparently.
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

For now I am happy, but like I said, I'm ready to get BB in her own room already, and nurse her there in the glider since it's generally easier for her to fall back asleep there with less distractions. (DH likes to kiss her head while I'm nursing her, and his beard tickles her and wakes her back up... and he likes to talk..also a distraction for poor BB.)

mschoepp · March 2014

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?

Me, all me. DH says that he can't be tired at work, so I am the one to do all the night stuff.

2. Who changes baby?

Again, me. DH is disgusted by poopy diapers anyways...says it looks like queso dip.

3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?

I bring DS out to the living room and nurse him on the couch sitting up. It is more comfortable for me.

4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

I am not unhappy, but I would prefer that DH help a little more. Even when he has the following day off he claims he "doesn't hear" DS and that by the time he wakes up I have already taken care of it.

lindsey1031 · March 2014

I had a c-section 2.5 weeks ago. The first 10 days, we split the duties - DH got up and changed baby and I fed him (I am EBF so far). Here is how it works now that DH is back to work:

Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH? Me - I have him sleeping in his RNP right next to me.
2. Who changes baby? Me - the changing table is on the dresser in our bedroom and we have a dim light there to help me see.
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else? I nurse in bed with the boppy, sitting up (since we are both still learning) so that I can put him right down when he's finished and goes back to sleep. Then I can just settle in and catch some sleep too.
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different? I'm happy with it. I'm faster at changing diapers and getting to the baby before he gets too wound up or awake so the baby sleeps more - which means I do too! On the weekends, DH still helps, but I have to wake him up to get the baby!.

dglvrk2 · March 2014

I had a CS with my first of two babies. In retrospect, it was more challenging to recover from than a vaginal birth. We had roughly the same nighttime feeding routines for both babies (girls). Both girls were EBF in the beginning. I was the one to get up, do diaper changing and night time feedings. I nursed DD1 in her room usually. We have a tiny house. DD2 is in the living room for the time being. I nurse her on the couch. Staying in bed to nurse never worked for me as I couldn't get comfortable. I wanted to give DH as much sleep time as possible too so he could be rested for work and to help me w the kids during the day. I'm happy w the arrangements; wouldn't change anything. DD2 is a cluster feeder in the evenings. She's eats roughly every 3 hours during the day. Feedings last about 30 minutes each. She parks herself on the boobs between 8 and 10 most nights, then sleeps until 6:30. Between babies, I forgot how much time they spent eating as newborns. Just go with your LO's feeding habits, needs and hunger cues at first. Remember, whatever LO is doing as a newborn, they will likely not be doing it for long, so don't stress about long term plans. I'd just take it day by day. Good luck and congrats!!

haven0610 · March 2014

1.Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?

Me. Every single night since ds has been born. Dh would help a little when he was on maternity leave with me. I nurse so I just have always got up. I STILL get up every single night with him and I am back at work full time as of last week. Even on DH off days, Mondays and tuesdays (he watches ds on those days) I have to get up for work and I am still the one who gets up with him in the middle of the night.

2. Who changes baby? Again. Me, all me!! DH never wakes up at night the whole time im feeding and changing ds he is over there sleeping like a baby!
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else? I will go in the living room and change ds and then come back and sit up in bed and nurse that way we can just lay back down and go to sleep.

4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

Am I happy to get up with ds at night? yes, i do enjoy it and it has never bothered me that dh doesn't get up with LO until last week when I started back to work fulltime and im a fucking zombie in the day! I resent the fact that i can't stay at home and dh doesn't help me with ds. he says he will get up and feed him but i feel is pointless to try and wake his hateful ass up and have him feed him and then me still have to get up and pump anyways. Just seems pointless and I would rather not deal with a hateful man at 3 o clock in the morning. I am starting to resent that I can't be a sSAHM and I have to work and leave my baby. just fucking sucks. : /

tahloulah10 · March 2014

I get up and pick DD up out of the RNP next to my side of the bed. I change her on the bed and re-swaddle her. I nurse her in bed sitting up, using the Boppy; we never did get the hang of side-lying nursing. Once she's done, I burp her and hold her until she's completely asleep, then I transfer her to the RNP.

Initially, I wished for more help from DH, but DD and I got into our own little routine and it works well for everyone now!

blue_elle · March 2014

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby?

Since DH can't nurse it's pretty much all me. Occasionally he takes either the midnight feed or 6am feed with a bottle so i can get a long stretch uninterrupted. On weekends I go back to sleep in the morning while DH entertains LO. He wakes me when it's time for the next feed.

2. Who changes baby?

Whoever gets up with him, so generally me. It only takes a couple minutes. No big deal.

3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?

Usually in the living room in the couch. Nursing while lying down is hard with my small boobs and I get uncomfortable sitting up in the bed like that. I'd also probably fall asleep sitting in the total darkness. And i might get pissy with DH if i have to listen to him snore while I'm up.

4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

I am now. It took some getting used to, and I was exhausted for a while, but now it's routine. DS had also gotten faster at nursing, sleeps longer stretches, and goes down more easily these days, so that helps.

lilmizkris · March 2014

mschoepp said:

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?
Me, all me. DH says that he can't be tired at work, so I am the one to do all the night stuff.

2. Who changes baby?
Again, me. DH is disgusted by poopy diapers anyways...says it looks like queso dip.

3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?
I bring DS out to the living room and nurse him on the couch sitting up. It is more comfortable for me.

4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?
I am not unhappy, but I would prefer that DH help a little more. Even when he has the following day off he claims he "doesn't hear" DS and that by the time he wakes up I have already taken care of it.

That is pretty much exactly how it works on out house too.

LaurenAsh23 · March 2014

As of now LO is sleeping in our room and dh is sleeping on the couch. I've told him he can sleep back in bed with me, but there are some nights that dd ends up in bed with me and he's not comfortable with all 3 of us being in bed together. So...I get LO up, change and nurse her in bed with me. Then rock her to sleep and lay her back down. I would love some help, but most nights it's pretty quick and dh goes back to work next week, so he needs the rest.

mommyginab · March 2014

I went (not on purpose) natural on March 5th with my fourth son. I am the one who gets up with him, my DH works 7 days a week. I am also the one who changes him. I was EBF up until a few days ago when I noticed my milk supply was just not cutting it, probably because I am busy with the older boys' ball practices, and other things. I am currently sleeping in the living room with baby either in bassinet or car seat(whichever he sleeps best in at that time) so my DH can get rest, and until he sleeps more through the night. Yes, I am happy with this. I feel so close with my LO, and although I am looking forward to sleeping in my bed with my DH again, I know that my LO will outgrow this phase in life too fast, and one day won't want to snuggle with his mom, so I am enjoying it ( lack of sleep and all) while I can.

JackieP1023 · March 2014

At 8 wks old, our DD is proving to be an awesome night sleeper. Around 8:30, we do bath, and a little family cuddle time. Sleep gown and swaddle. Last feed around 9 (til 9:30ish), i rock and cuddle until she is asleep (10). Usually, she will sleep until 5-6, occasionally 3-4.

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH? If DH is off, he gets up and changes her, otherwise I do.
2. Who changes baby? DH
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else? Since she is sleeping in her crib, I feed (with the boppy) in the glider. She doesn't leave her room between 9 and 7, sometimes later. (Last night she slept 10-5:30, ate, slept again 6:15-11:30 when I woke her)
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different? It works well for us. DD sleeps great, DH helps when he is off, we get a decent amount of sleep!

The best thing we did was set a day vs night routine from the beginning. She knows swaddle+dim lights+lullaby= nighttime.

Margotsha · April 2014

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH? - DH is in charge from 7pm to 10pm (I sleep), and then I get up starting around 12am and do the night shift so DH can rest before work. On weekends, DH does the 6am-8am shift too.
2. Who changes baby? Me, right before /i feed her
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else? In the ;iving room so that I can pump after she is fed. (I have to pump and thn feed thru a bottle)
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different? I asume thar we might change things once I go back to wok, but no idea what we'll do yet

Dreamingmommy4 · April 2014

The first two weeks DH would get up and change DD and then bring her to me in bed to nurse. I had to nurse sitting up because side lying was too difficult initially, until LO and I both got the hang of BFing. After DH went back to work (I SAH) i took over all MOTN wake ups. I get up and change DD and then bring her back to bed to nurse her. I now do side lying (so nice). Another really nice thing is DD has been sleeping in our room next to the bed in a cradle since birth, it has been a godsend. I will eventually transition her to her crib in the other room, I am just reluctant to do it since this works so nicely.

eg214 · April 2014

At about 6 weeks I realized it was so much easier to co-sleep and night nurse in bed. Otherwise it was me with the monitor and going out to get her from the swing, then trying to peacefully transfer her to the P&P after a feeding. Just putting her in bed next to me and nursing when she starts to stir is great. She falls back asleep when she's done and so do I. I was changing her in the night each time but now just put diaper cream on her as a barrier and leave it be. She hasn't had any problems.

linzeek44 · April 2014

When E was little, E was in a pnp next to our bed. DH would get the baby and change him, I'd nurse and put him back. I had an oversupply so I had to nurse in bed, reclining back. It wasn't super comfortable, but I liked having DH's help and staying in bed was convenient.

When he was a bit older and in his room, we bought a Lazy boy instead of a glider. Best purchase ever. I'd go into his room, nurse him in the comfortable chair, and go back to sleep. When he started sucking really badly at sleeping, I didn't mind being in his room since the chair was so comfortable. For most of the night duties between 7 and 14 months, I got up and nursed him and DH stayed in bed. When we night weaned at 14-15m, DH took over so that he could soothe E back to sleep with no boob distractors. Now he gets to get up with E and I get to rest in bed.

karinak1977 · October 2014

I had a c-section too. I guess it depends if your breastfeeding or using formula. I breastfed my baby, so it was me who got up with him to feed and diaper change. There were mornings where after exhaustation my husband would give the LO a bottle. He is now 9 months old and for the most part, things have stayed the same. Hubby tries to get up during the night to see if he really needs to eat or is just waking up. When he was little he was in the bassinet by the bed. I would grab him and usually nurse sitting up in bed or go on couch. As he has gotten older, I usually nurse with him laying down next to me during the night and he usually goes to bed and we co-sleep. For the most part the arrangement works, but there's also no choice since hubby is away from work. I long for the day of being able to sleep, but wouldn't change anything for it.

squish143 · October 2014

@Sakura0019‌ this is the exact same night time routine we have! It works really well for us also

saraeric · October 2014

1. Who gets up out of bed to get baby? You or DH?

I nurse LO between 8-9pm. He sleeps until 2 or 3 am. Then DH gets up, changes him and gives him a bottle of BF. During that time, I pump. I'm still pumping more that DS is drinking so I'm freezing the extra to build a stash. Then, LO goes back to sleep until 6 or 7am and I change/nurse him so DH can get ready for work. This works really well for us. In the beginning, I had a c-section so I needed a lot more help during the day and night. When LO was waking up every two hours, I had DH take one of MOTN feedings to give my nipples a break because I was sooo sore from bfing.
2. Who changes baby?

I'm still on maternity leave, so I change DS probably 85% of the time. If DH is home, sometimes I'll ask him to do it so I can get ready to nurse LO.
3. Where do you nurse? In bed sitting up, in bed lying down, somewhere else?

At night, I nurse in a glider in the nursery. During the day, I nurse him on the couch.
4. Are you happy with this arrangement or would you have preferred something different?

This is working out really great for us. DH has been a HUGE help and very supportive. I like that we're sharing MOTN duties so it doesn't feel so difficult and overwhelming. I also struggled/am struggling with PPA/PPD so getting more sleep also is helping that.

What is your nighttime nursing routine? Please share!

Re: What is your nighttime nursing routine? Please share!

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