Reflux moms and MOTN feedings

juniper75 · June 2014

What do you ladies do for middle of the night feedings for your LO's? My LO is EBF and gets up 2-3 times to eat. She eats quickly and falls back asleep after but because I hold her upright or on an angle for a half hour after eating I wind up falling asleep in the nursing chair. By the time I finally put her in her bassinet, it tends to be close to her next wakeup time so I don't get much rest at all. I seem to spend more time sleeping in the chair than in my bed. What do you ladies do? Do you still keep your LO's upright after meals for the middle of the night feeds? Any tips or tricks to share?

cwm11985 · June 2014

I have stopped keeping her upright MOTN because she sleeps on an incline and that helps. Is yours sleeping flat or on an incline?

juniper75 · June 2014

She does sleep on a slight incline. I have tried different incline angles and most just made her slide down into weird positions. So I have her on as much of an incline as I can without that happening. It doesn't seem like a lot though.

Holljade · June 2014

I also have mine sleeping on an incline!

Put a rolled up towel under the crib mattress

*sparky* · June 2014

Can you set an alarm on your phone to wake you after holding her up for 20 mins so you're not sleeping in the chair for so long?

juniper75 · June 2014

*sparky* said:
Can you set an alarm on your phone to wake you after holding her up for 20 mins so you're not sleeping in the chair for so long?

I may have to try that. I am just so paranoid that it would make up my toddler who sleeps in the room next door, but I am such a light sleeper since having kids I could prob just use vibrate...

*sparky* · June 2014

Toddlers tend to sleep through anything, esp. In the middle of the night (vs. naps). Hopefully your wouldn't hear the alarm. Vibrate would probably work too though.

Abcollins57 · June 2014

I put LO in his rock n play to sleep after we found out about his reflux. It's inclined so I don't have to sit up and hold him after he eats.

spano41 · June 2014

I put LO in her swing for 20min after i feed her while I pump and then transfer her to her bassinet.

Mandyw75 · June 2014

I don't post too often but since I am up right now doing exactly what this thread is about I thought I would share.

I usually watch TV, or read The Bump while I wait the 30 mins. In the beginning I would fall asleep all the time but since I do the MOTN feeding on the couch I would get a pretty decent sleep. I would pre set-up pillows on the floor around me (not that he's ever moved off my chest) and a blanket for me too. If you can keep yourself awake watching or reading something short (no movie that you will need to watch the end) and nothing that will stimulate you too
much you'll find the 20/30 mins not seem as long. Good Luck. It really sucks when you feel absolutely exhausted all the time.

ambarnett1 · June 2014

DS sleeps in a RNP, so I don't hold him up because he sleeps on an incline.

Mrs.Kohalic17 · June 2014

Ambarnett1 said:
DS sleeps in a RNP, so I don't hold him up because he sleeps on an incline.

Same here.

jenskurn · June 2014

We use the RnP at night also so he gets re-swaddled and goes right back to sleep.

porterlove525 · June 2014

I still hold DS upright during MOTN feeds (and all day) because he will puke if not. I stay in bed and have the boppy, an extra pillow and a leg to angle him. It has gotten better the past couple of days so I'm hoping his reflux begins to lessen and he's got much better head control to sit up better.

I make sure to burp him 1/2 way through his feeding. He usually feeds for 15-20mins 2-3x a night on a good night (I have a baby who likes to eat 1-2 hours all day and not sleep!). Once we're done he goes back into the RnP so he stays on an incline and I lay back down in bed. I usually only get 15-45 mins to sleep between feedings so I keep him close and stay in bed.

Co-sleeping may be an option or having the bassinet/RnP beside the bed if you're falling asleep or not getting much sleep. It's helped me! I can't wait for LO to eat less often and the reflux to improve so he can move to his crib!

juniper75 · June 2014

For some reason they don't sell RnP's here in Canada - or not that I have seen anyways.. Even if they did DH would flip if I bought one at this stage when we would prob only need it for a month or so. He has no idea how tiring it is because he sleeps through everything.

adheaton1387 · June 2014

DS refuses to sleep in the inclined bassinet anymore (long legs and he's uncomfortable) so he sleeps in his crib now but at night because he's more relaxed and takes a paci after his meal I don't sit him up. He usually drifts back off after burping and I put him back in his crib. I've drifted off while waiting and making sure he's fully asleep and then when I wake up in the nursery chair I feel robbed of my sleep haha.