Night feeding

It is a fact of life that young babies wake up during the night to nurse, whether you like it or not. During the first weeks it is necessary for a baby to nurse also during the night, at least once. Remember that breastmilk digests rapidly.
Even if your baby should sleep through the night at this early stage it is better that you wake him up for a feed, because if you go six hours or more without nursing your breasts may become engorged and this can lead to other breastfeeding problems.

Night nursing interrupts your sleep and you may feel tired during the day because of lack of sleep. What can you do? How can you make night nursing easier?

Here are some ideas that can help you cope with your nightly interruptions: 

* Put baby's bassinet in your bedroom, if possible next to your bed so you don't have to get up in the night and walk to another room. (Have some diapers, baby wipes, breastpads etc. ready on your night table, just in case, so you don't have to get up for those).

* Wear clothing that opens easily for nursing (no buttons etc.).

* Nurse babies lying down in your bed so you can at least rest while baby is nursing and possibly fall asleep again.

* Put a small light on your bedside table or a flashlight so you can see what you are doing.

* Nurse your baby just before you go to sleep yourself, like this at least you will start with a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.

* Many mothers sleep with their babies, it has been done since the beginning of mankind. In this way baby can nurse whenever he wants and mother's sleep is disturbed only minimally. Don't worry about smothering the baby, even during sleep mothers are aware of baby's presence. Just make sure your baby can't roll out of bed, you can put a side rail or push the bed against the wall.

If you feel exhausted during the day:

* Try to sleep whenever the baby sleeps during the day or at least lie down and take a rest (take the telephone from the hook or put the answering machine on!).

* Leave the housework; you have to look after yourself first, this is more important than a clean house (involve husband, older children and family in household tasks or employ professional help if possible).

* Avoid too many visitors in the beginning.

Many babies start sleeping for longer stretches in the night when they are a few months old, but not all babies are the same, some wake up more often than others.

Apart from hunger a baby can also wake up because he is too hot, too cold, is wet, is teething or simply because he wants your company! Try not to make too big a problem of it, your baby won't be a baby forever, enjoy it while it lasts!