Fell asleep while feeding :(

steph. · Jan 28th, 2012, 05:47 AM

Hi ladies! I'm looking for some advice. I usually feed lo lying down because thats how she latches on best, and feeds longest. Except for the past two nights I've been so tired, I've lifted her out of the bassinet, put her to the boob, and rested my eyes.

Next thing I know its an hour later!

I fell asleep without even realising!

Luckily she was ok but I'm really worried this might happen again and I'll suffucate her. So I was wondering if anyone else has fallen asleep while feeding, what you do to keep the environment safe, or what you do to keep awake?! Thanks!

Maggs · Jan 28th, 2012, 06:12 AM

Look into how to safely co-sleep so the next time you won't be so frightened. The first few times I accidentally did it, I was scared shitless but once I realized I could do it safely, we do it all the time now. In those early weeks, it's how I managed to get some sleep so I could function. I'm very comfortable with it now and even though he sleeps in his cot for the first of the night, I bring him in bed with me for his early morning feed and we both go back to sleep.

Kelly81 · Jan 28th, 2012, 06:19 AM

Please don't feel bad, it's so easily done

I must have fallen asleep feeding LO almost daily during the first few months.

We have squashy arms on our sofas, sort of like pillows IYKWIM? I used to cradle LO in my arm and rest my arm on the arm of the sofa so her body was supported by the sofa and my arm was supporting her head, that way if I nodded off she couldn't go anywhere, and I wasn't going to squash her as I would stay sat up. I always woke to find her sleeping happily in the same position.

I know falling asleep when feeding can be dangerous so don't want this post to seem like I'm saying it's a great idea but I just knew I wasn't going to stay awake sometimes so got in the safest position possible. When she was a newborn I could never feed lying down so this was the best solution I could think of, I would try and stay awake by watching TV or reading BNB but that didn't always work

bubbles · Jan 28th, 2012, 06:47 AM

I was very panicy with my eldest and would leave the light on when he woke to try and keep me awake. It worked for around a week then I got too tired and started falling asleep again (he was and still is a pretty bad sleeper) a little research later we started co-sleeping, DH and I weren't comfortable with it at first because of all the "Don't do it" things you're told but it got better when we were all getting a decent nights sleep and we could think a bit more logically about it.

DD has co-slept from birth

babyjan · Jan 28th, 2012, 07:33 AM

I done a lot more worse, i fell asleep with him laying on my chest while i was on the sofa!

babypowder · Jan 28th, 2012, 15:15 PM

I used to sit up to feed, I know it isn't the best position for everyone but I was more concerned about falling asleep than I was about my comfort. My LO managed to latch on fine that way however so I guess that might not work for you? We also put a dim light on x

flippityflop · Jan 28th, 2012, 16:49 PM

My first night in the hospital after LO was born I woke with a start to find him slipping out of my arms. Thank god they had barriers in either side of the bed

I'm so paranoid now I turn the TV on when I'm feeding so the noise keeps me awake.

summer rain · Jan 28th, 2012, 16:58 PM

IMHO safer to feed lying down on a firm mattress while observing safety rules than to fall asleep sitting up and end up dropping the baby or lolling forward onto them-this is just my opinion. This is why I bed shared from day one (some of the night I have always put my LOs in their moses basket but sometimes they just want to feed lying down in bed for long stretches) xx

Nickij · Jan 28th, 2012, 16:59 PM

The only way i can stay awake is to sit up, put the light on and watch something good on TV, I get out of bed and sit in the arm chair we have- Its more comfy. I have been through 8 seasons of greys anatomy whilst feeding in the past 12 weeks. I might have considered co-sleeping if it was just me in the bed, but not with OH as well.

wishful1 · Jan 28th, 2012, 20:58 PM

I had the same experience, fell asleep while holding LO / BF at night and was horrified, I got horribly sleep deprived her first week home as she would NOT sleep in her bassinet, I read about co-sleeping and now she sleeps for 2-3 hrs at a time next to me in bed, but we are very careful. Personally I decided for myself & LO this was safer than me falling asleep with her in less safe situations (ie couch, chair, etc).

http://www.positivelybreastfeeding.c...o-Sleeping.htm

Best of luck!

Jan 28th, 2012, 05:47 AM	#1
steph. Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 753	Fell asleep while feeding :( Hi ladies! I'm looking for some advice. I usually feed lo lying down because thats how she latches on best, and feeds longest. Except for the past two nights I've been so tired, I've lifted her out of the bassinet, put her to the boob, and rested my eyes. Next thing I know its an hour later! I fell asleep without even realising! Luckily she was ok but I'm really worried this might happen again and I'll suffucate her. So I was wondering if anyone else has fallen asleep while feeding, what you do to keep the environment safe, or what you do to keep awake?! Thanks!

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 06:12 AM	#2
Maggs Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Canadian living in Scotland Posts: 383	Look into how to safely co-sleep so the next time you won't be so frightened. The first few times I accidentally did it, I was scared shitless but once I realized I could do it safely, we do it all the time now. In those early weeks, it's how I managed to get some sleep so I could function. I'm very comfortable with it now and even though he sleeps in his cot for the first of the night, I bring him in bed with me for his early morning feed and we both go back to sleep.

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 06:19 AM	#3
Kelly81 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London / Herts, UK Posts: 595	Please don't feel bad, it's so easily done I must have fallen asleep feeding LO almost daily during the first few months. We have squashy arms on our sofas, sort of like pillows IYKWIM? I used to cradle LO in my arm and rest my arm on the arm of the sofa so her body was supported by the sofa and my arm was supporting her head, that way if I nodded off she couldn't go anywhere, and I wasn't going to squash her as I would stay sat up. I always woke to find her sleeping happily in the same position. I know falling asleep when feeding can be dangerous so don't want this post to seem like I'm saying it's a great idea but I just knew I wasn't going to stay awake sometimes so got in the safest position possible. When she was a newborn I could never feed lying down so this was the best solution I could think of, I would try and stay awake by watching TV or reading BNB but that didn't always work

Status: Online

Jan 28th, 2012, 06:47 AM	#4
bubbles Other BnB Addict Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 4,512	I was very panicy with my eldest and would leave the light on when he woke to try and keep me awake. It worked for around a week then I got too tired and started falling asleep again (he was and still is a pretty bad sleeper) a little research later we started co-sleeping, DH and I weren't comfortable with it at first because of all the "Don't do it" things you're told but it got better when we were all getting a decent nights sleep and we could think a bit more logically about it. DD has co-slept from birth

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 07:33 AM	#5
babyjan Other Active BnB Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 425	I done a lot more worse, i fell asleep with him laying on my chest while i was on the sofa!

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 15:15 PM	#6
babypowder Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 873	I used to sit up to feed, I know it isn't the best position for everyone but I was more concerned about falling asleep than I was about my comfort. My LO managed to latch on fine that way however so I guess that might not work for you? We also put a dim light on x

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 16:49 PM	#7
flippityflop Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Berkshire, UK Posts: 1,600	My first night in the hospital after LO was born I woke with a start to find him slipping out of my arms. Thank god they had barriers in either side of the bed I'm so paranoid now I turn the TV on when I'm feeding so the noise keeps me awake.

Status: Online

Jan 28th, 2012, 16:58 PM	#8
summer rain Mum (Mom) BnB Elite Join Date: May 2010 Location: South East England Posts: 11,180	IMHO safer to feed lying down on a firm mattress while observing safety rules than to fall asleep sitting up and end up dropping the baby or lolling forward onto them-this is just my opinion. This is why I bed shared from day one (some of the night I have always put my LOs in their moses basket but sometimes they just want to feed lying down in bed for long stretches) xx

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 16:59 PM	#9
Nickij Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,451	The only way i can stay awake is to sit up, put the light on and watch something good on TV, I get out of bed and sit in the arm chair we have- Its more comfy. I have been through 8 seasons of greys anatomy whilst feeding in the past 12 weeks. I might have considered co-sleeping if it was just me in the bed, but not with OH as well.

Status: Offline

Jan 28th, 2012, 20:58 PM	#10
wishful1 Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: U.S. Posts: 210	I had the same experience, fell asleep while holding LO / BF at night and was horrified, I got horribly sleep deprived her first week home as she would NOT sleep in her bassinet, I read about co-sleeping and now she sleeps for 2-3 hrs at a time next to me in bed, but we are very careful. Personally I decided for myself & LO this was safer than me falling asleep with her in less safe situations (ie couch, chair, etc). http://www.positivelybreastfeeding.c...o-Sleeping.htm Best of luck!

Status: Offline

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