There are a lot of things that are difficult about being a new mom, and the struggles may be different for each mom, depending on what her journey is and what choices he has made for how to raise her baby. For a mom who has chosen to breastfeed, she can have her own challenges.
One of the biggest challenges for a breastfeeding mom will come at night. If mom has decided to exclusively feed from the breast, she is likely responsible for all the night feeds. Mom is tired, and all she wants to do is sleep, but she has a baby who wants to eat frequently. This can be exhausting.
Mom may be looking for some tips on how she can make this process a bit easier. These are tips and hacks that can make the night a bit easier, and that can even try and get mom a bit more sleep. Here are 10 tips for moms who are breastfeeding overnight.
RELATED: Postpartum Fatigue Is More Than Just "Normal" Sleep Deprivation
If there is one thing that other mothers will say, it is that finding a comfortable position is the most important thing when it comes to breastfeeding at night. According to Today's Parent, it is possible to breastfeed in a horizontal position, all you need to do is lay on your side, and have your baby lying next to you with their nose level to your nipple.
While some moms may bring their babies home right to their own room, a lot of moms choose to keep their babies in the same room as them for nighttime, and this is important. If you are not doing this yet, now is the time to start. Make sure your baby is close at night, either in a bassinet in your room or in a bedside sleeper.
According to Mom Loves Best, a dream feed is essential when breastfeeding a baby at night. This means that right before you go to sleep you want to slightly wake your baby, and see if you can get them to nurse again. This may buy you some time to sleep before they wake up again.
When a baby is small, your baby will need multiple feeds to ensure proper growth. The problem is that sometimes, babies are really sleepy at night, and it can be hard to rouse them to eat. Make sure you rouse your baby to wake up to eat if they have to. This can be done by rubbing their cheeks, and feet and looking in their eyes.
Part of the struggle with breastfeeding at night is sleep deprivation, and the weight it can have on your mental wellbeing. Moms recommend hiding the clock in the room. Nothing can make it worse than realizing you have only slept one hour since the last feeding. It can make the nights seem longer.
When your baby wakes up to feed, you don't want to be turning on a bright light or making a lot of noise. Keep the environment dark, and calm, and this should help babies go back to sleep when they are done eating. Keep a dim night light beside the bed for some light, but nothing too bright.
If mom wears pajamas and knows she is going to be breastfeeding at night, she may want to invest in some that are accessible for nursing. Mom does not want to have to completely undress multiple times a night to feed her baby. They make a lot of nursing options for pajamas, but any loose shirt that you can just move out of the way will work.
According to Medela, you may want to invest in a nursing pillow. Moms state that their nursing pillow is what saves them during the night when they are feeding their baby. It can help give support to hold the baby at the breast which is important at night, when you may be feeling really sleepy.
Make sure you have a breastfeeding station besides your bed with everything you will need. This could include water and snacks for you, nipple cream, burp cloths, and any other items that can make it easier for you. Have your phone charging beside your bed, so you can scroll while your baby feeds.
This can be a hard part of motherhood, and breastfeeding can be challenging at night. It can take a toll on a mom's mental health, but it is important to remember that this stage won't last forever. That there are a lot of benefits to nursing at night, and all mom can do is take it one night at a time.
Sources: Today's Parent, Mom Loves Best, Medela