breastfeeding and co-sleeping
March 2, 2011
Breast is best for baby – but I say best for mum too. It does really give you an unmatched opportunity to fall in love with your baby, over and over again. I love the thought that my body has been able to feed my baby for 17 weeks now. All home made goodness!
The first 3 months he was sleeping in my bed and when he woke at night I would feed him. We didn’t need to see, I just rolled him slightly on his side and he would wet his lips and run his lips over my breast, quickly moving his head from side to side. Like a little scanner he was looking for the nipple and latched on as soon as he felt it. Such a smart little baby. He also figured out how to scoot over to me in bed so he could lie next to my breasts. He never ever cried at night, I just knew when he was waking up and he had a little drink and went back to sleep. They say that when you co-sleep with your baby your sleeping patterns synchronise. You naturally wake up at the same time. I think that is true, at least for me it was. Now that he sleeps in his cot bed in his own room of course he needs to cry to wake me up. Sometimes it makes me feel bad that I don’t let him sleep in my bed anymore. But self-preservation took over (I really needed to get some more sleep).
Back to the boob: breastfeeding wasn’t always wonderful. Certainly the first week or so was a nightmare. It hurt A LOT. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are doing it wrong when it hurts. There are no nipples in this world that are made to naturally withstand an abrasive baby mouth sucking at it every hour and half, day and night. They have to toughen up and until they are it does hurt, and bleed. Definitely get some nipple balm to keep them soft and lubricated. And when he latches on take a deep breath in and count to 10. By then the pain will have dropped to a manageable level. Do go to a breastfeeding clinic if you have any doubts. They are there to help and you’ll see that you are not alone in this. Be a proud breastfeeding mum – and don’t be shy to feed your baby in public.
