Sleeping While Breastfeeding a Baby – Is It Safe?

Once you give birth to a little bundle of joy, you hardly get any time for yourself and will be absorbed in the process of taking care of your baby. This translates to very little rest and exhaustion almost every day. Hence, many mothers tend to fall asleep when they sit or lie down while nursing their babies. This, however, can be extremely dangerous for the little ones. It is advised that you take the necessary precautions to ensure that you do not fall asleep while breastfeeding your baby. In this article, we have covered the information on why you should not be sleepy while breastfeeding your baby.

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Is It Natural for a Mom to Fall Asleep While Breastfeeding a Newborn?

It is a known fact that new moms rarely get a good night’s sleep. However, it’s not just the lack of sleep and fatigue that makes mother sleepy while nursing her baby. When you breastfeed your baby, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone triggers positive emotions in you and strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Oxytocin is also known to relax and make one feel calm.

In addition to this, your body also releases the hormone prolactin when you breastfeed. This hormone makes you feel relaxed and soothes you enough to make you feel sleepy. With both these hormones in abundance, you are more likely to fall asleep while breastfeeding.

Reasons for Falling Asleep While Nursing Your Baby

Watched a mother falling asleep while breastfeeding her baby and thinking why did this happen? Here are some reasons why mothers are often breastfeeding while sleeping.

1. Tiredness

Newborn babies are fed every two to three hours. The schedule leads to a lack of continuous sleep for the mother, making her feel tired.

2. Prolactin

An important hormone to produce breast milk. It makes the mother feel a sense of relaxation, leading to sleepy while breastfeeding.

3. Room setting

The baby is usually fed in a dark, well-ventilated room. The mother is also likely to be seated on a comfortable sleep surface, making for a comfortable breastfeeding experience that makes her doze off.

Is It Safe to Fall Asleep While Breastfeeding?

No, it is not safe to fall asleep while breastfeeding. Although your body may work against you and try to put you to sleep while you nurse your baby, you need to stay vigilant and not give in, as there are dangers of falling asleep while breastfeeding. You will lose your hold on the baby if you fall asleep while breastfeeding. You may also end up smothering and suffocating your baby, especially if you are co-sleeping.

Things to Keep in Mind When You Are About to Breastfeed

Follow the steps mentioned below before you begin to breastfeed your baby to lower the possibility of any threat to the baby.

1. Prop up

In order to minimise the risks of falling asleep while breastfeeding, you can prepare ahead by propping up against something comfortable. You could lean against a large pillow (something comfortable but not too cosy!) or a comfortable large sofa. Position yourself in a way that will be safe for your baby even if you accidentally happen to shut your eyes. In case you are sitting on a sofa, stay away from the edges to prevent any instances of you or the baby slipping off.

2. Set An Alarm

While you might wake your baby up with this method, you could set an alarm or a timer to wake yourself up if you have the habit of falling asleep while breastfeeding. You can try and keep the volume of the alarm low or keep it on vibration mode so that your baby isn’t disturbed. It is also important to keep in mind that using a phone near a baby isn’t recommended, so this trick should be your last resort.

3. Take Help From Your Partner

You can ask your partner to check on you at a particular time to ensure that you haven’t fallen asleep. You won’t have to worry about drifting off to sleep if you know that your partner or a family member will wake you up.

4. Clear Out the Surroundings

It is important that you clear away any items that could be a potential threat to your baby. Ensure that there are no sharp objects or hot beverages lying within an arm’s distance from you. This is to ensure that no accidental spills happen if you do move around a little while breastfeeding.

5. Don’t Eat Hot Foods

Do not consume hot beverages or food items while breastfeeding your baby. It can be dangerous for your baby if you fall asleep.

6. Make Safety Arrangements

While breastfeeding your baby, make safety arrangements, like providing pillows or cushions around the couch. So even if you fall asleep, your baby will not get hurt.

7. Relax

To ensure that your baby is comfortable while nursing, try your best to relax. Your little one can sense if you’re tense and nervous, and they won’t latch on correctly.

How to Stop Yourself From Falling Asleep While Breastfeeding?

Sleep deprivation is a real problem when you have a little one to take care of. But to prevent any dangers that may crop up, you can do a couple of things to avoid falling asleep while breastfeeding.

• Rest well. Although this is easier said than done, you will want to work on this for your own good. Take naps in your spare time.You’ll need to get enough sleep to stay awakewhile breastfeeding.
• Sit up straight. Sit on a comfortable chair without using extremely soft cushions or pillows, in order to stay awake. Cosy sofas and chairs can make you feel sleepy and you may drift off to sleep within no time. However, as discussed earlier, make sure you are well propped up and supported.
• Eat healthy foods. There are many healthy foods that breastfeeding moms should consume. Eating right while you’re breastfeeding can boost your energy levels and can help you function better for longer time periods. Consume foods that are rich in protein and healthy carbs like peanut butter, nuts, and yoghurt. These can also fulfil your calorie requirements to maintain your milk supply. However, remember that while drinks laden with sugar can give you an energy boost, they can also drain you out faster, which can be counterproductive to your purpose. Avoid caffeinated drinks as they can be passed on to your baby through your milk.
• Keep your mind engaged. You can read a book or simply strike up a conversation with your partner while breastfeeding to stay awake. However, if it’s your baby’s nap time, then it is best to rely on books as speaking to your partner or anyone can disturb the baby.
• Sleep when your baby sleeps. It is important for you to take a rest in order to take care of your baby.
• Delegate the chores. You might think that you can do it all, but it is okay to take help from friends and family. Delegate your chores to someone while you take care of your newborn.

Taking care of a newborn is not easy and no doubt, you will be feeling exhausted most of the time. You will want to sleep as much as you can, whenever you can. However, it is important to prioritise your baby’s safety. A few precautions taken can go a long way in preventing accidents while breastfeeding.

References/Resources:

1. Safe sleep for your baby; .marchofdimes.org; https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/parenthood/safe-sleep-your-baby

2. How Often and How Much Should Your Baby Eat?; healthychildren.org; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/How-Often-and-How-Much-Should-Your-Baby-Eat.aspx

3. Tips for breastfeeding success; thewomens.org.au; https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-overview/tips-for-breastfeeding-success

4. Sleeping While Breastfeeding: 10 Sanity Saving Tips; sleepadvisor.org; https://www.sleepadvisor.org/breastfeeding-and-sleep/

5. The physiological basis of breastfeeding; National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK148970/

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