In a message dated 8/3/2003 6:19:43 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> always say something like "it is really recommended that (insert
> appropriate modifier here--small/new/sleepy/whatever) babies nurse at
> least every two hours during the day and at least every three hours at
> night".  If baby is gaining well, then I might say 4 hours at night.  Is
> baby sleeping with mom?  I don't think the baby would sleep that long at
> night if they were sharing sleep.

both of my babies also slept 7-8 hours through the night from birth. the 1st
was preemie (35.5 wks) and was even doing it in nicu in the hospital. since he
was born w/ apnea, low blood sugar and jaundice they told me it was
absolutely necessary to wake him every 1 1/2 - 2 hrs to nurse when i got him home. i
did as instructed, but really had to go to valiant efforts to wake him enough to
get him to nurse. he was smallish and skinny but never considered ftt. we
also did a family bed with both and never used any artificial nipples, scheduling
or bottles. after about 3 wks, he began doing what i called 'bullking up'
before bed. he would nurse from about 7 pm - 10pm without unlatching. if i tried
to unlatch him, he was immediately distraught and could not be comforted until
he was back on the breast. i had to learn to put everything else aside and
just nurse for this block of time every night. i could have kissed the very feet
of whomever invented slings! it seemed this nursing marathon kept him stocked
up through the night, however, as it was his habit to do this until about 18
mos and he has always slept right through the night. # 2 has been identical
with the exception that he has never needed to nurse quite as long to stock up
for the overnight fast and he wasn't preemie. i could also see my milk is
incredibly fat since having #2. w/ #1, it looked like lemonade when i pumped and
stored (you guessed it - night engorgement for the 1st few wks) and with # 2 i
have 2.5 oz of cream rise to the top in a 5 oz bottle (pumped and donated for a
friend's baby as well as for a pet of mine dying of cancer). anyway, i know
this is just anecdotal but i just wanted to share in case it gives you any
clues to help discern if it is normal and healthy for your mom's baby to be doing
this....had they not 'stocked up' before bedtime or had a shortage of bowel
movements/urine, i would have been concerned. actually, i was concerned anyway -
having read that newborns' brains are not 'wired' to sleep through the night
like that and that deeper sleep could be correlated to SIDS. this is why we
never considered anything but bedsharing. under what other circumstances would i
leave my newborns alone for 8+ hours w/out being able to check on their every
gasp and gurgle? none! now that i've learned even more about the risk factors
for SIDS, i'm even more confident and happy we chose to do the family bed...i
didn't see if this mom is cosleeping? i would always hope deep sleeping
babies are beside their moms at night!
"bobo, what are you doing to deedle?"
"pankin him butt, mumma"
"bobo, we don't spank in this house"
"ony pank him outside, mumma?"


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