sleepless in South Carolina need coffee

[devoted]

I'm reading that you ladies have babies that nurse all night. What do you do in the mornings and you have to get up and start your day? Mine does not nurse all night but since the LO has been getting up to be nursed once or twice a night my DD 3yrold gets up asking for water 3 times a night, wanting my help going to the BR. She's been sleeping through the night since her 11th week and now she thinks she can wake me like the baby does. NOW the baby is sleeping for several hours through the night and my 3YR OLD keeps me from sleeping. I am about to pull my hair out. How do you all function through out the day without caffeine? Do you have coffee at all??
"crazy"

[StillSingingMom]

Me, I've never been a coffee drinker, so I don't miss it. Many babies can tolerate it if you drink coffee, however- lots of nursing moms here couldn't live without coffee. Some babies do seem to have trouble with it, however.

I like to go for a run in the morning to wake up.

[devoted]

run?? I am afraid that would totally deplete my energy first thing. Do you take the kids with you or do you wake before them??

[StillSingingMom]

Right now, I take the kids with me. I take the whole family. But what I do varies depending on what everyone else needs.

With tiny babies, I don't like to bring them running. I worry the whole time. Are they warm enough and all that. So I made a deal with my husband. He gets everyone breakfast while I get out for a run (it was just a walk when I was pregnant and for a while postpartum).

When I get back, I can find something to snack on. And I nurse before I go.

Now, though, my nursling is two years old. And my older kids can run with me. So I'm taking the whole family out for a run; the four year old rides his bike. And I push the two year old in her stroller. Even the husband is coming out for a run, these days. We only do a couple of miles.

If you aren't currently running, don't kill yourself getting up for a run. Go for a walk for a half an hour. You'll be surprised at how good it feels.

[chaosKOSMOS]

My DD wakes to nurse quite often throughout the night... but I still get my sleep. DD sleeps between me and DH (she'll be 6 months on the 17th, btw). When she wakes to feed at night, the "buffet" is already set for her. She pops herself onto the boob, and nurses until she falls asleep again. I rarely have to wake for longer than 10 seconds.

My other DC'n (I have 3 boys ages 7, 5, and 2) sometimes wake in the night for various reasons, but if they need assistance, DH already knows that is his job, as I have baby to take care of.

I don't drink coffee, tea, or anything with caffein really because the crash afterwards is much worse than not having taken anything in the first place.

Running or some other form of cardio workout helps me as well. It helps get your blood circulating better and helps get rid of fatigue. The endorphine rush after a good run works wonders to perk me up. I find that I get more done if I take some time for myself to relax (running is how I relax). It's different for everybody.

Grace

[devoted]

I'll have to try that.When do you find time to run? I used to run on a treadmill at the gym before pg #2. Now I just can't seem to find the time for any activity for myself. I certainly need something for myself. I would probably be much nicer to my family if I had an outlet. I'm still adjusting to having more than one child at home. I have so much respect for you moms with 3 and 4 kids.
A jogging I may go...more like a walking.....one day soon.

[irisheyes81]

I am a soda drinker, but not a coffee drinker. The soda is more to keep my caffeine-headaches away. My son is also an all-night feeder, and has been since he was born over a year ago. The best way, I have found, to get up in the morning is to just do something...vacuum, cook breakfast, make the bed, wash your face; something that gets you moving and ready for the day. Now, I am also one of those people that can function quite well on very little sleep, but I have always had a problem getting up in the morning (definitely a night owl). Getting up and doing something that gets me moving has always been successful for me.

[StillSingingMom]

When do I find time to run? I go first thing. If I do it first, then it gets done, and I feel good, and I'm happy. If I wait, there are always fourteen things I need to do, or I feel really lazy and I never get to it. We've had sick kids this week, so my toddler has been an all- night nurser on an all milk diet, and I haven't gotten out for days.

It makes me feel slug like. Eeeewwww.

They aren't better yet, and I am hacking, but I'm going for a walk at least.

[crystal555rose]

I find that exercise increases my energy more dramatically than getting more sleep. I have a stationary bike and go for a 20 minute ride at night 3-5 times a week.

I would have never guessed how well I can function even though I wake up at least twice every night (if baby does not need me, I have to check and make sure!) Exercise makes all the difference and it well worth making time whether it is the first thing or the last.

[LoganAndKeelysMom]

I totally agree that getting your blood flowing helps more than getting more sleep. I've never been an athlete or anything and I've been walking with my kids in the morning and then doing some strength training exercises in the yard with my 2 year old when we get home (with the 2 month old still in the stroller watching us, she giggles seeing us!) and I've felt like a new woman!! And I get to do it with my kids, so I don't have to pick between doing something for me and being at home with my family.
I'm in South Carolina too so if that sounds good to you and we're close by, I'd love to have someone to walk with.
Where r u?

[kohlby]

I do drink coffee- but just one cup of instant. I also make sure to workout - I go to the gym 1-2 times a day. (Since baby can't handle the childcare room very long but the older kids beg to go to the gym! I started the gym when baby was 4 months old). Also, we co-sleep. The baby sometimes sleeps through the night and sometimes wakes up twice. The three year old always wakes up twice to nurse. However, my 3 year old has never slept through the night! She starts in her own bed and climbs in next to me the first time she wakes. We keep a sippy cup of water in her bed so there's one less reason to get up.

I'm also in SC. :)

[Nipple_nectar]

I have also discovered that a low carb lifestyle leads to more energy and less desire to sleep in:)

[Amy_G_]

I drink coffee.
I can't actually get enough sleep to feel well rested, since I'm always seriously anemic due to a blood disorder.
so I drink coffee.
When pregnant, I drank 1 cup caffeine coffee, the rest decaf.
right after giving birth I continued, but slowly upped the amount of caffeine with no ill effects on my nurslings.
as to nursing all night long, there are serious advantages to cosleeping.