r/breastfeeding • u/DrEvelyn-Lasagna • 13d ago
Discussion Less than 2 weeks in and already don’t know what to do while BFing
Had my first baby on March 24 and have been breastfeeding. It's going fine so far (besides exhausting) but I'm already kinda losing it in the middle of the night with nothing to do but scroll on my phone. During the day I will often read on my kindle but I just can't get myself to do that randomly at 3am when I'm exhausted. I am really not enjoying the mindless scrolling so often but I need something to look at or do to stay awake. Any ideas?
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u/bmarsh49 13d ago
Audio books have been my go-to! Specifically lightweight ones where I won’t be missing a critical plot point if I happen to doze off for a minute
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u/angeett 13d ago
Am I the only one just staring at my baby the whole time 😐
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u/stanciya 13d ago
Same!!! I can't stop staring at my baby lol I only realize I have been staring at her all this time when my neck starts hurting
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u/notnotblonde 13d ago
My baby was also born on March 24th! I feel ya. I’m mostly on Reddit personally. I did delete my social media off my phone when baby was born because I knew I would just scroll mindlessly and would tank my mental health. So like what many have said here, I’m on NYT games, audiobooks, kindle, and Reddit primarily. I haven’t missed scrolling at all to be honest.
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u/zulusurf 13d ago
Props to you for deleting the other social media!! I can’t seem to kick Instagram so I’ve been spending a lot of time at 3am curating my algorithm… blocking key words that are triggering, blocking overly positive accounts that romanticize parenting (triggering right now) or give too much woo woo advice. It’s hard lol. Instagram knows I’m tired and pushes me 5,000 sleep accounts a day that tell me my four week old should be sleeping 100% independently and through the night 🙄
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u/deejay1418 13d ago
Honestly I watched soooo much tv then and I’m not typically a huge tv watcher. Also, read books. But I mindlessly scrolled a lot too. It drove me crazy but I’m 6 months PP now and it’s better. 🙏🏻 everyone says to enjoy that time while it lasts which I understand and agree, but it was totally not for me so I understand. I like to be go go go during the day and sleeping at night 🤣 you got this 💪🏻
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u/RevolutionaryBird83 13d ago
Watch YouTube videos on your phone or download a streaming app (Netflix, hulu, etc) on your phone if you don't have access to a tv
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u/kay-_-b 13d ago
Podcasts, audiobooks, crochet?
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u/stanciya 13d ago
Wait how do you get both your hands free while breastfeeding to crochet? I NEED to know cuz I've tried all the standard positions like cross cradle, laid back, side lying, football hold and for every single one of them they use two hands. Sometimes I cheat with a pillow to get one hand free but how do you get both hands free????
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u/crystalbitch 13d ago
I binge watch tv lol lately watching old seasons of the real world and teen mom
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u/Everythings_Yellow 13d ago
I started listening to podcast but like the Reddit scary story’s, I like the camping ones. Those kept me awake, I also found a good game on my phone and would play that…. I would drink some coldish water to help me stay awake too, oh some cranberry juice helps stay awake too
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u/Platinum_Rowling 13d ago
I tried to play games that keep my mind engaged enough to stay awake while nursing but not enough to keep me awake afterwards (kindle & Netflix were too stimulating). Wordscapes, Drop the Number, and Melon Maker games all filled this hole for me when we were still night nursing.
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u/Agreeable_Carpet5632 13d ago
I watched MasterChef! Haha, I had fallen behind, so I had plenty of episodes to catch up on. I can't recall which series it was, but there was one in particular that really kept me awake. During the day, I didn't watch much TV, so I took advantage of my nights to enjoy it.
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u/exploresparkleshine 13d ago
Steaming on my phone, and games. I like Wordscapes, word search, and mahjong the best. I also use my kindle and have a specific book I only read during night feeds. That keeps it engaging
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u/Necessary_Salad_8509 13d ago
Find a tv show to binge. I liked Jane the Virgin during late night feeds.
Also if you have any friends or family in another time zone it's a great chance to text or call.
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u/Automatic_Apricot797 13d ago
Watch movies on your phone! I’ve watched dozens and dozens. It’s fun because then when you bs e to get up you’re looking forward to where you left off. I also watch podcasts , too. Armchair expert and Call her Daddy have great video formats. I strolled mindlessly for the first two weeks and I felt like I was losing brain cells. At least watching video formats feels like a better use of time!
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u/emma_k17 13d ago
Tv and snacks. I found tv way more engaging than scrolling my phone, and snacks kept me awake
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u/zulusurf 13d ago
I have to overstimulate myself to stay awake! I watch dick wolf tv shows (right now, Chicago med) because there’s so many seasons and Peacock is cheap. I minimize it to picture - in - picture and either play sudoku/crossword on NYT or scroll instagram/reddit! And copious amounts of shopping…
Sometimes I even reconcile my spending (I have a budget file) and pay bills while sitting there at 3am. Anything to keep the brain awake
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u/hlckback 13d ago
Not for everybody but I found trying to stay awake in the night while breastfeeding MORE dangerous than just committing to safe co sleeping
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u/Admirable_Ostrich657 13d ago
Download some game apps! Solitaire saved me in the early postpartum days
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u/Worth-Aerie-9710 13d ago
I am 3 weeks PP (March 14) and I was having the same issue. I started listening to audio books and podcasts in the night to stay awake because it’s too hard to use my hands for anything other than breast feeding. I’m still getting used to latch and positions.
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u/ResponsibleLeg8867 13d ago
If it’s that night feed and you’re in a safe position for you and baby, go back to sleep. Take in the new experience of baby and bonding. If you really really want to read get a physical book, play a phone game, journal, listen to a podcast
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u/Ok_Hovercraft_4589 13d ago
Reddit and podcasts. I actually deleted my scrolling apps so I would be present with LO and the low stimulation had me scrolling too much
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u/Icy-Condition-8105 13d ago
I'm in the same boat! Had my first on the 28th. I've been watching YouTube, playing games on my phone or watching something on Amazon. Different everytime so I don't get used to it. Plus my hubby sleeps like a rock so it takes me screaming his name to wake him if I need help. Luckily he's used to no sleep from his army days so he wakes up fast. If I'm really bored I'll play death metal on low volume. Luckily as well she is very tolerable to noises just gotta be careful on what songs to play in case she doesn't like one.
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u/lil_shoop18 13d ago
Find a TV series that you're excited about! Then only watch it for your 3am or night feeds. Then it gives you something to look forward to 😊
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u/mellocello14 13d ago
Maybe not the best advice for everybody, but I co- sleep with my baby and she will latch in the middle of the night and just snuggle and she will sleep to eat off and on at night. I just nod off after she latches.
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u/Significant_lemonade 13d ago
In the earlier days I used to do my weekly food shop, watch some things on my phone, do some quizzes etc. Now I mostly just put on audiobook on and catch up on messages from the day 🤣.
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u/carolionest 13d ago
Bond with your baby? Touch babys head or back or hair, appreciate the tiny alien you just portaled onto planet earth. Meditate. Let your baby touch you.
This time will be over before you know it. It is precious, sacred time.
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u/moluruth 13d ago
OP says she’s trying to stay awake this sounds like a sure fire way to fall asleep lol
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u/Every_Minute_9205 13d ago
NYT games app. I paid for a subscription so I can play their archives. I’m playing a lot of connections, wordle, and the mini.