#WeAreMayoClinic
Sleeping through the night
I am going on my third week back to work and still working on our new routine. My now 15 week old slept through the night at least 5/7 nights a week the last month of my maternity leave. She would wake up between 5am-6am to nurse and go back to sleep until between 9am-10am. It was glorious! Now that our schedule has changed she has been waking up between 2am-4am every night. I’ve tried ‘cluster’ nursing after work and before bed. I’ve also tried giving her a bottle before bed to see if she wasn’t getting enough at her bedtime nurse. We've tried cutting out or shortening her 5pm 'cat nap'. But nothing seems to help her make it through the night again. Has anyone else experienced this after going back to work? I'm wondering if it's a separation issue with me being back to work? I would love to hear from other moms!
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@jjwebb Hang it there! I was warned about the 4 month sleep regression and it definitely hit my daughter. She was very similar starting sleeping well right before I went back to work, and then regressed. I also tried adding more feedings at night, dream feeding, etc. and trying to think back none of it made a difference. I think the new routine of mom gone does make a difference and being woken up in the morning for us to go to work. I was lucky my daughter got to stay home with my husband for 3 months until starting daycare when I went back to work but I still woke her to feed in the morning so I didn't have to pump even if she hadn't woken up. I just had to make myself go to bed early at night which was so hard because you just want to veg out and watch TV or actually see your husband. I always had a hard time going back to sleep after that nursing session in middle of night, even if it was only for 30 more minutes I went back to bed! It helped once I stopped looking at my phone while nursing her.
It to will pass as everyone told me 🙂 And it did! Yes not until 9 months did she start fully sleeping through the night but she has ever since! *knock on wood* They start getting used to the routine of daycare and adjust, and daycare taught her how to fall asleep for naps on her own! (which was great because I didn't before she started daycare) I have heard other moms supplement with formula at night hoping would sleep longer, but we never tried that. Honestly it stressed me out more trying new things and them not working! I still nurse to sleep and worried to stop that as she is such a great sleeper now. Keep doing what works for your schedule and you know she can sleep through the night so she will again!
@jjwebb My son did the same thing after starting daycare. It sounds like you are doing everything right. 🙂 Hang in there!
@jjwebb Have things gotten any better? Hope you are getting some sleep
@ambercaron It's hit or miss. She slept until 5am twice last week. However, the last two nights she has been waking up twice to nurse! I'm almost certain she just wants the comfort because I've started only nursing for 3 minutes each side and she falls asleep before the end of the second side. She is obviously not starving,,,just wanting that connection. My husband has tried rocking her to give me a break and the second he puts her back in her crib she cries until I nurse her. I chalk it up to the 4 month sleep regression...