The Sleepy Time Breastfeeding Strategy To Overcome Challenges
Read Time | 11 minutes
What if I told you one of the best times to practice breastfeeding is when your baby is asleep?
You might think it a crazy suggestion.
You might even think I'M crazy!
It's a counter-intuitive sounding suggestion for sure, but it may be one of the most helpful techniques in resolving latching issues.
Before I get into the advantages of sleepy-time feeding, it's important that I share the various behavior states or levels of consciousness your baby may be in, which can significantly influence the way that they respond at any point in time.
There are six behavior states that your baby may fall in:
Deep Sleep
Light sleep
Drowsy
Quiet Alert
Active Alert/ fussy
Crying
Though you might be all too familiar with the crying state of your newborn (I am sorry!!), you may be less familiar with the different states of sleep and alertness.
The ability to identify which state your baby is in can be a valuable skill in your breastfeeding toolbox because though babies can nurse in every state (except for crying), there are advantages to offering the breast during the two most receptive sleep states.
Drowsy
A drowsy baby is one that's in a state of transition, as they can either fall asleep or become more alert. Identifying a tired baby is relatively easy. They often have "heavy eyes," and as a parent, you may find your baby's drowsy state extra adorable.
Drowsy babies will often latch with ease as they tend to like to "comfort nurse," but they may also fall into a deeper sleep quickly without actively nursing.
Alternatively, the presence of milk from a letdown may awaken your drowsy baby and lead to an effective nursing session without all the fussing and vexation of attempting to breastfeed them in a more alert behavior state.
In either case, a drowsy behavioral state is one of frequent, quick state shifts, which is one reason many parents find nursing a preterm or jaundice baby so challenging. Even though attempting to feed a sleeping baby has its benefits, waking them enough to feed well can be a struggle and lead to lots of frustration!
Light Sleep
When your baby is in a light sleep state (also known as active sleep), it may be difficult to tell if they are actually asleep! Your baby may make lots of little noises, move their arms, bring their hands to their mouths, open their eyes, or even have short bursts of crying.
Additionally, during the active sleep state, your baby is easily startled and easy to wake up, which can be super frustrating because it comprises the majority of your baby's sleeping time.
The reason why light sleep is a great time to practice breastfeeding is that babies in this state are more responsive to internal stimuli, such as hunger, than they are in other states. They also may attach and feed with greater ease, and with less discomfort, than when they are in more active states.
Similarly to the drowsy behavior state, light/active sleep state marks a period where a baby may enter into a deeper sleep or awaken when a stimulus occurs; however ithere’s also a possibility that they will remain in a light sleep state.
In general, light sleep is a more stable behavioral state compared to when a baby is tired, however, your baby may not always be alert enough to feed.
Why is sleepy-time feeding helpful for breastfeeding challenges?
There are a few reasons why breastfeeding a sleeping baby may make things go more smoothly and aid in resolving breastfeeding struggles.
Sleep may dampen feeding reflexes, which can make breastfeeding go more smoothly, especially in highly sensitive and reflexive babies.
Babies can better organize their suck-swallow-breathe pattern more easily when they are drowsy or asleep.
Offering the breast to a baby in the light sleep state may lead to more coordinated feeding and a longer sleep stretch
Babies’ feeding reflexes can be stimulated at any time and offering the breast in a light sleep state can help relieve breast fullness, preventing discomfort and reducing the risk of plugged ducts and mastitis.
Sleepy-time feeds allows for more opportunities for babies to intake milk which both builds milk supply and improves weight gain.
So now that you know that offering to breastfeed a sleeping baby has its benefits, and that not all sleep states are created equal (note: quiet sleep isn't mentioned), you may be wondering
"How in the heck do I latch a sleeping baby?!".
That is a very valid question.
If you already are having latching difficulties while they are alert and awake, it may feel daunting to imagine latching a baby whose entirely out of the loop.
Here are a few key tips to make the process go smoothly
- Look for hand to mouth or rooting movements.
Because there are times that your baby may not be receptive to feeding during the light sleep state because they aren't alert enough, it's best to wait till when you see "traditional" hunger cues. Another opportunity might be when your baby's eyes are moving under their eyelids or when they are moving their arms and legs.
- Stimulate their innate feeding reflexes
Babies use a sequence of programmed reflexes for breastfeeding. As mentioned above, these reflexes can be stimulated at any time, regardless of your baby’s level of alertness.
The two key reflexes that you can use to your advantage are the rooting reflex and the gape reflex.
The rooting reflex helps your baby orient to your nipple and is stimulated any time their mouth/cheek/face is touched.
Note: Babies turn toward the stimulus.
Placing your baby's face next to or near your breast allows an opportunity for your baby to latch during a bout of stirring. Alternatively, you can stimulate it manually by stroking the side of your baby's face to turn towards your breast with an open mouth.
The gape reflex is stimulated by touching just under your baby's nose, in the grooved space above your baby's top lip (philtrum). If you're holding your baby in a “side” position such as cradle, cross cradle and football, you can stroke this space with your nipple to help your baby gape widely. Once their mouth is open, you can quickly bring baby onto your breast.
- Plan to minimize movements
Babies in a light sleep state are extremely easy to wake, and it's a frustrating thing for parents as they attempt to "slide from under" or put their babies down. The ease at which babies in active sleep awaken can also present challenges for those who are using this time to practice latching when breastfeeding a more alert baby has proven problematic.
One way around this issue is planning ways to minimize movements. Many parents find that safe bed sharing during their practice runs or during the night when they "dream feed" is super helpful as there is no need to pick their babies up to feed or put them down again after the nursing session.
Simply roll them on their sides and snuggle them close!
Other parents may prefer a biological or ‘laid back’ position and may plan to spend time catching up on their favorite shows, skin to skin with their baby. When an opportunity arises, they can simply guide their baby to the breast, and when they are done eating, they finish out their nap time.
Whatever option you feel most comfortable with (listed above or one you come up with), it's important to plan ways to minimize movement to ensure your baby stays in a light sleep state while feeding.
But because babies are sensitive little beings, it's inevitable that sometimes your baby will wake up completely, in which case, it's still a perfect time to nurse! They may still latch easily and with less pain than if they had been in an active alert state for a while.
What is a perfect latch anyway? Check out this blog post to hear my insight on perfect looking latches
If you're still having discomfort with nursing despite working through the latching fundamentals, and if you find little to no improvement with sleepy time attempts, it's critical that you seek out professional lactation support as soon as possible.
There are many reasons for why breastfeeding may be painful, and the quickest and easiest path to pain-free nursing includes a consultation and expert guidance. If you are having persistent pain, cringe at the thought of nursing, are contemplating stopping, or have any questions/concerns regarding breastfeeding, please call me at (831) 204-0565. You can also book an appointment easily online.