Please help a desperate for sleep mama out....

[poopzmom]

I have 13 month old twin girls. They have been breastfed together since birth. Never a bottle, or a pacifier. They are chubby and fat and healthy and happy Is it so bad to want a break at night. They usually give me the first 2 hours at night. We co sleep. But after that I CAN NOT GET THEM OFF ME. Just imagine 48 lbs of baby on top of you sucking the life out of you all night. The one twin does not like solids and the other does pretty good. I sleep with them in my 3 year olds room on a mattress on the floor. I have tried sleeping in another bed separate from them. But then I can't sleep because I know that any minute they are going to be up. So it takes me forever to fall asleep and then I am lucky if I get a half hour 'nap'. I can't ask dh for help. He sees nothing wrong with letting them cry. my oldest was the same way until I night weaned at 20 months. So obviously I am doing something wrong if I have had 3 kids with 3 totally different personalities all want to stay latched on all nightI don't want to wait until they are old enough for me to say ba bas went night night. I want my sleep back now, or at least some of it. help, advice, someone with some boobs to lend out??????

[averlee]

At 13 months, we were nursing all night too. And now at 28 months...still nursing at night a lot! But mama, I only have one kiddo, and we all sleep together on a futon on the floor, and I'm not working. I'm keeping up the night nursing because it is super easy for me- but it doesn't sound easy for you at all! I think it is totally OK to try some kind of gentle night weaning, sorry no advice there. Just, I wouldn't blame you one bit!

[poopzmom]

Really? nobody else. no one else has babies who stay latched on all night

[ShwarmaQueen]

I'm totally impressed by your committment to BF your baby girls.

At that age, DD was still nursing quite a bit a night, so I understand your sleep-deprived frustration. And it was also the age where we transitioned to night-weaning. I would keep my bra on, and when DD wanted to nurse (or mainly just suck) I would rub her bare back instead. She fussed a little at first, but it wasn't long before she was sleeping more solidly (but still not all through the night).

[Baby_Cakes]

I am also completely impressed and in awe of you nursing your twins so long, and cosleeping to boot!
I only have one DD (11 mo) but she still wakes a handful of times through the night to nurse. The only luck I have had w/getting more sleep at night is just being patient. As she gets older, she seems to be getting much better w/sleep.
For a little while, when it was bad, I could pass her to DH (though he was supportive of not letting her cry) so I could sleep just a little longer. For some reason, she would just pass out on him, but if I had her she would need the boob or to be rocked. With him, she would just lay down and sleep. And I'm talking at 9 or 10 mo old, not older than your girls.
Since your girls are over a year, have you thought about nightweaning completely? There may be tears, but of course I don't mean the cio kind. Gentle nightweaning is possible, if you are willing to give it a go.
GL mama, and a serious high five for your accomplishments so far! You rock!

[curious&eager]

Cuddling with dad may work. Mine lo is much younger, but he certainly does not want to leave me because I'm warm and cuddly. When he's done eating, I simply push him over to dad. If lo wakes up, dad puts him on his chest and he passes right out to the sound of dad snoring. Then he's still warm and cuddled. Congrats breastfeeding two babies for more than a year! I hope you get some rest.

[poopzmom]

I think I am going to try and rub their backs tonight. The problem is when one wakes up then I am afraid the other will wake up. Plus its so easy to give them the boob. I wind up just caving because I know I can sleep through it, even though its uncomfortable.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Originally Posted by poopzmom

I think I am going to try and rub their backs tonight. The problem is when one wakes up then I am afraid the other will wake up. Plus its so easy to give them the boob. I wind up just caving because I know I can sleep through it, even though its uncomfortable.

Even if you did cave and nurse, you could still cut down little by little over the next couple of weeks. I think it would be easier for everybody that way anyways.