Updated: Feb. 8, 2021
Originally Published: Oct. 20, 2015
Before entering the world of parenthood, I was led to believe by various organizations that breastfeeding would be a blissful experience: effortless, pain-free, and always cooperative. I imagined myself nursing gracefully, juggling everything from cooking to blogging—all while maintaining perfect hair and makeup. Unfortunately, the reality is much different.
As a proud member of the breastfeeding community, I can attest that nursing is not always comfortable or straightforward. In fact, my current nighttime routine is far from what I envisioned. If you’re dealing with a reflux baby, you may find the following 21-step nighttime nursing routine helpful.
- Awaken to the sound of soft grunting. Leap from bed before it escalates into full-blown wailing.
- Stumble to the rocking chair in darkness, avoiding any light that might fully awaken your baby. Secure a nursing pillow around your waist and ensure burp cloths, towels, and wipes are within reach.
- Politely ask your partner to fetch you a glass of water, as nursing creates an insatiable thirst.
- Bring your baby to your breast.
- Your baby will nurse for a few minutes, then become restless. Assess their movements: Is he still hungry? Has he ingested too much milk or air? Is he rooting? Yes, he’s definitely rooting.
- Reintroduce the baby to your breast.
- Incorrect move. When your baby unexpectedly expels a significant amount of milk, you realize it’s time for a burp. Quickly position him upright as milk streams from his nose.
- Pat his back relentlessly until at least one shoulder is soaked in spit-up. You hope this solves the issue.
- In the dark, navigate to the changing table since his pajamas are now drenched. Unsnap the jammies and discover a saturated diaper.
- Replace the wet diaper. As you slide a fresh one beneath him, you’re hit with a sudden spray of pee.
- Flip on the light to get a better look.
- Secure the diaper tabs quickly and wipe down any wet surfaces with baby wipes.
- Struggle to dress your baby in dry pajamas.
- Place him back in the bassinet, only to discover that the light has awakened him fully.
- Ignore this for just 15 minutes—attempt to catch some sleep. Is that too much to ask? Crawl back to bed, smelling like sour milk.
- Listen for sputtering. Panic when you hear your baby choking on his own spit-up. Clean his cheeks and neck in a desperate attempt to stop the mess.
- Lie back down.
- After 15 minutes, be awakened by more grunting. Your baby is ready for another meal.
- Repeat the nursing steps in any order that seems appropriate.
- Ultimately decide to allow your baby to sleep in a saggy diaper with dried milk on his face.
- Justify this choice, telling yourself it’s only for one night. Tomorrow, at 3 a.m., you’ll wake up looking refreshed and ready.
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In summary, while the journey of nursing a reflux baby can be chaotic and far from the serene images we often see, having a structured routine can help ease the burden. Embrace the imperfections, and remember that every parent has their own unique experience.
Keyphrase: nursing a baby with reflux
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