Posted November 9, 2010 - 4:39pm by Tracy
Does breastfeeding really mean less sleep for new moms?
Despite the increasing presence of lactation consultants in hospitals’ post-partum units and a growing trend favoring breastfeeding over formula, some new moms may choose formula feeding in order to get more sleep, as infants who are breastfed have been found to awaken more often and to sleep less.
However, a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics has found that moms who give their babies formula do not necessarily get more sleep in the first 2 to 12 weeks after all, according a report by Julie Deardorff, health reporter and blogger for the Chicago Tribune:
Breastfed infants are commonly thought to awaken more often and to sleep less than babies on formula, a notion that can affect a woman’s decision whether to breastfeed.
But when researchers looked at the impact of different feeding methods on a mother’s sleep, they found no differences in the time or quality of their sleep.
In other words, new moms will probably be tired in those early weeks regardless of the feeding method.
To learn more about how night-time feeding impact parents’ sleep patterns, read the full report, “Breastfeeding vs. formula: Which robs more sleep?” and then join the discussion below.
Click here for information on Childbirth classes available at Swedish Covenant Hospital.
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