Sounds like she's barely breathing when she sleeps. :(

[October2013]

I feel like I'm losing my mind again.

I am so out of control and fearful of my newborn's breathing. When she's sleeping it sounds as if she's just going to quit inhaling. Her breathing is so soft and weak. It doesn't seem like she's struggling to breathe, just like she's barely trying.
I don't know if it's normal since I'm a FTM but does anyone else recall their newborn breathing very quietly in their sleep? I know I need to just get a grip but I am so scared that she's just going to stop breathing and never wake up....

 

[NoodleSnack]

It's normal to be fearful in the early days, I would wake up in the middle if the night and just watch his chest rise up and down, there's a hormone that make us like this, but you've got to learn to cope or you'll wear yourself out, do you have a sensor monitor?

Remember that although SIDS is real, it's also actually very rare, follow all the safety guidelines and your girl will be fine (girls also have less risks than boys btw).

 

[seaweed eater]

It's sooo normal to have the anxiety you are having. As NoodleSnack said, the hormones make us freaked out that way. I would definitely consider getting a sensor mat. The problem with them is that once you're used to having one it's hard to stop using it or ever go to sleep without it on, but if you're feeling this anxious already, it may increase your peace of mind on the whole.

 

[Joss_Taylor]

I was just like you! We actually lived with my mom for the first month and we took turns watching him sleep (I made her, she said he'd be fine but I wasn't so sure). I completely tired myself out. So when we moved into our own place she bought me a motion sensor monitor. Best thing she could've ever gotten me! I sleep so good at night now but I don't think ill ever stop using it . Oh well, at least ill always know he's alright.

 

[meli1981]

worrying is so normal, especially with your first baby....but if you feel like youre obsessing about things and you really feel like youre losing your mind with worry talk to your doc. Maybe youre having abit of baby blues, but you have to take care of yourself as well as baby. Im not sure about the sensor mat because ive heard of them going off when baby is just fine, really unnessessary worry. I cosleep so never worried about that stuff because hes right there with me, but its not for everyone!

 

[Nicolalove353]

Asher sleeps so peaceful that I sometimes stare at his chest to make sure he is breathing. Just recently I was putting him to bed and he was sleeping so deeply and peacefully that I put my ear near his mouth to make sure I could hear and feel him breath. Your worries are normal.

 

[LindsayLucas]

Get a snuza baby movement monitor. We ordered ours from www.amazon.com it clips to their diaper and senses movement. If it doesnt feel anything for like 15 sec an alarm goes off. I love it. Gives me peace of mind

 

[Bunanie]

I was exactly the same, jumping out from my bed in the middle of the night, put my hand on her chest just to make sure she's breathing.

Then I got a angelcare moment monitor, never looked back since

 

[Oasis717]

This is baby no 4 and I set my alarm every hour through the night to check on him as until he goes into his cot with movement monitor where the alarm goes off if they stop breathing I worry myself daft about him in the Moses basket, he breathes so so quietly when asleep sometimes I have to either bend right over and listen or watch his chest rise and fall. I think it's perfectly natural to worry and I have done with everyone of mine xxxx

 

[nevernormal]

My son has always been a super quiet breather when he sleeps. That's actually how I could tell he was sleeping!! I don't really have any advice though. Just know you're not alone! I know how worrisome it can be. He's always slept near me with his crib right next to my bed, so I never bought a movement monitor, but that might give you peace of mind

 

[Saphira]

I had the same worries! I would get so close to try to hear consistent breathing, I'd even stop breathing myself for a moment to hear better! Both my girls were quiet breathers once they got into deeper sleep. Until then they were very noisy, haha!

 

[w8ing4bean]

My mum used to babysit my friend when we were babies. She said his breathing was so shallow she used to poke him so he'd wriggle!!

Phoebe snores, but even when we're downstairs with the monitor on i often mute the telly and listen out for her

 

[October2013]

Thank you so much, girls.

This motion mat sounds like a great idea! Currently we have her bassinet next to our bed, although she rarely sleeps in it for more than a couple hours. She will wake up and cry and I've gotten into this habit of bringing her into my bed and letting her sleep with us. I honestly want to get out of this habit because although it's comforting to have her next to me, I worry about increasing her risk of SIDS by co-sleeping.

I think if we had one of those mats with the alarms, I could sleep more peacefully with her in the bassinet, knowing an alarm would sound in the event that she quit breathing. I also plan on addressing my worries with my doctor at my appt this Monday, because I'm pretty sure I have some form of baby blues. I'm constantly worrying about the baby dying to the point where I'll randomly cry about it (although I randomly cry over other things, too). Sometimes I feel like I can't or don't want to think about her growing up because I'm so afraid something will happen to her and I won't be able to see her grow up. Ugh this is crazy... I definitely need some help.

 

[meli1981]

Please seek help hun....it sounds like post pardom depression. I had extreme anxiety as well with my first, i constantly thought about death, not about hurting my baby, but that my baby would die. If i didnt nurse her constantly i worried she was starving! Maybe meds might help to get you over the hump....im still on mine, five years later! Co sleeping is ok! Ive co slept with all mine....some studies actually say it DECREASES the risk of sids. If youre going to co sleep just research it to help you not to worry so much. it will get better if you want to pm about postpardom, do so

 

[NoodleSnack]

If you co-sleep, there are safety guidelines around that, it's better to do it right rather than bring her in bed with you when you're tired.

Talk to your doctor about postpartum anxiety, you're not crazy, it's quite normal, lots of us get it. If you need to, ask your partner or family members for support, you could take turn sleeping so you know there's always someone awake with baby so you can sleep better and get some rest, exhaustion and too much alone time thinking will just make things worse.

 

[Cccbb61013]

Thank you so much, girls.

This motion mat sounds like a great idea! Currently we have her bassinet next to our bed, although she rarely sleeps in it for more than a couple hours. She will wake up and cry and I've gotten into this habit of bringing her into my bed and letting her sleep with us. I honestly want to get out of this habit because although it's comforting to have her next to me, I worry about increasing her risk of SIDS by co-sleeping.

I think if we had one of those mats with the alarms, I could sleep more peacefully with her in the bassinet, knowing an alarm would sound in the event that she quit breathing. I also plan on addressing my worries with my doctor at my appt this Monday, because I'm pretty sure I have some form of baby blues. I'm constantly worrying about the baby dying to the point where I'll randomly cry about it (although I randomly cry over other things, too). Sometimes I feel like I can't or don't want to think about her growing up because I'm so afraid something will happen to her and I won't be able to see her grow up. Ugh this is crazy... I definitely need some help.

I was like this with my first baby & have recently self diagnosed myself with OCD. I don't even need to speak to a doctor for a diagnosis because I KNOW I have it. Reading up on it, there is no denying it. So I don't have any form of advice, I just wanted you to know that I know exactly how you feel.

I had one of those mats with DS#1 but he wouldn't sleep in his crib plus I was always nervous it wasn't working! So that didn't work for us. I once read that there was a higher rate of SIDS after a certain vaccination & I stayed up all night watching him when he got that shot to make sure he was breathing. Even on other nights I barely got any sleep checking on him. When I would sleep, I would make DH watch him. Finally I purchased
https://www.respisense.com/en/index.php & was so glad I did. I could use it anywhere (bed with me, bassinet, car seat, swing, etc.). Plus it made I little clicking noise every time the baby took a breath so I didn't have to worry it wasnt working. Of course I've purchased one for DS#2. Get something, anything for your own sanity! & definitely talk to your doctor.