2nd night syndrome

I try to warn new parents of a phenomenon that has been titled "2nd night syndrome".  It sounds so dramatic, but parents who experience this so-called 2nd night syndrome are relieved to have a "diagnosis".  There are few factors involved with this "syndrome":

1. Babies are typically on the opposite sleep/wake schedule as their parents.  For example, some women notice that during their pregnancy their baby is less active during the day when they are moving and more active at night when the mom is still.  The movement is lulls the baby to sleep and when momma is still baby is on the move. 
2. Because of this schedule parents tend to find that newborns are up more at night and interested in feeding more during the night.  This is why it is so important to nap during the day while you can!!!
3. Newborns usually have a good feed right after delivery (this should be initiated as soon as possible), zonk out for about 24 hours, and then wake up on that 2nd night.  When they wake up they realize they are away from momma and want to be no where but on her chest (a.k.a. their comfort zone...the closest thing to the womb).  They want to hear your heart beat, feel your skin, feel you breathing, and be all snuggled in right next to the food source (this is known as skin to skin - look it up if you're not familiar - it's uber awesome for both moms and dads, whether your breastfeeding or not).  

So, this is the basic recipe for 2nd night syndrome.  What I often see happen is mom feeds baby, baby falls asleep at the breast, mom swaddles baby in hopes of catching a few ZZZs and baby immediately starts to cry, mom puts baby back to breast, baby settles, falls asleep and this picture is on instant replay all night.  Mom becomes upset that she doesn't have any milk, her baby is never satisfied, and everyone becomes slightly delirious.  The solution is:

1. Be prepared for this and sleep when you get a chance during the day.
2. Feed baby and then hang out skin to skin taking turns with your partner (that is with skin to skin), so that you can get some sleep.   
3. Remember it's going to get better!