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Many mothers struggle with the reality of the arrival of their new baby. The first time moms are often nervous is the road ahead and for moms with a baby at home, each new baby is a completely different person. Common concerns for new mothers such as establishing a routine, sleeping and feeding can cause anxiety and depression especially when health professionals, google, friends and family all give conflicting advice or opinions.
We have asked Cathy McCormick to explain what ‘reverse cycling’ means and give tips on how to reverse cycle to improve your performance.. Cathy is over thirty years old, starting out as a nurse with a focus on mental health, Cathy transitioned into midwifery and became an IBCLC. Cathy’s diverse experience includes positions as a Group Lead for Pregnant & Pregnant Women with HolisticBaby, Happy Baby Educator, and Neuroprotective Developmental Care Practitioner with Fussy Baby Network.
Before we jump into the details of reverse cycling, Cathy says that women often hear terms like ‘Contact Napping’, ‘Sleep Regression’ or ‘Sleep Progressions’ and the latest hot term is ‘Reverse Cycling’. Often, people have opinions about this being good and bad. Cathy’s main focus after working in the industry for over 30 years is nursing. naming a baby by words is often ineffective and does not give parents a bond with their special child, so be kind to yourself and do what’s best for you and bub.
What is repeated cycling?
“Cycling over and over again is a word that describes something unusual the growth of the child. It means when babies tend to feed more at night than during the day, which can be tiring for parents. Disruption during the day or slow milk supply can lead to impatience and loss of interest in eating. Cathy explains: “Your baby’s brain is growing rapidly and has begun to organize an interesting world around him, different from his mother’s. Since his brain is still developing, he may find it difficult to do many things, such as feeding while talking, which causes him to be distracted and to love anything that interests him.
It is a common misconception that reverse cycling is unusual , but it is actually a normal behavior for many babies at different ages and sizes. Parents are often deceived into thinking that their child is disturbing them or that they are developing bad habits, which can affect their future. However, Cathy adds: “What I’ve noticed is that when parents are encouraged to accept this part, they often make the best memories. We often find that parents and babies are very close, so it’s easy for parents to gradually introduce changes that the baby doesn’t see.”
When will the round-trip cycling take place?
Cathy points out that it’s common for babies to make big changes in their eating habits in the first few weeks of life when their circadian rhythms start to develop at around eight weeks, and at 3 to 4 months when they’re more aware of their surroundings and easily distracted. This type can also be seen when going through large movements such as rolling and crawling. Most babies tend to feed quietly in the evening or throughout the night when they can settle down without distractions, often eating more when they wake up, before bed, or catch up on missed meals during the day. This change is natural and meets their needs. However, as parents’ days get longer, babies may have a shorter midday meal and make up for it in the evening or at night.
It is important to understand that this is a problem if it is a problem for you. Research shows that it is normal for babies to wake up every two hours from 10pm to 6am. If your child wakes up frequently and you are struggling with depression, it may be important for your family to get help. Cathy suggests careful attention to sensory evaluations, active discussions with natural sleep regulators, and simple ways to get through lunch.
How to care
In the first days and weeks, many babies struggle to stay awake for long periods of time during the day due to the bright lights, noise, and chaos of everyday life, which requires their developing brains to rest often and occasionally. Since their stomachs are small, they need frequent feedings. However, as the night falls, you can see your child becoming curious about his surroundings. Night feeding is very important at this time to ensure a strong milk supply and for your baby to grow well.
As your child grows, you can introduce a routine gradually: daytime is reserved for feeding, exercise, and emotional development, while nighttime is designed for longer periods of sleep, rest, and relaxation, and enough feeding to make the night comfortable and controlled.
Cathys best advice
- Try to offer frequent and consistent feedings during the day so that your baby receives more milk during the day.
- If you are breastfeeding, make sure your baby has a good latch to ensure he is drinking properly, you may need to adjust as your baby grows.
- If your baby refuses to feed, take a moment to think about ‘Deep Calming’, then go back and try to feed again after a while.
- If you notice that your baby wants to eat for a long time during the day, you may need help to slow down the reflex to help the milk flow. Relaxation techniques and breast massage can be helpful for this.
- Use their milk well when they just wake up and are a little drowsy or about to fall asleep. Your baby will often be too busy feeding and not open to distractions during this time.
- Work with the regular wake-up time so that your child has a regular clock as the light on the face when opening the curtains in the early days is helpful.
- Try to increase brain development while your child is growing during the day by walking outside and avoiding disturbing their circadian clock with hours in dark rooms or quiet houses during the day.
- Make the evening enjoyable for you and your child, but gradually settle down so that the nervous system is relaxed. Try offering a regular dinner and bedtime music to start a little around 9-10pm. At night, keep your baby close to you so that night feeding is easy and comfortable with low light or darkness, low noise, avoid unnecessary changes, hours of waiting for burps that don’t come or hugs etc.
Remember that this phase will not last forever, it may seem difficult at the time but it will pass. If you are struggling it is important to get support from those around you and seek professional help to make things better for you and your family.
Where can I find help and support for breastfeeding?
Australian and New Zealand Breastfeeding Consultants can help Find a lactation consultant near you.
Ask your doctor, midwife, obstetrician, or health care provider to connect you with a local lactation consultant.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association they have many resources available including a 24-hour helpline for new mothers, face-to-face consultations, and online classes.