5 week old wants to feed constantly and won't sleep during the day

[catherinetheElf]

My 5 week old girl is driving me to distraction. She wants to feed constantly all day from when we get up at 9:30. On a particularly busy day she can keep going until bedtime without really being happy to stop for more than 15 minutes tops. She also won't go to sleep during the day. The longest she has slept for in the last few days is an hour yesterday but she can stay awake for hours at a time although she looks shattered! At night she can sleep for a couple of hours but won't settle in her crib again after 6am so comes in the bed with me.

I'm getting pretty desperate at the minute as I have to leave her to scream just so I can go to the loo because she won't let me leave her for even a minute.

Any advice?

[MotherPanda]

a sling?

[RitaMorgan]

I would try a good sling too (I had a Close carrier). I found ds would want to feed loads if we were at home/he had the opportunity, but if he were out with him in the sling he would sleep a couple of hours. Try giving her a good feed, both sides, then popping her in the sling and going out for a long walk.

I also think the more overtired they get, the more they want to feed - so try to get some daytime naps in any way possible - whether that's you going to bed too, in the sling, pram, car, vibrating bouncy chair etc. Don't worry about getting her in her crib at this point.

How is the feeding going in general - is she gaining weight, are you sore at all?

[urbandaisy]

No real advice but you've just described my boy who's five weeks tomorrow, exactly. He's only sleeping on me during the day, but is fine at night until the 5.30/6am wakeup at which he's ratty again.

He's an efficient eater so gets all he needs after 10 minutes, and gets really cross because he just wants to comfort suck and the milk keeps coming. He's also been suffering with bad gas/mild colic symptoms.

One thing we've had luck with is the limited use of a dummy, suggested by my lactation consultant and health visitor. It gives him something to suck on and gives my boobs a bit of a rest (and also evens out my milk supply a bit). He only has it for around five minutes after he stops productive sucking to ease him from eating to not eating.

I tried the moby wrap today and he wasn't having any of it. The idea that I could be doing something else at the same time as holding him was apparently an affront to his dignity, and he made his feelings clear. I managed to wash two forks...

[catherinetheElf]

She's putting on weight fine and when she feeds she seems to be sucking really well although I have to stop to wind her quite a bit. I am a bit sore but I think it's more from the amount of sucking than anything else. I think there is an element of comfort feeding but she won't take a dummy from me - only from the OH.

[RitaMorgan]

I'd persevere with a dummy/sling/long walk to get some day time sleep. 5 weeks is very young though, these things will change before you know it!