5 week old awake for 9h-normal?

[user1490285009]

Hi everyone

I'm a ftm and unsure as to what's normal for my newborn. There are a couple of days a week where she just won't sleep. The shortest she slept one day was 6h in a 24h period. And it wasn't continuous either, hour here, half hour there etc.

Today she's been awake since 3pm, she had a 20min at 4. It's now 10:22pm as I write this and she's still awake.

She's not particularly fussy on most days she's like this. But occasionally she's awake and fussy... wanting to be permanently attached for bf.

There are no 'compensatory days' where she will sleep more than usual.

I just wondered is normal behaviour or something I should be brining up with dr?

[MotherOfBeagles]

My ds is ff so not sure if any help but on days he was like that it was due to reflux. Learnt a few tricks which have helped but during the day he still only sleeps in 20/30 minute increments. Sorry not much use. Just didn't want to read and run. Good luck!

[Lucked]

Not really but then I would expect a meltdown or fussiness which you are not describing. I remember my DS being awake from a DH going to work and coming home again. He would bounce him to sleep for a while but never very long. Read loads on line about having a high needs baby and cues of tiredness and with swaddling and a dummy I got him into a great routine. I couldn't believe how short a period he needed to be awake for - it was short play/interaction, feed and sleep.

Overnight he never went more than four hours (until he was 18 months!) but it was straight back to sleep after a feed.

[beckieperk]

Sounds like it shouldn't be right....but if your baby seems happy enough....who knows?? My LO generally doesnt go for long periods of being awake and isca similar age. He is becoming much more alert and has started being really fussy at times....but people have said it could be a growth spurt. Still wouldn't expect him to be awake for more than a couple of hours.....even at his fussiest. But they are all different....so who can say. Good luck.

[user1490285009]

She's continuing her sleeplessness. After my post she went to sleep at 11:40pm. She woke up at 2 and has again resisted going back to sleep for the last 2h.

I have tried everything to put her to sleep. White noise, swaddling, keeping bedroom dim, skin to skin, letting her stay on breast past feeding, rocking her to sleep and using pacifier. On days like this nothing works.


@motherofbeagles- any tips you can share that you've learned about reflux? I had a hunch my lo has this. When she fusses she's squirms and looks in some discomfort. But then again... she doesn't always fuss. Sometimes she's just awake.

[flumpybear]

I used to go to bed and husband would put my children in the pram and walk the streets til they fell asleep - they spent many nights sleeping in the pram carry cot but we live in a bungalow to easy to get it around the house to our bedroom
Have you tried swaddling and dim lights?

[flumpybear]

Sorry just seen your last post - how about a dummy?

[MotherOfBeagles]

Um a few basic ones helped but in the end he's now on gaviscon and seen a referral to hospital today whose put him on ranitidine. We had to fight tooth and nail with the GP for it though and the consultant today was fab so glad we did.

Started with when feeding sat upright as possible and keep upright for AT LEAST half an hour after eating. Breaks as much as possible when feeding and almost forcing them to burp. Try every different way to burp him. He doesn't like it and does fuss but can tell he needs to because his belly goes firmer.

Tilt cribs/bassinets etc on an incline securely. We have two big fat books under the top of the crib. Specialist said to do this on a good incline as much as you can without them sliding down.

We also started using gripe water about the same time as you. Not on the syringe and a full dose but dipping the dummy in it and putting it in his mouth immediately after the bottle.

Last one is laying him on my knee and swinging my legs side to side. Legs slightly parted so his belly is between my legs. That's supposed to be the best position for babies with reflux.

Definitely speak with your health visitor!

[user1490285009]

@motherofbeagles
Thanks will give those a try and definetly bringing this up with health visitor tomorrow.

[MotherOfBeagles]

No worries. We've had a real fight with it because generally my boy is quite happy and relaxed and smiling. But then when he isn't it follows a pattern with his feeds and was affecting his sleep etc. So because he wasn't screaming in the doctors face they just dismissed me. But HV backed me up and told me to demand a referral and to try a
Gaviscon. She literally said just don't move until they back down. Which isn't like me at all but I did and the gaviscon helped a bit but as my husband explained it was like trying to put out a house fire with a bucket of water. So proved us right that it was reflux. Then the specialist today ran through it all with us and agreed it was GERD which is reflux basically and gave us ranitidine. Ran through all the stuff I said before to make sure that we were already doing it.

I hope it's not reflux for your little one but definitely hope you get some real life support soon. It's a killer when they don't sleep for your sanity nevermind theirs 😙