PLEASE HELP - FTM WITH 1 WEEK OLD

[strawberrycheesecake1989]

Hi there,

desperately looking for some help and advice with my 1 week old little boy. a couple nights ago he was sleeping for 3 hour stretches at a time so I felt some what together for the following day.

now he is up every hour doesn't seem to settle for more than 20 mins in his cosleeper he also non stop wants the boob. I EBF and he doesn't seem to have trapped wind or anything but im not burping him regularly as some say you should others say you shouldn't but the main reason is that if I burp him he's awake and then unbelievably wants more boob!

im basically not sleeping - a family member has said that if he's been fed and changed and he still won't settle then just leave him to cry it out but I feel too bad to do that.

if I keep him in my arms after feeding he'll stay asleep so im assuming the issue is a comfort thing and I love to have him sleep on me but I also need to be able to sleep and I cant do that without putting him down somewhere safe. too scared to have him actually in the bed with me

please please help

[Mammyloveswine]

Co-sleep and feed lying down... it is safe when done correctly.

It saved my sanity in the early days!

Sending hugs to you!

[Cornishmumofone]

I was aware of cluster feeding, but was given the impression that it would be in the evening. A week after DD was born, I was shocked to find that she wanted to feed 11pm-7am. It was horrendous, but only lasted for a week. Hang in there!

[Reb35]

Hi,
Please google the 4th trimester, this is completely normal for a newborn, it's such a shock for them being out in the world!
Baby will also be cluster feeding to establish your supply.
The first few weeks are really hard work, although we had a co-sleeper ended up bed sharing until he was more settled following safe sleep guidelines (see lullaby trust for more info). I learnt how to feed lying down on my side which helps you feel a little more rested.
Hope this helps a little. You are already doing a great job and this difficult bit will pass before you know it. Reach out to ur health visitor if you need to, they should be contactable by phone for advice even if not visiting. Midwife also if you're yet to be signed off xxx

[LikeTheOceansWeRise]

This is totally normal but happily, it is a phase, and will pass! They just want to be held and to feel secure.

Everything is so new and scary to them right now. Rather than focusing on how little sleep you are getting try to focus on the comfort and protection you are giving to your wee one. And please ignore all advice that they should cry it out, they are way, way to young for this. They are crying for a reason, even if that reason is that they need comforting.

A few things that helped us at this stage - white noise, on all night long. Warming the cot up with a hot water bottle before putting them in. Putting one of my tops in the cot then removing before putting baby in, so it smelt like me. But mostly we survived by taking shifts, and by the time DP went back to work after 3 weeks paternity the phase had passed. Good luck!

[balloonbasket]

Sleep changes lots at this age, developmental leaps (look up wonder weeks), growth spurts etc. I found the least stressful thing was just to roll with it and know that this too will pass. Swaddling, white noise and inviting someone round in the day to walk the baby whilst I napped also helped

[youdidask]

It's a tough transition but it will get better.

Sleep whenever you can, forget housework etc.

I'd be burping baby especially if after a burn he wants more. If you think about it if you don't burn and they have wind then they aren't full and will want more quicker.

[Skyla2005]

Maybe give a bottle of formula at 10 or 11 pm ? Probably what you don’t want to hear but you will be completely exhausted if he is feeding right through the night you need a block of sleep to cope next day. Also good to get them used to a bottle for one feed a day even if it’s got breast milk In it so someone else can take the strain off you when needed