6 week old very upset won't sleep

[Jade789]

I have been breastfeeding since the start but have found myself feeding all day constantly since about day 10. I understand they go through growth spurts and leaps but it has been constant and I'm really hitting a wall with it and considering combi feeding. This week seems to have been worse and baby screaming alot and won't sleep. Nappies are regular and and tell she's put weight on. Any advice appreciated. Does it get better?!

It does get better and much easier! Are you able to just sit and feed and watch television? They get bigger and become more efficient at feeding. And have growth spurts which are truly exhausting! Sounds like your baby is getting enough milk though taking their time. If you’re happy then go with it.

Oh you poor love. I remember those days.
Things to check for could be tongue tie and silent reflux. Two of our DC had these and it was like I couldn’t do anything right.

Will she settle in a sling? Can you bf lying down?

Sending you virtual cake

Still so small, down tools and jobs and sleep when they sleep

I agree to check that it isn’t tongue tie or reflux etc.

At six weeks my DC screamed non stop and refused to sleep. I think he was waking up out of that sleepy newborn stage and was just overstimulated. Being held in the sling helped as he was being stimulated less. By week seven he was already much better and so much more alert.

It passes and it will get easier, so you have my sympathy. In terms of feeding do whatever you feel is best and don’t feel any guilt if you do decide to add formula.

First off, congratulations on the birth of your little girl!

Screaming with distress at 6 weeks when breastfed can indicate a few things.

What you eat affects your milk, and that can distress the baby. Caffeine, loads of pulses (for example if you're veggie/vegan), too muchg fruit (we got a juicer and it upset my seond baby's stomach because I was drinking more fresh juice than his system could tolerate) or allergens like dairy, egg, nuts, etc can all pass into your milk and cause your baby distress.

Reducing your intake of possible irritants and seeing how she responds can be one option. Another is for you to switch to drinking fennel or camomile tea which settles the stomach and see if she is more comfortable with that.

It's also when colic appears. There's lots of advice available online for that. My eldest had colic and I can only send all my sympathy - it was absolutely horrendous.

Look up ways to wind your baby - each baby has his/her own preferred method. That reduces a lot of distress.

It does pass, and it does get far easier. You're doing brilliantly. Take any help available, and rest at any point you can.

Again, huge amounts of sympathy to you, OP.

6 weeks is peak crying time it gets easier