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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be worried about my non-sleeping newborn?

35 replies

StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 10:59

Argh.

She just won't settle! She just seems to doze for short periods of time on me. Then she'll waken up and squirm and fight. If I put her down, she's awake within five minutes. I've tried her Moses basket, her bouncy chair and her pram. Nothing works! Doesn't seem to be in any discomfort, just wakes and squeaks and squirms till she's picked up.

She also eats like a bird. Takes two ounces of formula in a feed then doesn't seem to want much more. She should be on 4 or 5 by now but it's a total struggle to get her to eat more. It takes ages, she doesn't wind.

Please help. I can get nothing done and I have a pissed off 2.5 year old to contend with.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 10:59

She is 5 weeks old btw

OP posts:
DearTeddyRobinson · 15/08/2017 11:02

How much formula is she having in total over 24 hours? Does she have plenty of wet & dirty nappies?
And finally, this is always trotted out on MN but could you put her in a sling? I got on quite well with a Close Caboo.

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:05

I dunno it varies. Her eating is all over the place. She has plenty of wet nappies and about one (fucking massive) dirty nappy per day. It's always a production to get a dirty nappy but she gets there.

She doesn't seem unhappy or hungry. Just disinterested in her bottles.

I have been considering a sling. I might give that a try.

OP posts:
MeanAger · 15/08/2017 11:08

Where are you hearing that she should be on 4/5 ounces at 5 weeks?

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:11

Health visitor. The thing is she was clearing four ounces a few weeks ago and this week seems to have lost interest. Then when she's awake for ages she screams and roots after an hour or so, then only eats an ounce because she isn't really hungry it's like she just doesn't know what to do when she's awake but eat.

OP posts:
Orangebird69 · 15/08/2017 11:13

Wind? Colic?

divadee · 15/08/2017 11:14

Is she screaming during and after a feed? If so could be reflux. Reflux babies tend to take little and often. I wasted so much milk from making a 3oz bottle and her only drinking 1oz 10 times a day.

Tiptoethr0ughthetulips · 15/08/2017 11:14

I BF so not sure on exact quantities a baby of 5 weeks should be having, but little and often is current advise for either.
Is she gaining weight? If she's producing plenty of wet and dirty nappies then that is a good indication she's getting what she needs.
With regards to settling, I'd try a sling and a swaddle when in moses basket if you haven't already.
I swear by white noise too, it was miraculous at settling my DS when he was newborn...you can get various apps for your phone, or use dream sheep etc.

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:15

I don't know I could rub her back for hours and nothing happens. Infacol did work but doesn't seem to any more.

I'm making an utter mess of this.

OP posts:
MeanAger · 15/08/2017 11:15

Is the teat the right size for her age? If the milk is coming too fast it could be overwhelming for her and too tiring to drink it so quickly.

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:16

No she's not upset during feeds. Just disinterested.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:16

It's just a size one Dr Browns teat.

OP posts:
MeanAger · 15/08/2017 11:17

You're not making a mess of anything, it's a guessing game for us all when they are that small. It's trial and error. You're doing great.

What is she like in the pram?

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:18

She'll doze when we are on the move but the minute it stops she wakes up.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:20

Thank you Mean I appreciate that. I'm feeling really overwhelmed. DD1 was a dream baby, she was so easy. I thought I had it sussed!

OP posts:
53rdWay · 15/08/2017 11:20

Sling was a lifesaver for me with a baby who loathed being put down and wouldn't settle unless held. Not as good as getting to put her down would have been, but at least I got both hands free and could get off the sofa! Definitely recommend trying one to see if that helps.

ilovesushi · 15/08/2017 11:20

My DS barely slept as a newborn and would scream the place down if I laid him on his back to sleep. Turned out he had (has) a floppy larynx and sleep apnoea. Took years for it to be diagnosed. Not saying it's that, but it's worth investigating any medical reasons. For my DS laying on his back was not a good position as his airways closed up. Spent the first few years sleeping upright slung over my or DH's shoulder. Not ideal, not fun. Hope things improve for you!

DearTeddyRobinson · 15/08/2017 11:21

As far as I can remember, there is a guide on the box of formula powder which should give you an indication of average consumption. HVs can be a bit erratic on feeding knowledge IME.
Agree with PP who suggested swaddling, that and a dummy really helped both my kids

Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:22

She responds really frantically to a dummy. Like can't get it in her mouth fast enough. Then she spits it out.

OP posts:
Original poster
StayCloseToMe · 15/08/2017 11:22

Swaddling does soothe her

OP posts:
Shadowboy · 15/08/2017 11:23

My little one did this at 8 weeks. It started 3 days after her vaccinations. I'll be honest it never massively recovered and the best we ever got was 6ounces. She's now 9months and at best I get 15ouncrs into her in 24hours however she loves solids and is putting on good weight and is active and happy.

She also did the no sleep thing for a few weeks but that has settled right down and she's in a good routine of 2 hours mid morning. 1.5 hours mid afternoon and 10-11 hours at night however I didn't do anything in particular to get to this it just happened over time... as the weeks went by she put herself into the routine.

53rdWay · 15/08/2017 11:24

Also - not saying you shouldn't get her checked out by HV/GP, definitely do that if you're worried, but some babies genuinely are just like this alas. Google "high-needs baby" and see if that sounds familiar - lots of advice and help out there from people who've been through similar if so.

MeanAger · 15/08/2017 11:28

DD1 was a dream baby, she was so easy. I thought I had it sussed!

Been there!! DS1 was a doddle. DS2 didn't sleep during the day until he was 10 months old and that was for the childminder because I was back at work! Hmm Grin

Believeitornot · 15/08/2017 11:28

Reflux or tongue tie?

My second baby was like this. And my instinct was telling me she was constantly hungry and very grumpy but she couldn't feed properly. Ate in very small bursts no matter what.

Turned out she had a severe tongue tie. When she was born, the obstetrician pointed it out as being mild and to go back if I had feeding issues. I kept trying with BF counsellors but they didn't really have a clue. I managed to find a lactation consultant who specialises in tongue ties who diagnosed it as severe from the first look and it was snipped. The first feed post snip was immensely different!

It was a horrible time because I also had a toddler and was exhausted and felt no one would listen to my concerns. It wasn't until I posted on here at 3am in tears that someone pointed out it was likely the tongue tie.

If you feel something isn't right, explore tongue tie and check the symptoms. Also think whether it's reflux or whether she's simply overtired. I couldn't actually put dd down very much until she was 3 months - so I just stuck her in a very good sling and she lived in it until 12 weeks. She became an excellent napper at 4/5 months and self settled much better after those first early months (she did wake a lot at night but that was linked to tongue tie).

Believeitornot · 15/08/2017 11:29

tongue tie symptoms