5 week growth spurt/Also co-sleeping

[laumiere]

My DS will be 5 weeks old on Saturday and this week has just been impossible. He won't be put down for more than 15 min without demanding the breast, and feeds for about 10-15 min each time before dropping off to sleep, then waking about 15 min later.

I'm exhausted and getting tearful about it all, not least because I have a 2.8yo DS who is basically being raised by CBeebies at the moment and the housework is mounting up. I can't express more than an ounce at the moment (can usually manage 3-5) so DH can't give DS2 a feed and give me a break and I can't leave him for long. Am seriously contemplating formula (but laziness and expense are currently staying my hand).

Co-sleeping wise, I really did not want to CS, and DS2 was sidecar-style in his cot next to our bed. However (mostly due to exhaustion) I've fallen asleep feeding him side-lying for 2 nights in a row and rather than sleep for 1.5 hours he's managed 3 and 4 hour stretches. If I continue to CS is this going to be a problem with settling DS2 into a separate room later? DS1 was FF'd and was in his own room at 6w with the door open and slept through the night at 16w despite being 9w premature.

Other things:
DH does what he can to help with DS1 but works nights so isn't able to take him in the day. He also smokes so I can't co-sleep with DS2 on his days off.

I do use a sling to cart DS2 about outside (DS1 needs a wheelchair buggy and I can't push 2) but injured my back during labour so baby-wearing to settle DS2 isn't an option.

oh Laumiere, hello and EXACTLY the same is happening with dd2 (4 weeks old on Sunday)

nightmare and I have no advice, just wanted to say I sympathise and am totally tearful and despondent a lot of the time (evenings mainly!)

I'm not even bothering expressing as have found it difficult before - just trying to get through it and remember this WILL pass. It will!!!

I co-slept with ds (for 2.5 years!) and had promised not to do it this time. But have already started as can't cope with the lack of sleep and two other children. Just go with it, I'd say, and worry about settling him on his own later, when the newborn unsettledness is past.

if you get through this phase, bf-ing becomes soooo easy, keep with it if you can

dd will be 5 weeks on sunday and has been more fretful this week too (on top of recovering from illness ds2 21 months and ill ds1 3 yrs 3 months - bundle of laughs!)
I cosleep out of necessity, my mother is coming round later to hold the baby - do you have friends family who can do this - while I do some essential(thats all I do) housework.
I also make DH cook during cluster feeding in evening, is that possible for you.
Would suggest more but holding fretful baby.
Hope it improves soon for you.

btw - as far as CS goes with DS1 we didn't til 3 monhs because I was desperate for some sleep. He still doesn't sleep well. Ds2 we CS from the start and at 8-9 months he was cheerfully settling himself in our bed/his cot. Really depends IMO on the child.

Hi Laumiere,

I am in the same boat too, my DD2 was 5 wks this Tuesday and is impossible to fill up in the evenings and I DD1 is being raised by CBeebies! I have CS with DD2 from day 1 and did the same with DD1 and had no problems transfering her to her own room at 6 months so I wouldn't worry.

I have resorted to giving DD2 a bottle in the early evening to fill her up a bit and give me a break and it seems to work. One bottle a day during a growth spurt doesn't affect your milk supply but does wonders for your sanity! And don't forget it will pass in a day or two. Goodluck and hang in there x x x

loopy
I think DH is worried for my sanity! I had quite severe PND with DS1 (he was in and out of hospital a lot) and DH is obv concerned this time!

wisknit
He has to go to work at 6pm, and is usually up at 3pm, unfortunately my family lives in Spain and DH's live in Wales, so no family nearby. I'm a bit odd in that I'd fight not to give up cooking the evening meal as it's my main stress release!

dinny
I don't think I was expecting DS2 to be so 'cuddly', DS1 has always been very independent.

Will see how today goes though and may consider the formla tomorrow if my supply doesn't pick up for expressing, I NEED my time off!