Sleep deprivation!

[Chezfleur]

Hi all! I’ve been using mumsnet for advice for a while but only signed up tonight. DS is nearly 5 wks old and the sleep deprivation is killing me. Also got mastitis which doesn’t help! Finding it so hard to get him to settle, so far tonight I’ve had half an hour of sleep because every time he fell asleep and seemed settled he woke up up crying a few minutes later. He did finally settle for an hour and a half in his moses basket, but by the time I’d fallen asleep he was starting to stir and his ‘noises’ woke me (this is a common problem for me - I can easily wake an hour before he’s ready to feed because I think his little noises mean he’s about to scream for it). Any tips gratefully received!

Biggest tip.... hang in there. The first weeks are the hardest and you do end up waking to all sorts but you grow accustomed to it.

I downloaded an app called colic baby that has loads of noises. Mine loved the white noise or music and would keep her asleep.

Are they a sicky baby? Mine wasnt and it turned out to be silent reflux..so would get the pain but no sick. A bit of gaviscon infant before a feed and this helped with settling at night.

I got engorgement and it's not fun. Cold Savoy cabbage leaves helped

And the old cliche... sleep when baby sleeps... not always possible but do try to nap or at least rest during the day. Even just doing a routine (shower, dress, breakfast etc).I found helped to relax me as it made me feel human.

It's been nearly a year now and although I am awake I can deal with tiredness so much better. Your body just needs time to adjust.

Thanks for replying!

We have a Ewan sheep which sometimes helps, sometimes doesn’t! I’ll try the app though, thank you.

He’s occasionally sick but not often. I thought I was winning tonight - changed his nappy after a feed, popped him in his basket crying while I went to wash my hands & go to the loo, came back and he was asleep - should have known it wouldn’t last though as hadn’t finished trying to burp him and he started to wriggle around and cry again 10mins later.

We’ve been using infacol before each feed to see if that helps, but he does look uncomfortable, so maybe gaviscon is the answer.

Thanks for the tips, and helping me to feel like I’m not the only person in the world having these problems!