10 Day Old - Constant Feeding and No Sleep!

[CJ1990]

Hi Ladies,

I’m just after some words of encouragement that this is normal, or advise if not...

I have a 10 day old that is feeding every hour. The poor thing is tounge tied which isn’t helping. I stared off just breast feeding but have been topping up with formula to make sure she is getting enough food. Is It normal for newborns to feed this often?

I’m exhausted 😩 she also won’t sleep without being help so me and the husband take shifts as I don’t trust my self to co-sleep. But he starts work again Thursday so can’t keep that up. Any advise To help get her to sleep or is it a case of we just have to ride out the storm!

She’s perfect and I love our little bundle. I just really need some sleep! I’ve been in tears running off an hour or so a night :(

*wont sleep without being held

My DD is now 15 weeks and was tongue tied. I was breast feeding initially but she could not get enough. I was referred to a feeding clinic and they snipped her tongue - sounds inhumane but there are no nerves and so they don’t feel a thing. Very unsettling though! She’s much better now but due to the delay my milk ran out so she’s bottle fed.
In terms of being held, then I think this is perfectly normal, exhausting but normal. My DD is the same now but we do-sleep and I practice putting her down in the day, I’ve tried putting one of my tops in her bed, warming her bed with a hot water bottle, play white noise, rock her (even when actually put down) keeping my hand on her when down. All with varying success. I also bought Ewan the dream sheep which plays a heartbeat sound - cost £30 but it does help. I also have a sleepy head pillow - really expensive but my DD is snug in there and managed a whole hour nap in there today! I just keep thinking go with the flow, try and enjoy it, it won’t last forever and I can definitely see improvement as the weeks go on. Good luck Xxx

And I meant to say - if baby is feeding hourly I wonder whether she’s getting enough. Could you ask for a referral for tongue tie review? Is baby gaining weight?

Are you co-sleeping?

Why hasn't her tongue tie been snipped?

sorry you mentioned co-sleeping - if you follow the guidelines its much safer than unplanned co-sleeping due to exhaustion

My baby was just the same. The game changer for us was getting a Sleepyhead. She would nap all day on that instead of only on me or her dad.

Yes we have a referral for the tounge tie but they won’t see us for three weeks :( they’re just too busy. We figured she wasn’t getting enough which is why we’re topping up with formula to make sure. So close to caving and going full formula but I no breast feeding is better for her. Really trying to stick it out until this referral!

I think maybe she just still likes being cuddled at this stage? Maybe expecting too much! X

Don't suppose you have the finances to find a private Lactation consultant who'll deal with the tongue tie sooner?

Separate to all the tongue tie issues, there is a growth spurt around 10 days which meant about 36 hours of feeding for both of my dc. I thought I'd never survive it, but we did and they settled again until the next one.