Struggling with two week old

[Ilovesweets123]

I am really struggling with my two week old. She is never awake and content. She is either feeding, asleep on me or awake crying.
It is now 2.30am and she has spent the past four hours unsettled.
Every time I put her down she moans, when I hold her she moans. My eyes are sore.

Totally normal! So sorry OP I was not expecting it either and I remember going into hospital with fatigue. DD is now 4 months and thriving, she goes to bed each night on her own and stays asleep 12 hours waking up 1-2 times. It definitely gets better xxx

Hey @gettingupearlyzzzz 👋 we're up again after only about 30 mins in the cot! But before that he did a good 2 hour stint and I slept too which was good. How's tonight going for you so far?

The best winding techniques ever

Some babies do better with two session (one part way through the feed) some are better with one big session at the end

Sit in a chair with your knees together and feet flat on the floor.
Lay baby on its back on your thighs with its head on your knees
Wait for a good 2 mins
Sit baby bolt upright with one hand under their chin helping to keep them as erect as possible
Lean baby forward slightly so there is some pressure on their stomach
Pat back gently but mostly just wait
An enormous burp or two will erupt

Its almost like tilting a bottle to get the air out

Wow Laur,

That's good going! Well done!

We've had a bad night, just constant feeding until 1am! So we've been up for hours and hours!
Have you done anything different or just perseverance? Does your son go down in the day?? Are you BFing?

So glad you've had a good nap x

@gettingupearlyzzzz I spoke too soon - he was up for almost 2 hours and wouldn't settle in his cot, but was fine in my arms 🤦‍♀️ he just did an hour in his cot now awake again 😩😩😩 feeling so tired it's unreal! I'm breastfeeding, are you? Has your little one gone down now? X

&@Ilovesweets123 I hope you're feeling good and have been getting some rest!

@laur89 it hasn't really got any better and I feel so so knackered and fed up, I want to go back to work for a break :(
She was up crying from 9-2am. Then woke again at 3:40, then at 5 and then at 6:20.
Such broken sleep.
She also cries so much when I put her down so she has been in the sling since this morning. Even in the sling she has been on and off crying. I just want 5 minutes to myself but can't even have that :(

OP the exhaustion really is mind-boggling at the outset. I do feel for you. I've been there with a total non-sleeping baby. I had no support in the early days either. DH was working away a lot, no family near. For me co-sleeping helped as my baby wouldn't sleep at all unless next to me or in a moving buggy (so I walked a lot too) I slept very, very lightly for weeks though as I was so anxious about something going wrong.

Do whatever you need to get through it. It is hard. But also rest assured that some babies are easier than others. So don't compare yourself with people who appear to be making newborns seem like no effort.

One of mine was super easy - fell asleep within moments of being put in the Moses basket and slept soundly for ages. I didn't do anything different. Just luck. So don't feel bad that you are finding it hard. You will get through it!

How are you @Ilovesweets123 and @gettingupearlyzzzz ? 😘

Basically the same Lau.....how about you?

Lots of positives thou, his tummy has settled form abc he's V calm and settled. But Just won't sleep in the cot! Not sure how we're going to crack it?! He's fab out in pram and car seat!
Still also feeding V regularly, 2 hours max.!
I have to remind myself these phases pass, as did with Dc1, but we've had no real change!!

How about you? More sleep I hope? Xx

From experience of my combi baby (which was 3.5 years ago now!)....there is always another burp! Wind has a LOT to answer for.

^ combi fed

It is a very hard time! It does get better - honestly!

Basically your baby has a very newly created digestive system which is suddenly having to get used to milk going through. It can be a struggle for some baby's digestive systems to get used to it, and they take a while to adapt - it is miserable for them and for you.

It really sounds as though you are doing all you can and I do not think that adding n formula will help, and might even be more disruptive - something else for her digestive system to get used to. But that is just my opinion. All babies are different, and what is right for one may not be for another.

The important thing is not to get despondent - and to remember that all those happy toddlers and schoolchildren that you see were like this once. And probably you were too! Makes you appreciate your own Mums now you know what they went through for us!

Take all the help on offer during the day - cleaning, cooking whatever - and snatch every moment for sleep - never mind the housework.

I remember being so jealous of my husband going to work when I had my first baby. He was soooooo tough. Unfortunately there is no magic cure but in time it will get so great! It really does pass in the blink of an eye in hindsight but when you're in it it seems endless and awful. If there is any way you can get some help - family, friend, or pay someone to literally hold the baby while you shower and nap (enquire with local nursery to see if any part time staff want a bit of extra cash in hand temporarily on their days off)... Then grab it. I wish I had done... I really struggled. I do now have a second baby who is miraculously very easy but even he had digestive issues which sorted out around 2 months, definitely by 3. It's so common but so hard XX

@gettingupearlyzzzz thats positive about his tummy being more settled! What do you think has helped it? My DS is still mega windy, any tips?! I had a better night last night, he slept for 3 hours in a row which is the longest he's done at night! I'm lucky cos he does settle in his cot more or less. Just want the stretches of sleep to get a bit longer 😆 he feeds a lot in the day also, feels like he's constantly attached to my boob 🤣🤣

I managed to get 2 hours sleep last night with her on top of me as she finally settled at 4am.

You need to find a way round this as it's possible you could smother a baby if they're lying on you & you go to sleep.

If it's wind would it help if you propped the base of the cot up? We out something underneath the cot mattress so that the top end was slightly elevated with DS and it did help.

Have you got a baby sleeping bag? They feel quite cosy in one of those.

Can DH take over so you don't have to sleep with the baby resting on you?

Could you try a bottle as it might be hunger?

Its soooo hard, I still don’t know how I survived. Will get easier it really will , can you do shifts with your partner? We split the night. I was pumping though so I’d still have to get up to do that after four hours , even if they were both asleep 🤨 Without meaning to sound patronising just be careful falling asleep with them on your chest as it’s really risky for suffocating. You could make your bed safe for bed sharing even if you don’t plan too incase you fall asleep? Take away duvet and pillows - blanket wrapped around your bottom half , long sleeve top/jumper on. kick out partner an make sure no gaps for baby to fall down. Mine settled better sleeping right next to me in the bed and I could do a sleepy feed laying down.

Oh I remember those days. They were so hard. My DD would only sleep on my chest, when she was awake she would be crying, wouldn't sleep for more than a couple of hours. I had PND. I remember people telling me at the time it will past and this time will go fast and at the time it never felt that way.

DD is now 7 and perfect. It does get easier OP. each week that goes by will get easier and easier.

@surreygirl1987

"I remember being so jealous of my husband going to work when I had my first baby. "

I remember feeling like this towards my husband - he was getting away, escaping it all and I was stuck at home with baby.

So hard. And not helped by the fact that in the first couple of days they're generally quite quiet, then when dad goes back to work - BING! They seem to be awake and fussing all the time.
Hang on in there. Joy is around the corner.
Congratulations x

How are you guys doing?? hopefully getting some more sleep:)

Hi all, wondering if anyone has seen any improvement or any words of wisdom. I'm in the same boat with a 4 week old. Will not be put down, super gassy baby. I am soooo tired and also have a 2 5 year old DD. I literally get no sleep at night!

@CatMum87 my baby was exactly like this. She's 16 weeks old now and things have massively improved! I'd say it's been easier since she was about 8/10 weeks old. But before that I found using a sling an absolute godsend!!! I also have a 3 year old so it just allowed me to get on with things whilst she slept in there.

Hang on in there, I know everybody says it but it's true - it DOES get easier xxx