I'm exhausted

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My daughter did 5 weeks old and I'm taking care of her all by myself. I haven't barely slept since she's been born I feel like I'm going to have a breakdown. When she cries I don't know what she wants she's always unsettled and never wants to be put down. I know this comes with having a newborn but I'm a young first time mum and didn't think it would be this hard
When what age does it get easier :(

It depends on the child but trust me there are lots of positives coming your way. The first smile, the first laugh, cute little nose wrinkles etc. With me it got better about the 8 week stage so you are very nearly there.

Oh love. It is absolutely exhausting. It gets a lot better somewhere between 8-12 weeks as they settle into a bit of a pattern, (depends on the baby) and then better again around 5-6 months, and there’s another big leap around 10 months... and of course there are little improvements all along the way. Smiles do make a big difference and so does getting the hang of feeding.

Can you form a support bubble with anyone - even if only to hold the baby occasionally while you take a shower or have a hot cup of tea?

Sleep deprivation is horrendous, nobody prepares you for that. I was always told to sleep when baby sleeps - I know it's not always possible but can you have a nap when she she naps? Ignore the state of your house if you can (again not s as Jesus easy!)
The other saving grace for me was co-sleeping. I know it's often advised against but both DDs would only sleep well when next to me. The lullaby trust explain how to make it safer:

www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/

It does get better, it's just so hard at the start.

Hi I have a few suggestion, that worked for me and after bringing up alot of kids and coming from a big family of sixteen girls and four boys I know it does get easier, if you know the signs and sounds of the cries, in this case I found that laying flat on your back and holding your child close on your chest between your breast will settle her, also putting your little finger in her month obviously clean lol, for her to suck on will sooth her, she maybe noise sensitive it is important to start young ones on sounds that are settling classical music works wonders along with whale sounds and running water falls, a touch of lavender under her pillar helps a good rest. A good massage on legs and arms with baby oil Avon do a good baby oil works wonders to or as my mother used to do was push her bed close to a wall with a corner and put the babies Moses basket were safe at the side, hand on babies belly rest for both she swore by it. Anyhow hope something in this helps good luck stay safe.

Thank you all for your replies 

@LouiseTrees I can't wait to see her smile for the first time :) I feel so bad cause I get frustrated sometimes because I just want to sleep, and it's not her fault. I love her so much sometimes I feel like a bad mum like I'm not doing a good job because I'm so exhausted and feel like I'm getting sloppy

@minipie it really is exhausting 😫 I didn't think it would be this hard at all, really wasn't prepared. I now have so much respect for women who have had baby's. and whenever I ask my sister for help she kind of gets moody and I can tell she doesn't want to and she always brings her back to me after like half an hour so can't get any sleep or get anything done so I don't even bother asking anymore 🤷‍♀️ and the baby's dad he's a big help but we've fallen out and he hasn't been here for a week and haven't spoke either which making me feel x10 worse going through a breakup I sometimes wanna give in and let him back after what he's done just so I can get some help

@Beetlebum1981 I do co sleep with her it's the only thing I can do, if I try put her in her Moses basket she starts screaming and wriggling after not even 2 minutes. I've even tried letting her fall asleep on me then put her in gently but it's like she can sense it that I'm not there lol. I love that she wants to be close to me but I need my rest too. I'm making sure I'm following the safety guidelines

@Energised thank you !!! I will definitely try some of these :)

@Energised the only thing I can't really do is have her laying down my chest she wriggles a lot and I had a c section the whole area is still sore

@minipie I forgot to mention my sister has a 2 year old who is a handful so I can understand

I found my baby had to be rocked to sleep until 6 weeks old , after that it gets much easier until around 4 months. Dummy and swaddling were game changers for.me . Tommiee tipper grobags are excellent ,

@Wales34 I got told by one of the midwifes on the labour ward not to swaddle them she said something like they Iike their arms free and it increases risk of sids? But I know people who've done it even my mum did it with all of her kids

Using a swaddle suit saved my sanity. I used the one where the hands are not pinned down so they can still touch their face through the fabric (called love to dream). My baby could not be put down at night before I started using it and would literally have tried anything.

In the USA new mothers get taught how to swaddle before they leave the hospital!

I don’t know what happened with you and the baby’s dad but remember you don’t need to get back together with him in order for him to help. He’s still her dad and should be helping even if you’re not together right now.

@minipie we been together five years he's a bit older than me I just turned 20 he's 24, he was cheating on me whilst I was pregnant and has been for years also recently so I kicked him out and he willingly left. he only sees her if we're on good terms. He's disgusting I hate him. If we don't talk he won't see her it's been a whole week now no texts no calls nothing and he knows where I am. I think I'm going to have to put my feelings to the side for the sake of my daughter cause I know how it feels to grow up without a dad and I don't want that for her it's really affected me. I've left him but it's gonna be hard having him around not being with him because I love him so much

@minipie sorry for the big paragraph and I know I sound pathetic and I know I don't deserve it and shouldn't put up with it but I've been trying to leave him for years and just can't. And now I have a baby I definitely can't I feel as though I can't live without him

@Ihaveoflate thanks I might try it out

Hey you don’t sound pathetic, it’s hard to let go of someone you’ve been with for ages and especially if you got together at 14. It does sound like he’s been utterly shitty though, I’m so sorry.

Does he not want to see the baby... does he accept he’s got responsibilities to her even if you’re not together?

Swaddling, I've never heard that this increases the risk of SIDS . As long as they are out of the swaddle by the time they cab roll its fine

@minipie no if we aren't speaking it's like she doesn't exist to him it's disgusting and unfair on her. Just shows he must not care about his own daughter it's making me so upset cause I want him here with us both but my pride is stopping me trying to sort it out for her sake