5 week old baby - when will it get easier ?

[Newmum2127]

I have a 5 week old baby and each week a new problem seems to arise and things seem to be getting hard rather than easier I know it’s all completely normal but when does it start to get easier.? I get maximum 1.5 hours sleep in one sitting and up multiple times a night, I’m desperate for sleep and my mood is starting to decline because of the lack of sleep

Do you have any support so you can get a longer stretch than 1.5 hours? It sounds really tough for you.

That sounds hard. Things will start to feel easier around 3 months, which I bet feels like ages at the moment!

My partner can help but he works really long shifts so I’m taking the brunt of it whilst he is working, I’m breastfeeding also so that is doesn’t help, she is congested and gassy so I know what the problems are, just super exhausting

Yeah that seems to be the overall consensus. It’s hard because you want to get to that point but then you are wishing away time and not really in the moment. hard work this parenting lark haha, constant doubt and mum guilt

I think weeks 6-10 were the worst with my twins but if your baby has a cold then hopefully once she's feeling better it'll balance out.

If he's working long shifts, how many days? He needs to give you proper sleep on his days off (bringing baby up to nurse then taking over away again to change and burp)

Would you consider mixed feeding, so your partner could maybe do a few night feeds on weekends or around his shift patterns? You must be beyond exhausted.

I did this and just grabbed chunk of 4/5 hours sleep and felt like a new person for those longer sleeps.

We used breast milk, formula and i breast fed, so baby was used to bottles and boobs and it worked for us twice over.

I agree with that 6-10 week period, its peak time for being gassy. It sounds weird but babies have to learn to coordinate a fart and they feel better once they can do so.

As well as mixed feeding another option to consider is cosleeping for some or all of the night.

Well I pump breast milk but the issue is that if the baby has a bottle my boobs get engorged so I have to pump any way during the night to relieve the pressure so I end up being up anyway, I’d be scared to introduce formula as well as knowing my luck it wouldn’t agree with her. She sleeps in a cot next to my bed so she is close but the gas and congestion is just keeping her up terrible

I'm assuming he doesn't work 7 days a week?

He needs to step up and do the night feeds when he's off so you can get some sleep.

Would he consider a late night walk with the baby whilst you get some sleep?

Also no shame in wishing away this time, I certainly did both times with mine. Even marked the date when my second would reach 12 weeks.

You have my sympathy, OP. I've been there. My first baby was very unsettled, gassy, etc and what worked for me was cutting out dairy in my diet. Made a world of difference. Worth a try to see if it helps. Took a couple of days to notice the effect but once it did it was like having a different child.
Also echo what others have said that your partner must step up and do some nights.
Good luck, it will pass and get easier eventually x

I had the same issue so used to pump the milk for the feed and then put the pump in my room and empty before my allocated snooze time, I had the pump next to me and never woke up!!

I guess the only way forward is to try formula just the once? You can buy small cartons so won't waste too much money trying.

I remember feeling like 6 weeks was my low point. My baby is now 4 months and it is sooooo much easier. I don’t remember exactly when we turned the corner but I do recall that at about 10 weeks I suddenly realised I hadn’t googled ‘when do babies get easier?’ for a while.

Hang in there - the hardest part will be over soon

Infacol is great for gassy babies! Saved my sanity with my colicky DD.
I found things got easier from 6 weeks onwards. Sleep took a few more weeks but in general I was a lot happier after that first month or so was over.

By week 12 it gets better - so you are half way there!

Honestly I would say by 3 months it starts to get a bit easier... and by 6-8 months it is a lot better. You can do this!

Big improvement at 7–8 weeks for my two.

12 weeks and I started to feel "normal". A bit more like myself.

Week 5 is tough. You will get there though!

Also when they start smiling and becoming more human it gets so much easier somehow irrespective of sleep!

The first 2 or 3 months is hard but things do just gradually get easier. Try to just take it one day at a time, I think it can feel really overwhelming if you’re thinking about how you’re going to get through the next month, so just focus on getting through the day/night.

What have you tried already for the wind?

Thanks all for your replies. I will take it one day at a time. Baby is congested, which I have saline drops for and just bought an Aspirator (thanks amazon for same day delivery) so fingers crossed that will improve. As for the gas, she is fine up until 3 or 4 am, she wakes grunting, pulls legs to chest, the usual. I’ve tried infacol but with breastfeeding on queue, I can’t seem to catch the 20 minute window before a feed for it to be the most affective. Then I’ve done bicycle legs in the night, every burping hold I can find and it just doesn’t seem to get it up :/

OP is breastfeeding.

The most supportive husband in the world can only ‘step up’ so much for an EBF baby.

The early days are so hard OP but I did find things were a lot better by 9 weeks and now three and a half months on I can honestly say things are ... not EASY, but comparatively easy!

I remember this too well. I think my dd had colic around 2months old and she would be up any time between 12am - 6am (once she was up for 6hrs crying!!!) for a week straight. Just crying and sounding very uncomfortable, it was very stressful. Luckily my mum and dad helped me a bit so I could get a bit of sleep but I know how you feel! It’ll pass, hope it gets better for you soon! Xx

Try the hairdryer, that helped a bit for my dd. There are anti colic bottles you could try too.
I was also breastfeeding. Had to sit her up for at least 30mins because she sometimes would throw it up.

This all sounds very familiar !

My little one has pretty bad reflux aswell so I also have to sit her up for a while after a feed ... tough stuff at 3 am.

It’s nice to know so many others have had similar experiences
X

Ah you poor thing but don't worry it all sounds very normal. I know whilst you're going through it it feels like forever but it really does get easier. I have 5 DC, youngest is nearly 12 months now so it's relatively fresh in my mind. With her, there was a big improvement at 7 weeks. She just seemed to settle in and everything felt better. I know it varies of course, but usually around 10 to 12 weeks, it will have all got so much better. Good luck and congratulations!!