Newborn crying all night

[Sunflowerx]

I'm not looking for medical advice on this as I've spoke to my midwife and will be going in to see her tomorrow to go through if there's anything I can do to help baby, so I'm looking for more reassurance.

My 6 day old seems to be crying none stop at night, and for the past 2 nights has been awake from 12-4/5 and will only settle if she's lay on someone and wakes up if she's put in her cot. She's formula fed and is having lots of wet nappies, but then hasn't done a poo since yesterday but midwife said not to be concerned about this just yet!

Can anyone give me some mental reassurance that this is just how it is with a newborn and that things are going to get better and won't always be like this?

Completely normal for newborns to only want to sleep on someone and wake as soon as you put them down.
It takes a while for them to know the difference between day and night as well.
I'd highly recommend reading up about "the 4th trimester". Really helps explains a lot of why newborn babies do the things they do.

Things do get easier! I think the first few weeks are really just survival! Congratulations on your baby.

Sounds like you've got a newborn, OP.

Yep, sounds like a typical newborn to me. Both my girls were exactly the same. Just remember ‘this to shall pass’. She’s still so tiny, and just needs you. I also recommend reading about the 4th trimester.
You’ve got this, and it will get easier x

You could try the warm to cot/basket up with a hot water bottle before you put her in it.
Some find a t shirt you have worn works well as a sheet
Wait until she’s well asleep but not too much (you’ll get the hang of it)
Mine liked to sleep on a fleece blanket which I tucked in like a sheet or a baby sheepskin but not everyone is happy to use these.

It's a shock but that's totally normal. If you google the 4th trimester it might help

I remember spending a few nights taking it in turns to sit up all night holding a sleeping baby. It was only a few nights though.

Do you use a sleeping bag? I found it’s a good way to put them down in the crib because they stay nice and cosy - no sudden change in temperature.
However do check that the neck and arm holes are small enough that it won’t go over the baby’s head. Some have extra poppers to make the openings smaller.

Yup that’s a new born. I just slept with myself me but I appreciate that’s not for everyone. Are you burping her during/after a feed, gas is very unsettling.

Totally normal, sorry! The first few weeks are a shock, aren’t they? It will pass though. The gaps between sleeping and crying will slowly get longer. I remember feeling that stage would never end!

Wow how have I never looked into the fourth trimester before?? Reading through it relates exactly to how things are at the moment, and now I'm having overtired mum guilt feeling bad for getting upset when she's just trying to learn and adapt

Don’t feel bad, you’re learning too. She’s a 6 day old baby and you’re a 6 day old mum.
Hope it’s reassured you a bit.

Don’t expect any kind of routine, just feed/change/sleep on repeat and try to eat, drink, sleep and shower occasionally yourself.

Perfectly normal. You say cot: that could seem like a big, lonely place. Do you have a Moses basket or a side-by-side? That might help.

Stay strong OP. It's a baptism of fire but so normal! The images you see if newborns happily tucked up in places are actually rare and/or small snippets of people's day!

The wanting to be on you is so normal but if you feel her cries are in pain, do make sure she is well well winded.

Look in to a sling for the daytime too, it helps this stage. You've got this xxx

When u hold her are U holding her so she's lying on her tummy?

Depending on the angle she's held if upright ish like on your chest and shoulder could be reflux. If your holding her in any position then this probably doesn't apply. I don't think it's normal tbh. Baby should be settled between feeds but it might also be cluster feeding so put to the breast.

My baby spent the first 3 months of her life sleeping on us. It felt more natural to me than putting a tiny little baby down in a cot by itself. She now sleeps between us in the bed. I'm okay with it because that's what she needs. Babies are very good at telling you what they need. Go with your instincts because your her mum and so they'll always be right xx