Newborn Sleep

BumbleBee92 · 2023-01-26T14:37:10+00:00

I know there are so many threads like this, so just after a bit of solidarity for people in the same boat right now! If you have a young baby tell me what your last 24 hours have looked like! I’m so sleep deprived. She’s a very sicky baby so we sit up for ages after a feed, and will only fall asleep upright on my chest, and then she’ll wake up as soon as I try to sneakily put her down. So when she has a wake up in the night it can take hours to get her down in her Moses basket. There have been days where I haven’t crawled into bed until 4am and I’m probably averaging 4 hours sleep a day. She’s breastfed so I’m on duty 24/7, except a short window when my husband is back from work where she sleeps on him between feeds and I can nap in peace. So my last 24 hours have mostly been sitting in the nursery with the baby on my front and going through the changing, feeding, soothing to sleep, waking up and yelling, doing it all again cycle…

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Rowen32 · 26/01/2023 15:48

Sounds totally normal to me, if I got four hours I'd be delighted, a friend was the same! It does pass but move from the nursery, be in other rooms in the house or even outside for a change of scenery :-)

escapingthecity · 26/01/2023 15:49

How old is she? This sounds totally normal. Have you got a sling/carrier that she's happy to be in?

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 26/01/2023 16:11

Thanks guys. She’s 5 weeks so hopefully we’re nearing the peak of the crying curve too. The more I hear this is normal the less lonely it is and the more I can tell myself literally billions of women have got through this in one piece and I will too! I hope all you other exhausted mums are doing ok :)

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Joytotheworld88 · 26/01/2023 16:27

Baby is 3 weeks old. Won't go down in cot. Me and DH doing shifts at night. I sleep 10pm-1am. Then stay up with baby 1am-5.30am. DH then gets up and lets me sleep for a couple of hours before going to work. So averaging about 4hours a night. I try to fit a nap in during the day to get me through.
I'm surviving on lots of coffee, chocolate and Netflix to keep me awake!

LeaXo · 26/01/2023 16:36

You are describing my life 7 months ago! I was desperately seeking anything to help me get my little one to sleep a little longer. My little one woke up every hour during the night, sometimes it was to feed and sometimes he needed comfort (latched but no suckling). I read somewhere that putting something with the child that smells of you could help and it did a few times. I popped a top next to him that I had worn.
You are doing amazing ❤️.

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 26/01/2023 17:19

Joytotheworld88 · 26/01/2023 16:27

Baby is 3 weeks old. Won't go down in cot. Me and DH doing shifts at night. I sleep 10pm-1am. Then stay up with baby 1am-5.30am. DH then gets up and lets me sleep for a couple of hours before going to work. So averaging about 4hours a night. I try to fit a nap in during the day to get me through.
I'm surviving on lots of coffee, chocolate and Netflix to keep me awake!

@Joytotheworld88 what did people do before Netflix! I’ve been watching Workin Moms and highly recommend as easy watching

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Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 26/01/2023 17:22

LeaXo · 26/01/2023 16:36

You are describing my life 7 months ago! I was desperately seeking anything to help me get my little one to sleep a little longer. My little one woke up every hour during the night, sometimes it was to feed and sometimes he needed comfort (latched but no suckling). I read somewhere that putting something with the child that smells of you could help and it did a few times. I popped a top next to him that I had worn.
You are doing amazing ❤️.

Thank you @LeaXo and good that is sounds like a few months on it has passed. Am sure you’re experiencing different challenges now but hope all well! Psychologically I think it’s easier to be able to break the challenges down into chunks, so currently focusing on the 3 month mark when I’m told she should be more settled… I will try putting something of mine in her Moses basket in the meantime :)

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LeaXo · 26/01/2023 20:39

BumbleBee92 · 26/01/2023 17:22

Thank you @LeaXo and good that is sounds like a few months on it has passed. Am sure you’re experiencing different challenges now but hope all well! Psychologically I think it’s easier to be able to break the challenges down into chunks, so currently focusing on the 3 month mark when I’m told she should be more settled… I will try putting something of mine in her Moses basket in the meantime :)

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Yes, he is now nearly 16 months old. He's on cows milk now and sleeps very well :) there are definitely different challenges and I am thoroughly enjoying them (Although I'm not enjoying when he walks around the house with his eyes closed and walks in to everything haha). It's a brilliant idea to break it down into chunks, I hope it's helping you. I have my fingers crossed she settles more for you. :) have a lovely night. Xo

RedLipsticks · 26/01/2023 23:54

Hey! I have a three week old and I’m with you in solidarity! Can’t put her down as she cries and I’ve tried all the usual options (my top, white noise, the next 2 me, everything… but she will only sleep if held!) she’s currently fussing when feeding too, so we’ve just changed our bottles to see if they were causing a problem with wind. I’m also battling a cold because of course, so struggling atm! Hoping it passes soon.

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 27/01/2023 01:29

RedLipsticks · 26/01/2023 23:54

Hey! I have a three week old and I’m with you in solidarity! Can’t put her down as she cries and I’ve tried all the usual options (my top, white noise, the next 2 me, everything… but she will only sleep if held!) she’s currently fussing when feeding too, so we’ve just changed our bottles to see if they were causing a problem with wind. I’m also battling a cold because of course, so struggling atm! Hoping it passes soon.

@RedLipsticks I hope you feel better soon!

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Calphurnia88 · 27/01/2023 14:32

DS 10mo was the same. I don't know how I survived, but I did.

I will openly say that I did not enjoy the newborn phase. Parenting still has its challenges, but I'm much happier now.

TradedAtlanta · 27/01/2023 19:13

Reading this is helping me to psych myself up for another most likely terrible night with my 6 week old. I didn't have this with my first. They were not exactly a good sleeper but I could at least put them down at night. I know it won't last but the sleep deprivation makes me feel so negative about everything

Growingatinyhumam · 27/01/2023 19:28

Hi OP,

I stand with you 😭 my 5 week old sounds very similar!

Last night he refused to be put down from 4pm until around 2am 😴 he would cry, I'd put him on the boob, cuddle him, put him down for 30 seconds, he'd scream and the cycle continued. I've been told it gets easier!! But it's hard to see it at the moment. It's got me feeling all sorts of sad/very selfish thoughts of how much I miss my old life but I think it's the sleep deprivation tricking me!

Current things are getting me through is the thought of being able to express milk from next week which will hopefully take off some pressure on me and also looking at people in my life/on the telly who have children and they aren't sad/exhausted constantly 😂 if they can make it through so can we!!

Fleabea · 27/01/2023 23:43

I have a 3 week old boy and am joining you night shift OP!

I knew having a baby was going to be knackering but underestimated just how little sleep I would actually be getting. I love my boy to pieces but finding it difficult to comprehend that this is my life now for the next however may weeks/months until he will sleep for longer during the night.

It feels better to know I am not alone and it's not just something I am doing wrong. It can feel very lonely at 4am with a crying baby!

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 28/01/2023 02:05

Thanks for sharing, I feel better to hear from others going through the same. When it’s the early hours of the morning and the rest of the street is asleep it’s easy to feel like the only one despite all the billions of women who have gone before x

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PoopMaster · 28/01/2023 09:31

My baby is older (3 months) but one trick I've recently learned which I wish I'd started MUCH earlier is using a hot water bottle to warm up the sheets where I'm going to put him down after a night time cuddle...he was always waking up within a few minutes and I realised it was from the sudden change in temperature, now he settles straight away (only for 1-2 hours at a time but still an improvement!) Just a warm water bottle, remove it right before putting baby down, check with your hand to make sure the sheet is more body temperature and not too hot. Hopefully that will help with the putting down bit at least (the frequency of wakings is a whole other thing, that just takes time unfortunately - solidarity! )

Blendandmix · 28/01/2023 11:47

Sorry if this is out of line but when I was pregnant I joined the baby's due thread then we got a fb and then a WhatsApp and if it wasn't for talking to each other through the night and seeing what was normal/having someone on the other end of the phone I think we would have gone abjt crazy. There seems like alot of you in the same boat so maybe an idea for you guys to get you through with some company x

My Daughter was the same it was SO gruelling. It got better around 6 weeks for us!xx

Blendandmix · 28/01/2023 11:48

@PoopMaster yes! And putting a top that smells like you in the cot for a few hours also helped x

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 28/01/2023 13:03

@PoopMaster thank you will give it a go. Glad you have found something which has helped :)

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TradedAtlanta · 30/01/2023 17:56

Last night was absolutely the worst. Baby slept for only around 1 hr 15 between 1 and 6am, in 2 chunks. I didn't sleep at all! GP suspects it's related to his reflux and has prescribed omeprazole. How were other people's nights?

Original poster

BumbleBee92 · 02/02/2023 15:38

TradedAtlanta · 30/01/2023 17:56

Last night was absolutely the worst. Baby slept for only around 1 hr 15 between 1 and 6am, in 2 chunks. I didn't sleep at all! GP suspects it's related to his reflux and has prescribed omeprazole. How were other people's nights?

@TradedAtlanta sorry you had a bad night and hope it’s been better in the meantime. I wonder if ours has problem reflux too, she’ll only fall asleep propped upright and carried on crying after feeding. I asked the midwives and health visitor about it at our various post natal appts but no one seemed like it was an issue but will be mentioning to the gp at our 6-8 week check next week. How did your gp confirm it was problem reflux and not just normal reflux, if you don’t mind me asking?

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TradedAtlanta · 27/02/2023 08:26

@BumbleBee92 sorry I only just saw your question so perhaps it's not relevant anymore. Baby was vomiting constantly not just after a feed and often semi digested milk rather than fresh. On one occasion vomited bile too. Very miserable, couldn't (and still cant) be laid on back. Omeprazole has definitely helped his mood and vomiting less/gaining weight better but still not able to sleep on his own/lying down. Manages well from 8-12 with his dad and I can get him to sleep on my chest 1-3 or 4 am but from 4 onwards his sleep is so light and restless I don't tend to get any more sleep from that point. How is your baby now?

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