Some newborn tips needed please! Feeding & sleeping

[glasshalffull0]

Baby girl was born 3 days ago and since then she has not wanted to sleep on her own in her own space unless she’s being held since, this isn’t just for a cot this includes the pram bassinet too. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do just to get a couple of hour stretches in throughout the night?

second question- my baby doesn’t want to and falls asleep every single time when trying to feed from me unless she is skin-to-skin contact. Is there anything I can do to make breast feeding less of a full on chore? we didn’t get to do skin to skin for more than 10 minutes when she was born as I had an EMCS and felt quite ill after

finally, baby has been feeding an average
of 10 times in 24 hours, but for the past 48 hours she’s only filled her nappy twice. When we were in hospital she woke up at 2am ish on her first night and did 3 poos in the space of 2 hours there hasn’t been much since.

thank you in advance- I know some of these
are probably obvious answers but we were so clueless and we just have more questions since we got home with her!

Everything you have described is completely normal, common newborn behaviour.

In terms of helping them sleep in their own bed, well some babies just flat-out won't, to be frank. Things you could possibly try that may or may not help though are: waiting until baby is in a very deep sleep before putting them in their bed; dummy; white noise or lullaby music in the background; making sure the bed is warm before you put them in it e.g. warming with a hot water bottle first (check temperature before putting baby down obviously!) or wrap baby up in blankets or sleeping bag before they are asleep, so they go down in their bed in their warm bundle so there's no temperature change to wake them; try a bedside crib where you and partner can lay in bed yourselves but still reach baby to pat/rub/touch them if that helps; do shifts with your partner if you have one, between feeds.

Not sure I understand your question about breastfeeding being a chore. It IS a chore tbh, it's hard work. Many newborn babies feed almost constantly. It obviously settles down as they age.

I am sure you are doing a great job, it is bloody hard work!

Two poos in 48hrs sounds totally normal and fine too. They sometimes go a few days without any poos at all.

Congratulations on your new baby.
Everyone is different but in my experience my daughter was quite similar in that she breastfed what felt like all day, it did calm down eventually and went for longer stretches. She also loved to be close and her favourite position was on my chest which definitely wasn’t practical but a carrier or sling might be an option, I didn’t have a section so not sure how comfortable that would be for you at the moment. Can’t say I remember about the nappies but if you’re concerned ring the community midwives and hopefully someone can give you some advice.
I just sat on the sofa, watched tv, tried to relax and feed the baby. Breastfeeding I found really hard but I stuck at it and by 4 months was a lot easier and a year later I can say its the best thing I’ve ever done.

Swaddling for sleeping. Patience and time too.

Congratulations!

SOOOOO much changes in the first few weeks, keep at it.

Have you read anything on the fourth trimester? It can be insightful.

And don't believe anything you read about newborns sleeping though the night or any bollocks like that - they make up their own damn rules

Thank you for all the advice, ever since we got home I’ve been overthinking and googling every time thing! I almost forget she’s barely 72 hours old bless her no wonder she isn’t adjusted to the real world yet

It’s really hard at the beginning. I remember sitting up awake for an entire night as every time I put DS down he would wake up.

At this stage you might not be producing very much milk. In a few days it will probably increase and she might sleep a bit better.

@Babychewtoy that was me last night- I didn’t sleep at all from 11pm until 5am and she wasn’t even that hungry she just wouldn’t settle in her own bed!

Google the 4th trimester op it will all make more sense and congratulations 😁 don't worry this bit does pass

Can your partner do any stints for you while you nap? I know you are bf but in between perhaps ? Or any help from friends and family during the day ?

eventually I started cosleeping to just get some sleep. Following all the safety guidance on how to cosleep and I’ve got used to it although I’d still prefer not to! She has now done the odd stretch in her own bed but my little one has reflux. My first born had reflux too but still managed to sleep alone and I never had this with him so it’s been a shock !!

basically it’s all about survival for now and just do the best you can and you’ll find a way through. It feels like it’ll never get better but it does start to. In the meantime get plenty of snacks for the night time (my friends were sending me brownies and things which I’d eat to keep me awake lol) and find something good to watch on Netflix.

take care of yourself xx