How do you get your baby to go back to sleep after night feeds

[nowwhat]

He is six weeks, generally everything's ok but when he is difficult and I've tried everything I end up frustrated and don't know what to do. I just feel like he doesn't like me, he hardly ever settles for me whereas my mum can get him to sleep in like five minutes. He went to sleep at 10pm after feeding for an hour and woke up for a feed at 12:30, he is still awake 2 hours later and I'm genuinely sick of the sight of him. He's breastfed and he's had both sides twice and will not settle until I feed him again, he goes to sleep for ten seconds then wakes up and refuses to go back to sleep. I've tried rocking him, walking around, giving him his dummy, changing him, put him in bed with me and none of it works. I'm on my own so haven't got anyone to take over. I went to bed when he went to bed but I can't cope with night feeds lasting 2-3 hours I have been feeding him all day, he will demand both sides then refuse to settle so because I'm exhausted I will give him a bottle and sometimes he will take 3-4oz even after I have fed him for ages. I feel like I might as well put him on a fucking drip and be done with it since apparently I'm not enough for him.

Thanks if you got this far, suggestions welcome

Sounds as though baby is either very thirsty from the heat (are you drinking gallons of water?) or is going through the 6 week growth spurt which is perfectly normal. There is a major developmental growth spurt around this time & it should pass/calm down in a few days to a week's time. Been through this stage with Both my dc. It can be very frustrating.
Baby also feeds a lot at this time in order to dramatically increase his milk supply for the coming months. Breastfeeding works on a demand & supply basis. So don't give formula as it will decrease your supply, will irritate your babies gut & reduce any immunity your milk is passing onto him and the hormones that help Both you & him relax & sleep. As well as reducing supply giving bottles can also confuse latch & cause baby to faff at the breast & feed lazily. Bottle feeding is counter productive to getting breastfeeding properly established. Kellymom.com is a brilliant website for advice on breastfeeding. They're also on Facebook. Good luck. X

sounds like a growth spurt. It is hell, hang in there it will get better after a couple of days. Could your mum come and give you a break during the day tomorrow?

Normal at that age. stop stressing!

The 6 week growth spurt is ridiculous. I was telling baby that if things didn't improve soon he was going onto economy formula - none of the posh stuff. Not the greatest joke, but finding a way to laugh about it helped.

It'll pass soon enough, though it doesn't feel like it at the time. In the meantime take advantage (if you can) of being chained to the sofa/bed by doing fuck all else except read read read read. (or listen to musuc id that's your thing)

aaargh. music if

Has he always done this or has the behaviour started around the 6 week mark? Does he want feeding or is he just unable to sleep? I'd speak to your health visitor as a first port of call. Even if it is just a growth spurt it sounds like you could use some RL support.

To answer your question (although probably not what you want to hear) my baby has always gone straight back to sleep after night feeds and slept well until the next feed is due (admittedly about an hour later in the early days but longer now).

my baby used to be hard to get back to sleep after night feeds from about 3-8 weeks, she would be awake for ages. It was really frustrating and so exhausting but they are just so little the haven't all got the hang of night and day yet. hang on in there, his rhythms Will fall into place really soon and he Will go back tp sleep after the feeds

Sounds like you're having a rough time, hang on in there. 6 weeks is notorious growth spurt territory and can be a really difficult time. DS went through phases of being awake after feeds-I used to just have to leave him to it after a while. I found that keeping night time really dark and boring helped as did pretending to be asleep! Really good luck to you x

He has been able to settle himself since birth pretty much which is why I'm so wound up that he suddenly wont, coupled with the massive increase in feeding this week I'm just so tired but ashamed for feeling that I'm tired of him cos its not his fault. Im not really tired of him of course!

It's just the last few days nothing seems to make him happy except being fed, so here's hoping its just his six week growth spurt. My six week check is on Monday so can check with the doctor if hes not improved by then and HV is coming on Thursday. I had prenatal depression so I have regular counselling and have an appt for that this week too - all of which should help!

I felt like this at three weeks when feeding was constant and then weeks 4 and 5 were really good so I am sure in a few days it will be fine

It does sound like a growth spurt but I always found if I fed lying down baby would unlatch when done and sleep next to me. Would that work? Even if its not for long you might get a little more sleep. Its so hard with a little one.

Make sure you get plenty of rest in the day but do try and help him differentiate between night and day. A walk outside in the day is great for that. That should help him settle better at night as he realises night time is for just feeding and sleeping.

You sound like me a few days ago. My baby is smaller than yours but due to a tongue tie I have been there and really identify with feeling frustrated with them nd how guilty that can make you feel. I also felt so resentful and like I was just a milking machine. My solution has been to introduce a bit of formula so that I don't feel so tied to the baby, mentally I'm feeling a lot better now. Could you express a bit and ask someone else to take him just for a couple of hours? You will feel so much better. I'm sure this will pass. I hope you are getting lots of real life support. X

Real life support isn't great, none of my close friends have babies so they don't really consider that I can't go on as normal although they are getting better. His dad isn't from this country and at the moment cos of work there's a huge time difference, will be better once he goes home and we're back to usual 2 hrs ahead instead of 8 hrs behind :(

Mum helps me out loads though. I know its controversial but think that giving formula can help some people to feel better about breast feeding, i was ready to quit until i introduced a bottle, the pressure is off a bit and i found i went from hating it to being happier quite quickly. I mostly still breastfeed and express as well sometimes to help keep supply up.

Can't really feed him lying down, it doesn't seem to bother him at all but after most feeds he will sick up milk and that doesn't help as I have to clean up if I'm not quick with a muslin!