Sleep deprivation

[Hardrockhallelujah]

Dd is 5 months and the lack of sleep is relentless. We co-sleep as she won't sleep on her own next to my bed. She wakes every 1.5 hours ish during the night to feed (even though I don't think she's really hungry). She is ebf and won't take a bottle. I don't know what to do. I feel like I am having a breakdown. I have just had the most almighty row with DP which has involved me shouting fuck off over and over again like a complete nutcase. I am totally loosing it... Please help...

Forgot to add importantly that she feeds so often my nipples are sore and I don't know what to do about that either...

It's hell. Is she your only DC?

Have you heard of a book called the Good Sleep Guide by Angela Henderson? It was recommended by my HV and saved my sanity. If your nipples are sore, have you explored nipple shields?

Nope. I have a ds who is nearly 4. Luckily he still sleeps for an hour in the afternoon otherwise I would have reached this stage a lot earlier. I can't stop crying...

Thank you queen - I will get that book. How do nipple shields work? Stupid question sorry...

Oh bless. My DD was EXACTLY the same. It does get better- cosleeping certainly helped as I got marginally more sleep in those 1.5 hours, and mine never took a bottle either. It doesn't help when it feels like everyone else has got it cracked. I once forgot my DD's name when trying to introduce her to an acquaintance in the supermarket.
DD is now 4.5 yrs....she still doesn't sleep brilliantly. We have to stay with her til she goes to sleep, which takes ages, and she almost always ends up coming though to our bed. On the other hand, she's bright, articulate and creative. Someone said they come out with factory settings and it definitely feels like that- so it's more about your coping strategies than trying to control what your DD does.
Stick to a bedtime routine, even when it feels futile.
Try to negotiate a morning lie in once a week and something on your own- a locked bathroom and a soak is always a pleasure.
Try to go to bed early once a week (I know how precious child free evenings are so it's daft to pretend you'll go to bed at 8 every evening)
When you ARE getting a bit more sleep find something that gives you some headspace- whether that's exercise, something crafty, reading etc (but don't give yourself a hard time for not doing anything like that right now. I was a complete bookworm but barely read a book for the first year)
Make sure you get to playgroup, baby yoga, swimming...whatever you can where you can meet with other people who can't string a sentence together either.
Repeat after me....it will get better, it will get better.

OMG I'm there! I'm that tired I could be sick !!

I could have written your post. My dd is six months and I've just bought the sleep whisperer. My brain is fucked up. I put foundation on my toothbrush , I can't remember dd birth date or NAME when we go play date half the time .

I had a go at dh before over some thing pathetic and he brought me cake which made me cry.

Got a dream feed at 12pm then I'm waiting for show down from 3am on wards!

I'm so sorry. I thought if you weren't looking after other children you could get someone to take her for a few hours in the day so you could rest.

I blame my PND on lack of sleep after DD2 - it really can't be underestimated. Everything feels terrible when you need sleep.

Is there anyone who can help out? I'm not sure I was clear enough with DH how on the edge I was. I resented him and struggled to parent DS.

Horrendous. I have no tips except don't feel guilty about putting yourself first for a bit. If your baby can be taken for a long buggy walk and will sleep in her buggy / car do it and head to bed.

My ds slept through at 6 weeks / I don't think I realised how lucky I was...

Thanks for the replies