I am at my wits end need advice

[Kelly008]

My little girl is 12 days today... She is fine and settle during the day but can be fussy and cry in the evening and early night time. I have not had a sleep since she was born I just can't seem to switch off. She has been downstairs 2 and a half hours with her dad an my
Mother while I tried to sleep and I have tried so hard to drift off. I now have had no sleep and will need to be awake at dad with her . Her dad goes back to work in 10 days and I am dreading this. I have been feeling periods of low mood but I feels it's all down to not sleeping. Has anyone else experienced this? Is sleeping tablets an option? Or would it not be safe to take them as I might not wake up to her. Am worried that bringing this up to the midwife or gp might make them get social services involved if I say I am not coping

do you sleep when she sleeps? or does she not sleep enough to let you sleep? these are 2 different problems.

if baby isn't sleeping, try swaddling and/or get your DH to look after her so you can sleep.

if you aren't sleeping even when baby is sleeping at night, tell your GP and HV, and ask about PND.

it will get better, but do ask for help because getting some sleep is essential to cope with a baby.

Are you breastfeeding or cosleeping? If so then sleeping pills wouldn't be safe, not for cosleeping anyway!
Agree to talk to someone re - pnd just incase.
Hope you get some sleep soon.

An formula feeding Breast feed for 5 days but it was too hard for me and I was just not able to continue with it and not co sleeping she has been settling in her carry cot at the moment and during the day she is on the bed while we are awake or in a bouncer downstairs. Anyone know any herbal remedies

Hi Kelly! I have a 4mo and I suffer from chronic insomnia. Rescue Remedy Night Melts help some nights. If it's really bad, I also do a "mind sweep" before trying to go to sleep. This involves writing down everything that's on your mind. Every worry, every to do, everything.

It's bloody brutal having a newborn and insomnia. We've had terrible nights where the baby has woken up just as I get to sleep. I am breast feeding so I have limited options... But as you're formula feeding you could take yourself away for a night (although your baby is so new you might want to try that in a couple of months)

Insomnia is REALLY common in new mums, it's all the crazy new stuff whizzing around in your head.

speak to your gp or hv, they will help you. I know someone who really struggled to switch off when her dc1 was born, she got some sleeping tablets, started sleeping loads better. hope you are able to get some rest soon.

There is a traditional Indian preparation specially given to new mothers to help them sleep better. It's main ingredient is poppy seeds - roasted & cooked in milk with added honey/sugar/almonds. The intent is to cause gentle sleepiness & hence help mothers to sleep when the baby sleeps for a couple of hours. You can google it. In India is called 'khus khus'.