Brand newborn will not be put down!

[birdofthenorth]

First night home with 2 day old DC3 (actually he's only 47 hours). Slept well dopily in hospital last night. Will not sleep at all tonight, unless on me. Won't be down in crib or next to me. Longest stretch jobs had since. "Going to bed" at 10pm is 8 minutes! Feeding (bf) not brilliant but not horrifically. DC2 will be up in an hour. Soooooo very tired!

congratulations

how lovely - a cuddly, squidgy newborn!!!

sounds normal to me - were your other two not like that?

do you have a DP who can take over being a human bed for a while - or better still, they can take care of DC1 and 2 while you cuddle and feed DC3

good luck

These early days with a newborn are so precious - can you try to just go with the flow and keep cuddling? Your baby has been close to you for nine months. How wonderful that she wants to stay close. Best of luck and congratulations.

That lovely bundle of newborn squishyness has spent the last nine months all warm and cosy inside. It takes a little while to adjust to the outside and being on you is as close as he'll get. Have you got a wrap or carrier so at least you can go hands free for a bit?

Welcome to the fourth trimester.

Sounds totally normal for a tiny thing that's only a couple of days old. My 4 month old still prefers to sleep on me sometimes! Were your older two DC not the same?

Had exactly the same with my now 4 month old - totally threw me! Ended up sleeping with her on my chest and me propped up with pillows behind and either side for about a week, then started to move her to her crib after she fed herself to sleep and lay on me for a bit. During the day, a cloth sling was my best friend! Took 2 .5 months before she would sleep 'off' me during the day, but again did it gradually - transferring her to crib when already asleep etc. I found it easier once I got over the angst and just accepted I'd be wearing her for a large part of the day!!

I had the same with dc2, dc1 had been prem and in scbu so he had (rather sadly) probably got used to not being in contact with me, dc2 however was like Velcro for a few days, it was exhausting at the time, buts year on I look back fondly.

so don't put her down? she's newborn. sounds normal to me. prop up on pillows in bed and let her sleep on you. sling in the day so you can still be free to move if you want to.

at least a few days of laying together is allowed surely?

It's so hard isn't it. You go through the hardest thing ever and then you have to look after someone else. It is totally exhausting, especially if you are not able to sleep holding baby (i was the same)
It's fairly normal what you are describing. Do you have a partner who can hold baby while you rest?
It won't last forever (even though it feels like forever now)

Sorry, just read your op more closely.
Crap that's hard!
Is there anyone who can deal with dc2?
Had a very similar situation with my two. You already know this won't last I'm sure but it is awful and you have my sympathy

Things that have worked for friends of mine in helping to transition to Moses basket are:

Putting something that smells like you in there - like a Muslin you've had in your top for example.

Warming the basket with a hot water bottle so it's nice and cosy

Using some white noise - I would recommend Ewan the sheep!

Rolling up a hand towel underneath the sheet to create sort of a cocoon around the baby. More expensive version of this is a product called "cocoonababy" that you may have heard of. Towel is working ok for them though!

First few days are so hard but you will get through it