Newborn won't sleep since milk came in

[verysleepymum]

My 4 day old newborn really struggling to sleep. She is so unsettled and wriggly! She gets to sleep easily when feeding and will sleep on me or go down in her Moses basket for 5 minutes. She then gets super wriggly and unsettled, i think she has tummy pain but nothing I try seems to relieve it. The only thing which settles her is feeding. She slept fine in her basket until my milk came in!

What can I do?! I have not slept more than a couple of hours in the last 48.

Congratulations on your little one.

This sounds, I'm really sorry to say, completely normal. Is there anyone who can hold her for a little whilst you get some sleep? During the day is there anyone who can hold her whilst you sleep?

I'm glad to hear it's normal! I was worried she was poorly or something (paranoid new mum!)

I try to wind her, patting while on on my shoulder or sat on my knee with my hand supporting her head - she very rarely burps, but farts like a trouper - usually when feeding. Is that enough to relieve wind?

She will often sleep being cuddled during the day for an hour or so. But usually I sit chatting or watching TV - maybe I should hand her to daddy and try and sleep. 11pm-2am seems to be her most unsettled time though she won't be cuddled more than 10 minutes before she is rooting again!

Yes, hand her to daddy at that stage. I know the 'behave like a grown up' pull is strong, but if there's half a window of opportunity for sleep, grab it.

Cluster feeding is A Thing you probably want to read up about (presumingbyoire breastfeeding). Kellymom is a great website for breastfeeding related advice...

Both of mine were very pukey babies so any burping was followed by copious amounts of sick, bit sounds like you're doing it right. Another thing is to hold her under her armpits and dangle her like that (so her body is stretched out) and gentle move her side to side like a pendulum.

Thank you for the advice! I definitely think she cluster feeds at night! That explains a lot.

So glad this is normal! So basically ride it out feed whenever she wants and catch sleep when I can and eventually she will sleep for longer periods!

For two weeks all my baby wanted to do was feed and sleep on me, I couldn't put her down! It was exhausting but is totally normal c

Just hold her - and if you need some sleep yourself then hand her over to someone else if you can.

It's probably a coincidence that it's been since your milk came in. The first couple of days babies are tired from the birth and they will gradually become a little more wakeful and sensitive to being put down.

She'll probably still want to be held for a couple of weeks or so and gradually it will get easier to put her down.

The wriggling/wind is also very normal, and will pass.

Google the fourth trimester - this will help explain things too.

Congratulations and enjoy the cuddles - it goes so quickly.

So glad this is normal! So basically ride it out feed whenever she wants and catch sleep when I can and eventually she will sleep for longer periods!

Exactly! My DP and I would basically sleep in shifts holding our son for the first couple of weeks. He still likes to be held for some naps but it really does get easier.

verysleepymum

This early into life with a new baby, if I'd recommend a "bedroom holiday".

Is your DP on paternity leave? Have him do every aspect of looking after you and the house. Have yourself 2 or 3 days of not getting out of bed with baby, to catch up on your rest and sleep.

Back on olden-days they used to enforce bedrest for new mothers. Nowadays parents put too much pressure on themself.

So clear the diary and stay in bed with baby 24 hours a day. Put a towel under you to catch and milk sprays and just give baby unlimited boob access.

You and baby should be spending your days just feeding and sleeping, interspersed with a few minutes smiling and cuddling with each other here and there.

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Baby had a long (for her!) nap in her Moses basket this afternoon ~3hrs so I got some sleep then. Plus daddy took her 11-2am so I could sleep. Now cluster feeding through the night again, but feel much more human with my naps!

Currently wide awake at this ungodly hour with my 14 day old baby snoring on my chest; like your baby she's only happy if being fed or cuddled, so that means no sleep for me!

Hoping I'll get a bit more kip as she gets older, but in the meantime I feel your pain

Sounds completely normal to me.

See if you can get hold of a bedside cot. They used to be available to hire for a few months. Some babies that seem to only sleep if being held are satisfied just to have a parental hand on their tummy as they sleep. With a bedside cot you can provide this and sleep yourself without any danger.