6 day old DD won’t sleep on a night

[Dontbsicily]

Hello,

My beautiful baby girl is 6 days old today and she was an angel for the first few nights, sticking to a routine already as, when I changed her nappy and fed her, she would then sleep for 2-3 hours and we would repeat the process. However, the past two nights, she has been waking straight after the feed and wanting another immediately after. There doesn’t seem to be any filling her and DP and I are exhausted.

Any tips or ideas?

I’m breastfeeding but it feels like I haven’t got the supply to satisfy her and I’m wondering whether I should give her a bottle on a night to settle her?

Thank you! X

Congratulations on your baby girl!

Please be reassured what you’re describing is normal! As long as your baby girl is producing lots of wet nappies, pooing and gaining weight you have nothing to worry about regarding your supply.

Up until 6 weeks especially, lots and lots of feeding is totally normal. This is due to baby building your supply and growth spurts!

6 days is such early days. You should plan and expect to feed often - and I’m afraid babies love to feed at night. Try to rest wherever possible, ask your partner to bring you drinks and snacks to support your feeding and if baby will settle at any point try to sleep for a bit then. It’s tough, but it will soon pass I promise.

Please please DONT give formula unless you’re happy that this may affect breastfeeding going forward. Your body simply does not know about the milk you’ve given via a bottle and therefore won’t product this feed for your baby. Your baby especially at this early stage needs to take every feed from you otherwise you do risk your supply. The kellymom website is a great resource.

Good luck!

This is so normal! They’re quite sleepy after birth so lull you into a false sense of security, then wake up a bit.

She doesn’t know the difference between night and day at the moment. So night time means nothing.

She’s cluster feeding to let your body know to make more milk to satisfy her. Newborns also have quite a few growth spurts in the early days, so she will be feeding lots to stimulate your supply so she has enough. This is so normal and not a sign of not enough milk.

Google the 4th trimester and have a read up whilst you’re feeding, it will explain a lot!

As above, normal and a sign she is, in fact, very satisfied by your milk! Do satisfied she’s letting your body know she wants more. Feeding often in the first weeks is how they build up supply.

As long as gaining weight (normal to lose a little after birth) and nappies are ok, it’s fine!

Sounds like you’re doing great!

Hi OP, in your shoes I would absolutely give a bottle of formula. For context, I am mIx feeding my third after breastfeeding my first and second, however i gave top up bottles to my first and second at different times. I find sleep deprivation impacts my supply and a top up bottle would often allow me a chance to ‘reset’ the cycle. I understand it’s ‘normal’ to be up all night breastfeeding, but depending on your home circumstances and your ability to sleep at other times, it’s not always possible or sensible to lose night after night of sleep. Also it can be very isolating which isn’t great either.

Hey OP. Congratulations on your baby girl.

As PP have said, completely normal. Your body produces more hormones at night to help your supply, hence why she is feeding more at night. If she is feeding alot, keep an eye on your nipples and make sure you have a good latch as you may get sore. (I did through the cluster feed stage)

Keep going , you are doing a great job.

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. It helps to know that this is normal and she wasn’t actually in a routine and changed her mind! I haven’t given her a bottle yet but I am wanting to combination feed eventually to make life easier in the future so, I’m not against giving her one but I would prefer to make sure she is fully established with breastfeeding first and after reading these comments I am keen to persevere for now. She has been asleep since 5am now which is what she did the night before also so I wonder whether I should wake her when she does this and put her back down. I slept through both times as I needed the sleep myself! X

Great news OP be kind to yourself - you’re doing great. No problem using combination feeding if this is what you want - your baby your choice. But waiting till 6 weeks will help your feeding be a bit more established.

Good luck!