ADVICE NEEDED - 6 WEEK OLD BABY

Tiv my paed told me (almost too late) that 6-8 weeks is a really tough time for parents as babies seem at their fussiest during this stage.

You say baba is up 3-4hrs at a time at night - what about during the day? Maybe he's confused night & day?

Get some wedges under baby's mattress to elevate him slightly - this will help as reflux babies do not like to be sideways - and this is why if baby is fussing when on his side it could be reflux or an ear infection and you should take him to the paed in this case.

Babies should feed approx 3 hourly, and be awake approx 60-80mins at a time at this age. Fussiness at night could also be colic caused by constant overstimulation during the day.
I would say feed 3hrly during the day and demand feed after 6pm. Get your baby down after 1hr during the day, some suggest they should sleep 1hr+ but some babies like to nap - K very seldom sleeps longer than 45mins at a time even at 6weeks and she's now 16.5 weeks and its the same. If they get sufficient routine during the day then they should be more relaxed at night and wake around 10, 2 and 5 ish.

People say sleep when baby sleeps but thats pretty rubbish if baby only sleeps 30mins at a time. But once he goes down at night you may need to get yourself into bed as soon as possible too, or nap on the couch so that you get a couple hours in before he wakes for his feeds. I find I can cope during the day provided I've had enough sleep at night so if that means going to bed at 8pm then thats what we have to do.

hi there
I honestly has an extreme amount of sympathy for you (and Niki!)
There is nothing more exhausting than a baby that is waking up constantly, crying and issues with feeding.
My boy is almost 2 now, and I went through hell and back with him when he was 6 weeks. It was by far the most challenging time in my life.
I won't bore you with all the things I have tried with him, but it really sounds like your LB does have reflux. You can just imagine how painful it must be for him when he is feeding and the constant burning!! (like us having acid!) thus only drinking small amounts to just keep the hunger away. Shame!!
I am sorry, but for the life of me I cannot remember the name of the meds the pead gave my LB then. It was some kind of blocker. Apparently its the best thing on the market for reflux in babies.. unfortunately reflux was not my Lb's problem at the end, but this blocker should work if its reflux apparently. I think it was a schedule 4, and it was tablets that I had to crush and mix with his milk.
Until today I am not sure what was really the isue, only thing I remembered (after spending litteraly thousands of Rands - I even tried this extremely expensive R400 a tin milk!!) is the day I put him on Soya, that day he became calm and slept well!!

Hi

My little girl is now 5 and a half weeks and I have also been having feeding problems, I am breastfeeding, but feeds are also regular and she fusses and fights during feeds, even though she is hungry.

We have tried everything, increasing my milk supply, getting her to be more effective at the boob, treating thrush, taking her to a chiropractor and I too am at my wits ends, She does drink quite a bit, but fights during the feed so it takes a long time.

We went to the chiropractor last week, as we were told sometimes new borns need thier spines etc aligned as this can pinch nerves in the spine and cause tummy prolems.

The chiro said she may have refulx so we took her to see our GP ( Pead is away at the moment, going to see him next week) and they have given us an antacid to disolve in some milk once a day, it seemed to help a bit with feeds over the weekend, I have been told it takes a week to work, perhaps your little one has reflux

There are other things you can do as well, feed him upright, make sure his cot is inclined and hold him upright for at least 20 minutes after the feed.

Good luck, I am hoping we are on the right track now, cause I am about to give up on this whole breastfeeding thing

I think it could also be because it's a boy, they are extra naughty lol
Ok, maybe it's not nice to tease esp cause you're tired. I sometimes feel like I'm really the only one that's gotten 'easier' and him just different.
Where do you stay Tivanlag? (I am unfortunately in Durbs at the moment) but I'll be home in about 10 days or so. Maybe someone can come help you for a few hours? Or are you still a little scared of help? I use to be like that! (ok so I still am, but the people that are prepared to help me take to much initiative for my liking)
It sounds quite normal to me, at this age my mom had left and my dh was back at work. And I can remember not even being able to even make a sarmie. My baby had to be held uprigt all the time..
So perhaps a little help and some tlc is what you need?

His tummy is small still which may be why he is taking smaller feeds. He may have some refulx which may cause him discomfort so feed him in a more upright position if you can. Reflux is quite normal and if lo is picking up weight it is fine.

Once they drink more during the day they will sleep longer at night and your lo may be going through a growth spurt.

At 6 weeks your baby must return to the paed for an important check up so you should mention this to him/her.

Shame the exhaustion is hectic!

My LB is 6 weeks old and I am having drama with his drinking and sleeping habits and am now at my wits end!!!

He is bottle fed, on Nan 1, and drinks between 30mls to 50mls at one go, never more than 50mls and therefore is drinking every hour. On a good day he will go without a feed for about 2 hours but then too will only drink 50mls. When drinking, he is extremely fussy and spits out his milk and is very restless when drinking. I am using the Avent bottles, and the teet is for a newborn so the milk flow is coming out properly. He is also vomitting quite a bit after most feeds so I am not sure if anything is being ingested at all. He is however growing nicely when I have him weighed every week.

Another issue is his sleep cycles. He sleeps for only an hour at a time, at best 2 hours but is awake at night for 3 to 4 hours at a time!! Needless to say I am beyond exhausted now. I have no idea what to do. Help please.