I can't sleep

[Emma58]

Sam's routine so far is sleep all day, then from about 11pm til 3.30am he is more or less awake all the time. He isn't crying just awake but this means i'm hardly getting any sleep (not unusual i know!) I think since he has been born I have had between 3 and 5 hours per night.
The problem is though OH can nap during the day while Sam is but i just can't no matter how hard i try to I actually don't even feel that tired during the day, it's almost as if i am running on adrenaline still or something.
Has anyone got any ideas or advice please? I don't want to end up knackered but i also no i should get extra sleep when i can.

 

[smile]

top tip: don't beat yourself up about it..

I'm still getting the "you should sleep when baby does" from everyone - well I can't, I've tried but I can't relax as I can't predict when he will get up and I need to do household type things too!

so he sleeps and I go on the forum and make my eyes square....

the adrenaline lasts for a while - then you hit a wall - I did at about 5 weeks but everyone is different. If your OH can nap then great - he can do the night stuff and just bring the baby to you for feeds

ps, congratulations

 

[happy-chick]

I'd say just try to rest if u cant sleep & dont worry about it too much, do what your body tells you

 

[Emma58]

Thanks everyone. I have been trying to just rest if I can't sleep - i'm fed up of everyone saying you should be resting when the baby does it really is impossible when you have household chores to do as well.
I'm sure i'll hit the wall soon I guess I'm still on a high after the birth.

 

[Redshoes]

I think you're probably still high on LO's birth and so you should be I won't say sleep when baby sleeps because as others have said, no-one ever does listen to that good advice You could try a relaxation CD so you get a good hours rest a day, that's the only thing I've found helps me sleep well. Very best wishes

 

[Babylicious]

it's still the same here em, I'm knackered and can't sleep even when he does.

 

[Emma58]

I managed to get about 5 hours sleep last night altogether which i think is quite good considering his age. It would just be nice if i could nap when he does. His daytime at the moment starts at 10pm and ends about 3.30am.

 

[BabyMagic]

Hi Emma - reading your post was like describing our first 3 days! Only that our LO was crying at night.

What has worked for me in the last two nights is that I actually wake the baby up at 8pm and I then play with her and she then stays active until 11pm (without crying this time - I think she was crying before as I was trying to get her to sleep when she wanted to play, also she doesn't like the Moses basket).

I only give her slight feeds during this time (after 8pm), and then give her a proper feed in bed at 11pm which makes her to fall asleep (and continue to do so!).

This tactic has only worked for the last two nights and it's early days (my baby is the same age as yours!) so I cannot say that it has definitely worked.

Yesterday I managed to nap with the baby and had my first deep sleep last night. I feel that I am becoming more confident and learning to understand my LO's better.

 

[josiegirl]

I am the same way, I can't sleep during the day, I'd rather be an adult and get chores done and the like. I am sorry you are so tired, we've all been there. Just keep reminding yourself eventually you will all get there and your LO will be sleeping at night. Or like it has been said, you'll wind down soon too and then it will be easier to rest. Congrats!

 

[loz]

Hi Emma, hope you are and bab are ok - congrats!

My baby was similar to start with then after 2 weeks started to settle and just wake twice a night. I have been making sure that she doesnt sleep more than about 2 1/2 hours at a time during the day without waking her, changing her nappy and then feeding her. This seems to have worked quite well as she isnt as active at night.

She went through a spell of being awake from 12midnight - 4am early on, and I think it was because I let her sleep too long during the day. Also my midwife told me that the milk is more attractive at night! (I think it is slightly more nutritious or something) and babies just know this and are awake!!!

Hope things get better soon x

 

[DebbieM]

Oh, I'm the same. I sleep at night or never and Luke likes to be wide awake for a lot of the night at the moment. I wish I could sleep when he sleeps but it just doesn't work out that way unfortunately. I'm not a day sleeper, I never have been and doubt I ever will be. Matt can sleep anywhere at any time which I think is very lucky! I wish I could!!!!!