Where's the sleep gone?- ADVICE PLEASE!!!!!

Hello there, I have a 7 week old baby girl who is the best thing in my life except for one thing. She has started fighting sleep! It's hard for me to get her to go down for her naps during the day and she will usually keep fighting it until she collapses through exhaustion and will sleep 4 hours.

She used to sleep well during the night, she'd go down at about 9, up at 2am for a feed and back down until 5-6 am to start the day. Lately though she's shortened that first block, so sometimes she's only down until 12.30 before she wants a feed and then she will take at least 2 hours to settle back down. Usually then she's up every 90 mins or so until the morning.

Part of the problem I think is her poo. She seems to hold onto the poos until there's a huge amount and she is grizzly for a couple of hours before she does it. I guess a tummy full of poo is pretty uncomfortable! I think that's why she's been restless the past couple of nights. Both times she's finally done the poo when she gets up in the morning.

She never used to be unsetled during the night, she used to get up for her 1/2am feed and go straight back down but now she even cries! I try not to let her cry for a feed and I will usually get to her as she's stirring and before she's upset. I just don't know what to do to help comfort her.

PLease- share any and all ideas you have, I know you wonderful women will have some golden advice!!

to me it seems like she is going through a growth spurt and people know exactly how that disrupts everything!! its crazy.. problem is there is nothing you can do to make it better
as for the poo thing i dont think that she is so much as holding onto it its probably just taking its time and she isnt using the muscles to push it out.. and yes a full stomach that is too full can cause alot of problems i think its like bloating..

It's the age. Most babies go through unsettled phases - some only briefly, some for months. It's just part of their adjustment to life on teh outside and the very rapid physicaly and mental development they're undergoing.
In time her digestive system will adjust better. And she'll learn to switch off herself adn block out unwanted stimulation, but for now she needs more help, that's all.
Just be there for her and make sure you're getting plenty of help and support as well.

Thank you girls. I kinda thought it was a growing spurt, lots of development going on etc. Glad to know you agree. I was a bit worried that I was missing something. I hate to see her upset like that and try to comfort her but the thought that there is something wrong worries me.

I feel better knowing it's probably just a phase

lol the joys of babies lol

I hope it passes soon. Big hugs for the meantime though. :hug:

Oh my gosh!! I have a 7 week old and it sounds exactly like her!!
We've only had her home a week (she's been in NICU and SCN) and she slept beautifully for a couple nights.
Last night she didn't go to sleep til 1.30am. Up at 4. Grizzled til after 5. Up at 6.45 to start the day.
She likes to stay awake for her nighttime feed around 3am.

Frustrating!

My now 8 week old is similar, but the sleep strike started a bit earlier. Her night sleeps are pretty good, but daytime naps are an absolute battleground. My strategies are:

At least one sleep a day in the sling.
Wrap her up and bounce on the fitball (this one takes mega-patience but it's good)
Hop into bed together
Wrap her up and chuck her in the pram.

I find that if she's had one good sleep already, then the next will be easier, and the next easier again, and then she has a good night. So right now she's in my arms, the next will be in the sling, then I'll probably tough it out and try for one in the cot.
Do whatever works! :hug: