Basically I have a 3 week old son, who was 7pound 7 ounces at birth. Not terribly big. So lately - maybe the last week and a half, he has been cluster feeding like every 20 minutes of an evening. This can go on from maybe 5pm to 930ish pm.
He seems to be putting on weight, and I make sure I get a letdown (sometimes 2 when he isnt being fussy) but it doesnt change the frequency of feeds. I f by some chance he does happen to not feed for an hour or two (due to sleeping on the rare occasion at this time) my boobs dont seem to get any fuller.
Im drinking plenty, eating well, he is having wet nappies (with a poop every single nappy)
He feeds at 3 hourly intervals of a night time, has a normal morning feed, and is quite content sitting in the bounce for an hour or two before he feeds again then sleeps for maybe 3 to 4 hours, then we go back to cluster feeding until he either A. falls asleep or B. 930ish of a night. I get plenty of rest during the day and most days get an arvo kip in but nothing works. I still feel as if there isnt enough milk of an evening.
Not to mention I think if I could only build a big supply up so he can have a decent feed of an afternoon he might not want so much cluster feeding for the night. Its just exhausting and Im just really stressing. (Trying really hard not to)
Any tips or suggestions, even a little support (even though I keep getting told nothings wrong) would be a great help.
TIA all
the early weeks of BFing (and sometimes beyond!) can be really tough, esp with a cluster feeder!
i'm certainly no expert but as far as i know, cluster feeding like that does seem to be very normal, albeit tiring! the good news is that it doesn't last forever - my DS was a cluster feeder for a while & at the moment your DS is building up supply to make sure there's exactly the right amount of milk for him & i guess there's also an element of comfort (? not positive on that one!). if he's having plenty of wet & dirty nappies then i reckon that's the main thing
the feeds will settle down - i promise! i thought i'd never last past a few weeks & we're still going at almost 19 months - it just became so easy
Thanks Sloane!!
Yea he has plenty of wet and dirty nappies, and is gaining loads of wieght, so I know the quality of my milk is good, its just the quantity with these cluster feedings.
Its so hard because DS is bubba number 5, and Ive never had this with my other babes, however they were much smaller (they were all in the 6 pounds something weight range). I guess I can take comfort in the fact he isnt screaming or really fussing at the breast, he just wants it all the time! (Lol, must be a definite male thing!! )
Anyway thanks again. I already knew what you said, but hearing it sometimes makes all the difference between thinking bottle or breast!! xxx
Sounds absolutely normal - he appears to be thriving, well done!
If you're lucky, the evenign cluster feeding may eventually translate into a longer sleep at the start of the night.
It isn't a problem with your supply at all - it's usually either due to fussiness at the end of the day and/or getting in extra milk for a longer sleep.
Hi,
what you have here is a perfectly normal and well adjusted human baby. He was a fabuloius size boor - not small at all. You've got to turn it upside down. You have heaps of milk as evidenced by his growth. Having other children you know that they 'want, want want' in the afternoon- fruit, toast biscuits - they come home from school and kinder and want to snack continually. And they are irritable and bicker with each other (at least this goes o. In my family and most I know!). when your baby feels like this he seeks to feed/comfort himself at the breast. And of course if he feeds frequently your breasts feel emptier, but in fact they are making milk as quickly as ever - but he's just being a normal baby
Do I have enough milk and cluster feeds?
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