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Hi ladies,
I need your advice, my bub is just now having her 3rd feed since 6pm, I'm not sure what's going on.
Takes me about an hr to feed each time and she finishes feeding I put her to bed but she won't settle and then wants to eat again about 1/2 hr later.
She is 1 week old, I have plenty of milk and she feeds about 20-30 mins on one side then 10-15 mins on the other side.
Does anyone have any advice for me? During the day today she had 31/2-4 hrly feeds.
Please help, what am I doing wrong?
You are doing anything wrong, it's called cluster feeding. It encourages your supply for the next day, and they usually sleep a bit longer after the last feed.
It's totally normal babyluv :hug: But very exhausting I know.
This time of day is often teh witching hour or arsenic hour, only it lasts at least 3-4 hours and babies will generally be fussy and on and off the boob the whole time. It's no reflection on your supply at all. Babies come to the breast for comfort as much as for nutrition, so when they're feeling at all uncomfortable they ask for it, and it's the best way to help them feel better.
This sort of cluster feeding in teh late arvo/early evening can have a really nice side effect - a longer sleep at the beginning of the night.
One thing I would suggest if she is feeding quite frequently during the night is to offer feeds more frequently during the day if if you can. 2 hourly would be quite normal for a babay of this age, and you'd expect 8-12 feeds in a 24 hour peropd (or many more even!).
It sounds like you're doing all the right things, well done!
Fun isn't it. Just when you think you can have a breather.....
I thought it would never end, but then just relaxed and let DD lead. And sure enough we got into a wonderful routine. Good luck hun :hug:
The joy of cluster feeding! :)
Don't fight it, go with the flow, settle in and take it as a good excuse to settle down on the couch with bubs and just be together, plan for it, it will occur around the same time each night. So expect it and make it your special time together, it doesn't have to be a burden.
:hug: You are doing a fab job!!
Totally normal :hug:
You are doing great :D
Is that all? XD
As others have said. Cluster feeding. You're both going great!
As everyone else has said, you're doing everything right! And so is your bub, as exhausting as that can be! As LS said, plan for it, work with it, and it's much easier to get through. It will pass, but for now just letting her lead is the easiest thing to do. It's so very hard, and tiring, and confusing at the start, but it does get easier, have faith in your milk and your body and your baby :hug: you're doing a fantastic job!
Yep yep yep! Everyone has said it but I'll say again ... definately cluster feeding hun. With DS I used to get very comfy with pillows, water and snacks and a good movie. Be prepared to settle in the same spot for a while. I used to tell myself 'trust him, he knows exactly what to do' and he always did. You are doing brilliantly! Rach x
Thankyou ladies, noone tells you these things in hospy, she is a week old and my first so I'm just picking things up as I go.
She just slept for 5 hrs so I'm very proud of her!
Thanks again for the kind words bf is really challenging!
Well done babyluv, you're doing everything right!! Yay on the sleep!!
My little one did this and some days still does this! I can usually pick it to a growth spurt or some cognitive milestone - it's amazing!
Exhausting but you're doing great xxxxx
I would have been completely confused by my DD who cluster fed every evening as soon as we got home from hospital had I not been told in a bfing class that it was normal and to expect it. It may mean a longer sleep for your DD afterwards, it certainly did in our case. I came to love cluster feeding, as well as the enforced rest on my part (which meant of course that DP had to make dinner ;)), it meant a nice long stretch of sleep for her and me at the end of every day. It also meant there were longer gaps between some of her other feeds.
Babies change too, so it might last, or it might not! Sounds like you're doing beautifully, just keep following her lead and your instincts. Babies know what they need and it's usually Mum and her bbs.
sounds like you guys are going really well! bfing is challenging at times - especially in the early days.
in hindsight, it's amazing how fast those early weeks actually flew past & you become much more relaxed with the feeding. it does get easier as they get more efficient & faster. at the time though i found it completel bewildering at times!
and i definitely agree with the PPs who say enjoy the forced relaxation time! put your feet up, make sure you have a drink & some snacks handy and put on a good dvd or read a book (i found that hard to balance for a while but once i got the hang of it - fantastic!)