Cluster feeding through the night

[Unthoughtknown]

I have a 5 week old who is ebf. Apart from the normal week 1 struggles and some fussing at the boob and colicy symptoms bf has been fine. Great weight gain and plenty of wet/dirty nappies. She feeds on demand, so feeds are between 1 and 3 hourly. She is a bad sleeper in the night, but not unmanagable.

Last night she cluster fed from 11.45 to around 5.30 in the morning, and it was incredibly tough. At 3am I felt like I'd been run over..weak, aching etc. At the moment I feel like I'd try anything not to have to go through that again, so is there anything I could do? I'm not sure if I should start feeding 2 hourly in the day again or try giving expressed or formula top ups. She won't take a dummy but I would try and persevere.

I know cluster feeding is normal, I know it's only for a short time (although the thought of another 7 weeks of this doesn't seem short). I do co sleep if I have to, but i don't find lying down feeding that restful tbh.

I also worry her day/night confusion is going to take ages to sort as the only time I can sleep properly is between 8am and 12pm, and then it's dark at 4pm.

[Topsy34]

I would try offering more from 4pm or so til bedtime, see if you can shift the cluster feeding to evening

Sounds like you are doing a fab job, all these issues will pass eventually

[Unthoughtknown]

Thanks topsy, am going to keep her close to me this evening to encourage more feeding and see what happens