I have a 4 week old baby boy and im a first time mum. At first I found breastfeeding so painful but after a week and a half we started to get the hang of it and I started to enjoy feeds. However for the last 10 days my baby has been feeding none stop between 3pm-12am. I'm finding it painful and his behaviour is extremely frantic. Sometimes he dives into my nipple and then pulls away whilst latched on. I think there is enough milk there so I don't think this is frustrating him. He will sometimes start crying whilst latched and will scream as I switch him from one side to the other. Is this cluster feeding? When does this end?
I'm feeling quite down about it and really want to return to our calm, nice feeds!
He also seems a bit uncomfortable after a feed and can be quite gassy (from both ends). He is often sick after a feed too. Is this reflux? Wondering if I need to go to the doctor's? He seems to be putting on weight though.
I am a FTM with a 3 month old so no expert, but that does sound a bit like my cluster feeding experience. I found my baby wanted to suck for comfort when tired but was annoyed at the milk as was full. I would suggest when you have an evening like this, possibly try doing a bit of patting and walking around with baby and see if he'll settle any other way. My baby also usually brings up a bit of milk after feeds, and needs quite a lot of burping (which also causes fussing). I rang my HV and got some good advice.
It does sound like cluster feeding which can be incredibly frustrating for you 😞 You feel as though you can't break away to eat, get a drink or have a minute to yourself. These do come in spurts but will settle. Make sure you make yourself a sandwhich, snacks and a flask of drink so you can eat and keep hydrated and keep them next to you.
If baby is being sick a lot it could be reflux so worth seeing GP or health visitor. My friend was referred to a feeding clinic and prescribed special milk for baby and it really settled.
Sounds like cluster feeding, my DD is 4 weeks and would cluster feed 9pm-3am first 2 weeks..only way we can manage nights now is expressed milk through a bottle and then she’ll sleep! Have tried to breastfeed at night again and she’s no different
Cluster feeding and potentially sucking for comfort. DD3 was/is a very sicky baby, didn't want to medicate as she's happy. Positions such as lying down or you sitting up with them facing you I found good. Baby still regulating your supply, promise it gets much better.
I used a dummy during this stage for my DS. He just wanted a comfort suck as he was tired. People will say you shouldn't do it as the baby needs to stimulate milk etc but I personally could not stand the constant sucking (nor could my nipples). My LO would often suck on the dummy for less than a minute then fall asleep. Still BF now at 4 months old and the cluster feeding has stopped thankfully!
You got it, cluster feeding! It feels like it won't end but it totally will, I promise! Just think you're doing such a good job, your giving that baby all the nutrition, immunity, security and love that they need. It's soo hard and draining, but do persevere, as you will reap all the benefits of breasteeding soon! I'm still feeding my 14 month old As for the reflux, look at the NHS advice page for reflux in babies, it's very common, and usually gets better on its own as the oesophageal sphincter matures
I don't know if you already have but I would really recommend speaking to your hv as well. I'm a FTM and my baby girl is 6 weeks. We had no problems with feeding or latching on at first but noticed a few weeks ago she was much fussier, kept coming on and off the latch and would seem to be getting agitated during feeds. She was also being sick (alot) so we thought she may have reflux
However spoke to HV team who suggested it might be oversupply of milk meaning she was getting too much too quickly. They gave us some simple changes to try and now baby girl seems much happier at feeds and much less sicky. We had been convinced it was reflux so Really pleased that there were some easy solutions
