Dear God, the cluster feeding. Help!

[QuilliamCakespeare]

DS is 3 days old. He's feeding quite well, which is a relief after my experience with previous DC who frankly just couldn't be arsed. However, I'm trying to get my head round what is normal for cluster feeding. The first night he fed from 10.30-3 and then settled for a good couple of hours. Last night he fed until about 3.30 I think, can barely see straight let alone think properly by I really struggled to get him settled in the basket so in he end he slept on my chest-- for a couple of hours. Tonight he's been at it since 7.30ish (it's now1.30) and catnaps between feeds but goes mad I move him to the basket. How do I get him to stay in there long enough for me to get some sleep? Is this kind of feeding normal? I think my milk is just starting to come in now so am hoping that will improve things - will it? I'm surviving on about 2 hours sleep a night at the moment and I'm beyond fucked.--

Help me!

[TheRollingCrone]

Congratulations!

Drink and eat loads

Would you feel confident enough to have him in bed with you?

Have you had a look at the Kelly mom website? Loads of good advice on there

My dd is 9 now, so it was a long time ago, but I remember the cluster feeds, I truly thought she was trying to kill me

Well done, you're doing great

[badg3r]

Ah the cluster feeding! It doesn't last that long but in order survive I highly recommend reading up on safe cosleeping and practicing feeding lying down. YOU CAN DO IT!!

[badg3r]

Oh, and when they're not cluster feeding during the day, give them a good feed them stick them in the pram, give them to someone else and get an hour's kip.

[QuilliamCakespeare]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. I'm drinking absolutely loads and trying to eat too although I think being so tired isn't helping my appetite.

I'll take a look at Kelly Mom now. It's just so frustrating to put him down asleep any have him wake up 2 mins later. I fell like he's a ticking bomb and I'm just waiting for the screeching to start!

I don't mind having him in bed with us but not really sure on the safest way to do it. We do have a cushion thing similar to a sleepyhead - would that be ok? I know from experience of co-sleeping with DS1 that I didn't get a huge amount of sleep then either because I was so aware of him next to me. I need to do something though before this kills me! At least in a few months when he's awake just a couple of times a night I'll be able to look back on this and it won't seem so bad.

Merry Christmas by the way

[QuilliamCakespeare]

I'm so crap at handing him over during the day and taking myself off for a nap because I feel so guilty about not spending time with my toddler. I'm just going to have to get on with it though aren't I? DS1 was combi fed due to a combination of issues so this is new territory for us. I'm so pleased he's feeding though, it's definitely worth the exhaustion.

[DimsieMaitland]

Don't look at the clock. Cover them all. Don't time anything. It messes your head up.

This too will pass. It is hellish but it lasts for a very short time.

And huge congratulations!

[ClarissaDarling]

quilliam are you on facebook? Join 'can I Breastfeed in it- Breastfeeding support group- they've been invaluable to us!

[QuilliamCakespeare]

That's a really good tip about the clocks. I did panic a bit when I realised he'd been feeding pretty much non stop for most of the last 7 hours! He slept for 6 hours (with a couple of short stirrings) and has been tanking it again today. I'm naively hoping that means he might settle down a little earlier tonight.

I'm on Facebook so have just joined the local support group and will find that one too.

Thanks all - it's good to know this is normal.