Cluster feeding is making me sick!

[Gamm]

My baby boy is 6 weeks old and he's started cluster feeding again after a week of regular feeds every 2 hours (it's like he teased me with them then regressed).

Suddenly, DS has started cluster feeding, but only really at night. He's on my boob constantly and whilst I know a bit is for comfort, I can feel and see that most of the time he's feeding. He must be really hungry!

Is this a common thing? Anyone any tips on how to stay sane? I'm so tired to the point that I feel sick!

This is very common and you just have to power through. I've been there! Make sure you are well hydrated and eating a nutritious diet. Sleep every chance you get when the baby is sleeping. You WILL get through this, I promise. Your precious baby is going through massive growth and development and you are giving him exactly what he needs. As you now know, the baby calls the shots! Don't fight it.

He's feeding now and my eyes are closing. Mn is keeping me awake. @Aquamarine1029 thank you. It's so tough. Nobody told me it'd be this hard!

has he ever had a bottle? If so and you think he would be okay with boob still, can you get hold of a pump and express him a bottle for the night?

Are you bed sharing? Read up on safe bed sharing/ co sleeping, get yourself set up for it, and sleep whilst feeding. Also if you are feeling exhausted feed lying down during the day as well.

It's so tough. Feed your lovely baby and at the same time think "every day will not be this day" (or night)
You are doing a great job!

Really really commen. There is a bit of a campaign currently to be a bit more honest about how hard breastfeeding can be especially during growth spurts.

Another vote for feeding lying down
It's a game changer

Can you express during the day and get your DP to give a bottle after you've gone to bed so you can get some extra sleep?

Six weeks is when your baby starts to put the order in for his milk supply.
Up until now, your body has been in charge of what milk you produce.
Now, it's up to him.
It should settle down in a week or two.

Second feeding lying down and safe cosleeping. I wouldn’t have coped without

Very common. Made me physically and mentally sick. Hated it. Wish I'd stopped to be honest!

I remember this and how tough it was at the time...although looking back now I actually have really fond memories of it. Sitting up during the night when everything was quiet and peaceful and watching stuff on my phone in the dark. So keep powering through, you are doing great and you will be on to the next phase before you know it.

And around 6 weeks is a bit of a turning point when feeding gets established so hopefully you will come out the other side soon.

No advice, just hugs from me! My little one is just over 3 weeks old, she had the most horrendous night on Sunday with cluster feeding but has since been better. I know she'll need to do it again at some point though!

Try and take as much encouragement as you can from your baby growing - it means the breastfeeding is working! You can do it xxx

When he is cluster feeding up your water intake and also porridge is good

Ah OP i had a cluster feeder till about 14 weeks!!
Co-sleeping saved my life! Id usually be able to move DD into her next2me cot during the night for a few hours but she'd still end up back in bed with me!
It wont last forever. You've got this mama!

Just to add,my DD took 14 weeka due to misdiagnosed feeding issues. It usually settles around 8 weeks.

Mine didn't go longer than 1.5 hours between feeds until she was about 4 or 5 months sorry! I fed asleep from 4 weeks.

He is just hitting a big growth spurt and there will definitely be a change after that. All that feeding he is doing is stimulating your milk to increase.

Do you have some help? Be kind to yourself and try to take at least one nap a day. Go to bed when he goes to bed just try and get sleep in where you can. Dont worry you will get evenings back to yourself at some point! This is just temporary measures to get you through.
If you are falling asleep while he is feeding (especially if you are in a chair or sofa) it is safer to remove all covers and pillows (wrap up cosy) and lie down beside him on a flat bed. If you are worried about it ask your OH to pop him back in bed for you.

Cosleeping is the way forward, you get sleep and he gets to feed as much as he wants. Trying to stay awake through all feeds will definitely make you exhausted!

Cluster feeding in the evenings is a very normal way for baby to work at getting your body to increase supply.

I second feeding lying down/ planned co-sleeping. Drink well (keep a bottle to hand if needed). Eat well. Your body is fuelling baby's growth so it needs its nutrition and rest.

Culturally, we've lost that understanding of how BFing works. Feeding to a formula culture (routines, set amounts) can work for some people, but just accepting the different mechanics and variablity of BFing helps to make it easier.

DS2 was a big fan of evening cluster feeding. Just a very hungry baby on a mission to catch up with his DB ASAP. It was demanding on me, but I was confident that my body gave him what he needed because he grew so much!

Lots of drinks, lots of snacks, and go easy on yourself during the day when you’ve had a hard night. Usually visits and help have dried up a bit by this point so make sure you ask for help if you need it!

I expressed so my husband could do a bottle in the evening but at peak cluster feeding this didn’t make a huge difference, worth trying though if you can.

Also just to say we got through it without co sleeping, I’m a very heavy sleeper so just didn’t feel comfortable doing it. Whatever you decide you will make it work.

You got this

It's normal
And it's hell
It will end at some point though

Yes, 6 weeks was my worst week for cluster feeding and I nearly threw in the towel! I remember it so well, my husband was waking up to me crying every morning because I'd been up all night and was exhausted! If it makes you feel better things got a lot better after that and another six weeks later my lo was walking 2-3 times a night for a feed which felt like heaven in comparison! Hang in there, you're about to turn a corner!

Hope you managed to get some sleep op. This is normal and you do just have to keep calm and carry on as much as you can . A good book helps!

I also found I would get more tired feeding in bed and therefore risked falling asleep which scared me so I got a nice comfy feeding chair in the nursery. I would sit with a dim light and my dressing gown to feed. I was comfortable but a bit more awake to feed.

15 months on I still have the chair in the nursery and it's used for doing bedtime milk and story. I worthwhile investment imo!

You have my full sympathy. I’m another who fed whilst dozing off, we slept together. Bed against a wall and him on the inside.

I got to a point where it really affected my mental health, I got really poorly because I couldn’t sleep ever. He fed all night and during the day we were at medical appointments for him 4/5 days.

It will pass, it’ll settle down. This is his way of increasing your supply and once it’s up to speed, baby will decrease the regularity of feeding.

Not something you mentioned but I had an issue with over supply and leaning back with a cushion at base of my spine really helped with that.

I hope it gets easier for you. If you’re starting to worry about your mh please see your dr- sleep deprivation is torture