to ask for help with my cluster feeding baby...

[Denira]

I'm going slightly mad.

My baby is just over 8 weeks old. Is about 10lbs (was a small baby) and is cluster feeding at the moment.

He's okay in the morning, but it gets to about 12 noon and he gets hysterical. He cries and moans ALL AFTERNOON and won't settle unless he is sucking on my finger or feeding.

We've tried a dummy (a few actually). He won't take any of them. It has to be my boob or my finger.

He's too tiny to put in the sling and feed (I've tried. It was a disaster).

I don't mind him sucking on me but I can't have him doing it the whole time he's awake. He will literally scream if he hasn't got my finger or boob in his mouth.

Has anyone experienced this before? I'm going slowly insane...

I get the impression he's using it as pain relief as sometimes he carries on screaming when he's sucking then sucks really hard like he's trying to suck my finger off!

Mine did that. I could stop the sucking if I put him in the sling an walked outside fairly vigorously, or if we went out in the car.

Otherwise he liked to snuggle and feed. I let him get on with it. Didn’t last forever 🤷🏻‍♀️

Maybe you have low supply?

@SmileEachDay it's impossible to cater to though when you have more than one DC. How did you manage to get anything done? It's literally the whole time he's awake!

Whats he like in the sling in general? Cluster feeding is such hard work but it doesnt last forever and you're doing great.

Had to reply as I feel for you and remember how hard those early weeks are breastfeeding. Well done you for persevering this far, one of mine wouldnt take a dummy and would cluster feed all evening but then would sleep thru 10 - 6 which was better than the other one who didnt cluster feed and would wake every 2-3 hours during the night. I know which I preferred! i dont have much suggestions other than what you've tried i.e diff types of dummy - not the flat ones. However I can say that it does get better! Get through one day at a time & dont stress - mine are 13 & 15 know & time goes by so quick! Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. x

@RockinRobinTweets maybe? I have loads in the morning (literally squirts out if I lean on my boob wrong) but does seem less in the evening... but then he feeds at night in bed with me and I wake up with a huge pool of milk on the bed sheets so who knows!

@Huntawaymama he loves it but still fusses to suck on something and screams at me until I give him a finger...

Thanks everyone. It's bloody hard! I'm so tired...

It’s completely normal. Babies feed a lot in the beginning as they are upping your milk supply and generally have lots of growth spurts and developmental leaps. You are baby’s comfort and safe place. Breastfeeding is more than just milk. It is comfort, pain relief, helps if they are over whelmed, over tired.

Best thing you can do is stick him on the breast and just go with the flow. Make sure you set yourself up with drinks, snacks, phone and remote for the tv and enjoy the rest. Honestly it will pass and you will soon never get to sit down as you will be chasing after a hyperactive toddler .

I remember this being irritating with DD1 but as you say, downright impossible with DD2. I brought about a billion different kinds of dummy until she took one. It was a very specific style she liked with a sort of flat end. I would have lost my mind if I hadn’t found a dummy that worked. Go and buy all the different dummies you can find.

I’d stick him in the sling and go walk fast. Then he’d settle and/or fall asleep. Then I’d do stuff with him in sling.

How long will he scream for if you feed then put him in sling?

What sling have you got? A Moby wrap (or the free one you get in the baby box if you're in Scotland) is good for feeding in. Mine was 9.5lbs at birth and was fine feeding in the sling, there are YouTube tutorials for how to position, worth another go?

It definitely doesn't sound like you need to worry about low supply! Mine was always a bit lower in evenings, I think it's just because there's no chance for boobs to fill up with the constant feeding..Ime you're experience of cluster feeding is totally normal. It's hard. It does gradually get easier though, I think the best thing is what you're already doing - to accommodate the incessant feeding as much as you possibly can - not easy I know, esp with another child - and even guide your ds back to boob when he's sucking your finger. That way you'll establish a great supply and hopefully things will get a bit more spaced out soon enough. They also get more efficient at it so feeds grow shorter.

Sounds like you're doing great. Sorry I can't be more help

*your

I preserved with dummy. Had to hold it in gentle in mouth but after a week or so mine got sucking motion. Mine were incredibly sucky babies. I wouldn't have continued bf if dummy hadnt worked.

Had to be cherry shaped latex dummies - only ones he would take.

Totally normal, so long as you drink and eat lots your supply will catch up. If you are worried, check your latch.
Box sets or a good book. Parliament on TV if you need reminding that your world is saner than theirs.

Have you ruled out silent reflux OP? Cows milk allergy? Tongue tie?

Have you had your latch checked to insure good milk transfer?

Does any of this sound familiar??

www.reflux.org.au/information/common-characteristics-of-reflux/

Cluster feeding is normal, but it’s hellish.... your baby sounds like my DD though who had undiagnosed silent reflux... she used to cluster feedfor HOURS but was actually comfort sucking because there milk soothes the burning in her throat

OP are you satisfied that he is getting enough? Does he have frequent heavy wet nappies, no sunken fontanelle, gaining weight steadily and along his curve? I would think these are the most important things to check out to make sure he is not actually hungry, and that it is just comfort feeding.

People on websites will tell you everything is normal for breastfeeding but they forget that sometimes BF isn’t perfect and the answer isn’t always BF more. Yes cluster feeding can be normal but it’s supposed to be for a few days, not a permanent state. You don’t say how long this has been going on for, if it’s since birth, that is quite different to only a few days.

Either way, please check for weight gain and any signs of dehydration. If these are worrying, then I’d seek expert help from someone qualified. If these are all fine and it’s more behavioral than hunger, then you can tinker with distraction, soothers, etc.

Best wishes, it does sound exhausting. Ask for any help that you need.

Hi OP

Every baby is different but I found mine could go longer between feeds from about 12 weeks and gradally got better. It's hard!

Is his weight gain OK and plenty of wet and dirty nappies?

Is he showing any signs of distress? Arching back etc. As apparently they can confuse stomach pain for hunger at this age.

If there are any breastfeeding groups in your area it may be worth going along to double check your latch.

Also (I say this on every breastfeeding post, sorry!) it is worth going to a qualified tongue tie practitioner to check for tongue tie as constant feeding can be a symptom as they get too tired to have a full feed.

I asked 2 midwives to check for tongue tie with my second after my first daughter having it. They categorically told me she was 100pc fine. 8 weeks later and feeding every 2 hours including through the night, a sleep expert told me to double check with someone qualified. I did and she had a posterior tie which is difficult for non qualified people to spot. The midwives had had a quick look in her mouth but the qualified person did 7 tests only one was visual and the rest was rubbing parts of her mouth and analysing how she moved her tongue etc. I got it corrected and the change was dramatic, suddenly going a lot longer between feeds and taking so much more she started bringing some back up which she had never done before.

The lady that corrected it said 8 - 10 weeks is the most common age she sees people as before then there is over supply so they don't need to work as hard then the body matches what the baby takes and they end up hungry and frustrated. They do get enough but have to work harder at it so seem to constantly feed

Just something to think about

kellymom.com/hot-topics/frequent-nursing/

Just read your posts again, it really really sounds like silent reflux to me!!

Both my DC had it and needed 20mg and 15mg of omeprazole to achieve symptom control

If he is sucking really hard on your finger and crying, it sounds like he is actually hungry. As pp said, keep an eye on his nappy output. The solution would be to keep feeding him. I know it's easier said that done, keep practicing with a sling as it does make life easier.

This stage doesn't last forever. It feels like it does, but it does get better