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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Cluster feeding all day?

16 replies

FortunateHamster · 13/07/2010 22:04

Hi,

I have a one-week old whose cluster feeding is beginning to get to me a bit and I just want to check whether it's normal.

Today he's been feeding non-stop (never more than an hour between) since midday - it's now ten o'clock at night and he's still not happy. He feeds until he either unlatches or falls asleep but then starts rooting/eating his own hand etc until I feed him again.

I'm tired. I feel like I could cope with a five/six hour stretch of this but it's been all day today and I'm worried about how I'll deal with it if it continues. He's slept well the last couple of nights (I've had to wake him to feed), so I appreciate that at least he's only disturbing me in the day, but is it seriously normal to cluster feed all. day. long?

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 13/07/2010 22:08

He's only a week old They have very tiny stomachs and need them filled a lot. He'll also be stimulating for the amount of milk he needs to come in.

Know its stressful, but keep going. It gets easier.

Congrats

harverina · 13/07/2010 22:34

Hi, this is normal for alot of newborn babies so I wouldnt worry. Just keep going, make sure you re eating well, staying hydrated and that you have a comfy feeding position. Forget about the housework and anything else you have to do for now. Accept help from family and friends too.

tiktok · 13/07/2010 22:40

Not only normal, but wonderful - a great sign you, your baby and your body are working in harmony, to produce lots of lovely milk, to get to know each other and to build up trust and communication between you, and to show your baby the world's a good place with his mum who loves him in it

Keep him close so it's easy to pop him on as soon as he starts to twitch and tweak.

He's not 'disturbing' you. He's being a baby, and he is 'needing' you

Original poster
FortunateHamster · 13/07/2010 22:41

I know this sounds silly, but what do I do if he doesn't stop crying at all? This is the worst he's been since we've had him home and he hasn't slept apart from literally a minute or two here or there since lunchtime. He's been good previous nights as I said, but is showing no signs of calming down tonight.

Husband is saying call the hospital but I'm erring on 'this is normal' so far, even though it's rather hellish.

OP posts:
tiktok · 13/07/2010 22:43

Hamster - is he happy as long as he is on the breast?

SirBoobAlot · 13/07/2010 22:50

Is the midwife still visiting you?

tiktok · 13/07/2010 22:56

Hamster, hope you come back soon 'cos I'm off to bed

What I meant was, if your baby is upset and crying only as a result of being put down to sleep, and has got herself in a state, but will calm down if cuddled and fed, then the answer would be simply to keep her close to you, skin to skin, and feed her. Google biological nurturing for one lovely way to keep her calm.

Babies often dislike being put somewhere else to sleep - especially new babies, especially babies who a week ago were inside you

Original poster
FortunateHamster · 13/07/2010 23:26

Hi Tiktok, hope you've gone to bed but yes he's happy on the breast. I could take him to bed and have him skin-to-skin there but would be worried about falling asleep and am getting awfully tired. He's been quiet for sixty seconds or so now so am hoping the last feed may have done it.

OP posts:
tiktok · 14/07/2010 08:43

Hope you had a good night, Hamster. Devising ways to sleep safely will help you both. Your baby is fine and normal, from the sound of it

Original poster
FortunateHamster · 14/07/2010 14:11

He was fab in the night, slept until almost 4am, then woke again at 8am, then back down again until midday. I think I just need to mentally adjust to doing more for myself in the mornings, then giving myself over to him for the evenings.

OP posts:
tiktok · 14/07/2010 18:19

Hamster, the whole motherhood thing is a massive adjustment

Honestly, it really, really helps when you have no expectations of when and for how long the baby should sleep away from you - enjoy getting to know him and see this lovely closeness as a wonderful opportunity to get know each other (while someone else looks after you .

babyboyjoy · 15/07/2010 21:07

My DS did the same thing, I felt like all I did all day long was BF, it's hard and tiring for you but not unusual. I can only echo that it won't last forever. I'm so glad I persevered, right now you'll find it hard to believe but it will get SO EASY!!! in the not too distant future. Well done Honey, I hope you can keep it up.x.

catwhiskers10 · 16/07/2010 10:00

I think this is totally normal, my DD was exactly the same but only got up twice in 12 hours at night to feed.
She began to be able to go longer between feeds at around 10 weeks old but was still looking to suck for comfort a lot - especially if we went visiting- NOT convenient! She is now 19 weeks old and generally feeds about every 2-3 hours but sometimes it can still be every hour at times. Breast milk is digested faster than formula milk so they need to feed more often.

Morloth · 16/07/2010 10:08

If only crying when put down/taken off breast then try to keep him attached. DS2 was a complete limpet for ages. I use a hugabub if baby doesn't actually need to feed but wants to be snuggled, the best part is if DH is around you can get him to sling baby as well and you can have a rest/gin and tonic etc.

As tiktok says, he was inside of you a week ago, he has no concept of being a different person, if you are not there it freaks him out and nursing is a comfort as well as nutrition, is an excellent arrangement.

Could you have a look at co-sleeping? Someone will be along in a minute with the link on how to do it safely. It will make this sooooo much easier. I often wake up with baby attached and I am pretty sure I feed him while I am asleep without waking up at all.

The first few weeks are very intense but after them BFing really does become the easy option. Always on tap, always exactly the right temperature, always exactly what baby needs. Perfection.

Floois · 31/08/2010 19:13

I am having the same thing right now and reading this has made me feel better! thanks

MumNWLondon · 31/08/2010 20:57

As other have said its probably normal but important to check that the baby is gaining weight... and there are lots of wet and pooey nappies - is the midwife still visiting?

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