Help! DS2 is still cluster feeding, and now I am ill

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

DS2 has been cluster feeding in rhe evenings and over night for the last two weeks, and now he won't go to sleep unless it is on someone's lap, preferably me, and preferable whilst feeding. Think most of it is comfort suckling, but now I don't know how to stop it, and I am so run down I've caught a really nasty cold (hot and cold sweats, cough and sore throat, prickly skin and a bitch of a headache).

Firstly, what can I take aside from paracetamol?

And how do I break this comfort suckling cycle? He hasn't got Tongue tie abd us putting on weight fine, so I know it's not my supply.

Really really need sleep now, and am inters thinking about night stetting ahead of me with no chance of a decent sleep

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

In tears, not inters. And DH is not here as he has taken DS1 to my parents so he doesn't catch my cold, as he is still a bit fragile as he is recovering from Kawasaki's disease

Aaaargh, I want to sleeeeeeep!

[SpannerPants]

You can take ibuprofen as well as paraceyam

[SpannerPants]

Oops, that will teach me for multitasking! (feeding at the mo)

You can take ibuprofen as well as paracetamol.

As for comfort sucking, how old is your DS? My DS is a very sucky baby and I introduced a dummy when he was 3 weeks with some success, although now he is 12 weeks he has found his thumb which is a godsend!

Hope you feel better soon, could you take DS to bed with you and feed lying down so you could doze and get a bit more sleep?

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

I've tried A dummy but he wasn't having any of it, but will try again. He is 4 weeks. Was a bit worried about feeding lying down incase I go into too deep a sleep cos of cold, but will probably have to try it as I feel so sick sitting up.

Will go and search out more drugs if I can get DS to unlatch!

[WoTmania]

As far as medications are concerned [[
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/pdfs/Cough_and_Cold_Remedies_and_Breastfeeding_July_2009.pdf this]] might be of some use to you?

Cluster nursing still normal at this stage. Sorry :( In fact, the reason he's gaining so well and your supply is so good is probably down to the cluster nursing.
If you are on your own with DS2 in a double bed could you cosleep or try to sleep in the day while he snoozes in cot/moses basket.

Having a bad cold with a small baby is the most miserable thing ever.

[FeelMyWraith]

I have a bad cold/cough which has turned into a chest infection.

I also have a 5 week old with a bad cold (and a 4yo with the same cough/cold and an ear infection). Bleurgh.

I feel your pain.

DS feeds most of the day apart from naps in my arms or the sling and he cluster feeds with single-minded determination all evening. But we cosleep. And the cluster feeding means that he does sleep much better at night than during the day. I have the bed set up safely for cosleeping, Vicks decongestant on a rag tucked in the headboard (benefits us all), steam in the room wherever possible (kettle boiling, bowls of water etc).

Getting some sleep really will help you. I still feel like death on a stick, but I'm sleeping which means I'm getting through it tolerably.

And yes, alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen.

[FeelMyWraith]

We had ds weighed yesterday btw. He's gone from 6lbs 13oz to just over 11lbs in 4 weeks so the cluster feeding is v effective!

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

WoT I can't make the link work, am on phone though so that might be why.

DH came home on way to work to make me tea and get DS2 and various paraphanalia downstairs. When does the cluster feeding calm down? Even just enough for him to take a proper nap on the day so I can sleep get some housework done?

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

FeelMyWraith I will hopefully avoid DS1 getting the cold as he us out with th GPs all day, and so far DS2 seems cold free, so fingers crossed! It's definitely the lack of sleep that's killing me, and the fact that I hvent eaten yet because I've not had a chance to get up off the sofa!

Going to attempt to get him to sleep wothout te aid of a sling or car

[FeelMyWraith]

DD brought the cold home from school with her. They've all got it. Reception class is a germ pit.

DH leaves sandwiches, soup, smoothies, flapjack etc in easy reach each day. I wouldn't eat otherwise.

I do housework while ds is in the sling. Last time cluster feeding started to calm at 8 weeks.

I'm sick of one handed typing.

[WoTmania]

better?

Can you get DH to do you some sandwiches or somethin for you to have for lunch.
When does cluster feeding stop. Weeeell, how long is a piece of string? Hopefully not that much longer.

[BelinaTheZombieChicken]

DS gas finally gone to sleep after doing an enormous and explosive poo, so that might have been upsetting him as he'd been doing lots of squirming and grimacing, poor little mite! So I'm wolfing down a ready meal and going to bed. Thanks all!

[AppleyEverAfter]

My DD is 3 weeks and feeding loads in the evenings, usually about 9pm-1am. Won't settle in between feeds, sometimes only have two minutes before she starts rooting and crying again. I'm getting so tired but she sleeps for 3 or 4 hours a time after this then naps in the day so I am getting some rest. Seriously thinking about introducing a dummy, going to stick it out for another week and see. Getting conflicting advice about dummies though so I'm not sure, I may do some reading up on here before I decide! Although from what I can gather it's the baby who really makes the final decision!