cluster feeding - night and day?

[wheelshavefallenoffthebus]

I have a 4 week old EBF dd who recently seems to be cluster feeding in the evenings but also during the day. I'm a bit worried that I am assuming she wants feeding when maybe it is something else she needs. She is putting on a good amount of weight and has plenty of wet/dirty nappies but we have gone from one side being enough sometimes to now wanting both sides constantly for 2-3 hours.

She seems to have problems dropping off to sleep at times possibly because I also have a toddler who is good at making a bit of noise so I am wondering if she is feeding to try and get to sleep? not sure if it makes a difference but we are both having treatment for thrush. I was used to evening cluster feeds with ds but can't remember a feeding pattern like this particularly. I am not sure if it is a growth spurt - I think we had one of those at 3 weeks ish.
any ideas/advice welcomed!

Hi there, I am a new mum to a 9 week baby, and trained midwife, and my baby was exactly the same! She fed almost constantly during the day and every evening feeding was pretty much constant. It is definitely normal and is your babies way of increasing your milk supply. If you are able, you just need to keep feeding baby on demand. It will settle down. Babies have growth spurts every 4 days, and also depending on babies weight does depend on how much food she needs, and therefore how much they will want to feed.

Thats great that she is gaining weight and having lots of wet nappies, you are clearly doing everything right!!
It must be pretty tough with a toddler to look after too. Breastfeeding is hard work so well done you!!!

Newborns can be quite clingy too, so she may be wanting to be close to you at the same time. It takes over 8 weeks for a baby to realise they are separate from their mums. Babies just love being close to their mums!!!

Hope that has helped a bit!! Hope you are getting some sleep!!

Emma

My DD is four weeks on Thursday and has been pretty much feeding constantly today and yesterday and not sleeping for such long periods. Today I'm a bit frustrated tbh but still trying to go with it. Typically this coincides with DH returning to work. She is also DC4...lots of juggling and attempting to multitask... No advice really - just a sympathetic solidarity message really...! MPD

Solidarity from me too! Sitting here in Starbucks for the second time today feeding hungry monkey who is 4 weeks old. We got round three shops since last coffee stop. Thank goodness ds1 is being looked after by a friend today otherwise we would have never left the house. Dreading dh going back to work full time next week - today is a mini taste of what is to come.

thanks everyone :)
it's reassuring to know I am not alone with the mammoth feeding sessions!

I'm encouraged that our babies all seem to be the same age. I'm hoping this is a quickly passing blip and not a permanent thing. My DD does seem to be quite windy - never brings anything solid up at all, but all struggles to burp - seems to swallow burps down, gets hiccups and then wriggles until it emerges as a fart or more at the other end. This seems to have really bothered her these past two days. The constant feeding I can kind of cope with but the not achieving a good, long, deep sleep really concerns me as it's a lack of sleep that might just kill me. Let's hope our hungry monkeys all calm down pretty soon...! MPD

Me too. After Starbucks visit Mark 2, we got round Boots before another hungry crying incident-stuck in London rush hour on way home- and dd has been feeding ever since. Regained possession of toddler ds1 and just sitting tight until bedtime bedlam commences...My mate who has two too calls it the six o clock scream ... Mine will be the seven o clock version ...

Ps have you tried taking fenugreek tablets? I swear they've helped my milk supply. I even got a mini spray from one boob the other day...a first for me. Got mine from an independent health food shop locally but holland and Barrett I reckon would be a good bet.

Fennel tea apparently helps to make milk less windy for baby too...no real evidence of that yet for me as dd seems very windy still but it cant do any harm I suppose

Hi solidarity from me too! Was about to post the same thing except ds2 is 5 weeks. He won't be our down and is constantly feeding too. Nightmare as I too have a toddler. Hoping one day soon to get more than an hours sleep in one go at night! Remember this too shall pass! I never thought I'd say this but thank god for cbeebies :)
Sending a very un mumsnet hug to you all x

How's everyone today? Feeling a bit down again about it all ... Been told dd has a bubble palate so latch isn't as efficient as it could be. Been advised to express every three hours. :( not entirely sure how I'll manage this alongside the constant feeding, looking after a toddler and lastly myself!

How are we all doing? I wonder how the rest of the week went for everyone...? MPD