Newborn feeding conatantly throughout night

[raininginbaltimore]

DD is 5 days old. I wasn't going to bf her past day one, but she was pretty good at it and it felt good so I thought I would continue.

I expected long constant feeds before milk came in. I expected cluster feeding (my ds used to cluster feed in evenings until 11pm)

However she feeds constantly from 11pm to past 3am. Is this to build my supply? Is it likely to go on for a while (ie weeks?) I have a nearly 3 yr old ds who doesn't nap so can't catch up on sleep on day.

I really want to feed her, but need to realistic if this is going to go on for weeks and weeks, I just won't be able to sustain it.

sounds like evening cluster feeding, although not at the best time of day for you. It will settle down but no one can tell you when as each baby is different.

You can either go with it take baby to and see if you can safely Co-sleep until it stops. Or try to get baby to start cluster feeding a little earlier in the evening by offering the breast as often a possible a earlier in the evening, you mite be able to gradually shift the timings.

But it is generally easier to go with it.

Hi raining we're on the BFing middle of the night thread together.

Some of the constant feeding is to build your supply yes, and it will quickly settle, until approx 6 weeks when it may seem like you are just a feeding machine again due to growth spurts.

It DOES get better and easier, but every baby is different. If your nipples are sire, get some Lansinoh cream - it is the absolute best. I used it for maybe 8-10 weeks and then miraculously, nipples just stopped being sore and are now fine.

I know these time scales all seem really long from where you are now, but time marches on so fast, and you'll be where I am now, with a healthy robust 15wo baby, in no time at all

Remember the old MN adage of "this too shall pass"

Importantly, make sure you are eating and drinking enough too

sire SORE

I think for many reasons it is going to be end for us. I love feeding her, but I can't sustain that for up to six weeks. I have a 2y.o, so can't nap.

I have mh issues, which is why I never thought I would feed her at all, so I suppose I should be proud of 5 days.

Really, really sad though.

raining, this can be normal....and there is no pattern at just 5 days old so tomorrow may be very different :) It's unlikely to go on for 'weeks and weeks' - constant/virtually constant feeding is typical of the early days, when, as you say, the baby is 'telling' the body to go into production big time, and when the baby is still very much a newbie at 'life on the outside' (5 days ago she was inside you, and recreating that closeness and contact is reassuring for her).

There is no need to feel you are in the 'last chance saloon'....if you want to bf, and you sound very much that you do, getting support and help with all the other stuff (inc caring for your toddler), will sustain you over this demanding time.

Babylon, constant feeding between 11pm and 3 am lasting for 6 weeks night after night would be very unusual indeed.

raining I remember your other threads.

For us over here, the constant feeding was only for a few days at a time and then it quickly settled down.

It really won't be forever.

Well, the lack of sleep started to trigger some early symptoms. So I have had to leave bf and switch to bottle so I can take my medication.

It is ok. She got 4 days more than I thought she would. I had a little cry and have moved on.

Thank for your advice.

Hope all goes well, raining.