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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Cluster feeding ..

12 replies

Newmum78 · 26/07/2013 21:28

I'm so confused about the whole cluster feeding.. My 3wk old dd is a cluster feeding and I don't know if I'm doing right by her.. Basically last nite she fed from 7pm to almost 1230 am. And then sleep to 230 And the woke at 5. I think! On and off all evening with v little sleep. I think she is that far past herself with sleep she can't get over.. W let her cry and once too much I'll feed her.. Could be ten mins. Could be half hour could be hour just taking wee breaks ! I thought all this would give her longer time in between sleeping.. In general she is poor at sleeping and can not settle herself.. I'm reading books that say routine of 3hr feeds and baby naps regularly and it's driving me to distraction that this not happening for her.. I feel o sorry for her that she can't get over to sleep. Any opinion on nhs cluster feeding and getting to sleep would be great. Last nite I fed relying down and fell asleep so she was in bed!,, and then at next feed I put her down for half hr she woke up and I just let her sleep on my chest... Dh was having a nite off as he was wrecked alo but he be back on job tonite! Is she too young to be able to go ver herself.. How long did your babies sleep for and how often during the day ???

OP posts:
Yespleasetotea · 27/07/2013 00:58

Hello
My DS fed pretty much randomly and never stuck to the three hours thing. He woke throughout the night for bf and did so for months! The only way I could cope was to cosleep as I would have been completely shattered! He seemed to have a growth spurt every few days or so.
When he was about three months he finally started to recognise day from night and would sleep in the evenings. The first three months were chaos for us really, though.
He could never settle himself, needed cuddles/dummy/boobs and still hates being alone so I stay with him as he drifts off.
Just wanted to let you know you are not alone. (:
By about six months he was finally in a "routine" of his choosing - waking at 8am, napping 10-12 then again at 3-4 then bed at 7.30/8.
Hope that helps.

wellieboots · 27/07/2013 01:47

Cluster feeding is very very normal at this age, my DD stopped evening cluster feeds at about 12-14 weeks I think. There is also a growth spurt around 3 wks I think.

3 week olds cannot settle themselves to sleep, don't worry about that, that's normal too. The regular routine for naps and stuff doesn't happen til later. Some say 6 weeks, others 12, which I think is more like it. For my DD it was more like 4 months!

At 3 weeks, mine was having to be woken to feed in daytime, then waking up about 5/6 in the late afternoon and feeding on and off until anywhere from 2.30 to 4am. Everything is chaotic for the first few weeks. Give yourself a break, have Brew and chocolate, sleep when you can, cosleep safely if you need/want to. Thinking of you Thanks

wellieboots · 27/07/2013 01:51

Sorry just noticed you said about giving her longer time in between sleeps, what did you mean about that? She will pretty much just want to feed, cuddle and sleep at 3 weeks. How much does she sleep during the day?

Original poster
Newmum78 · 27/07/2013 05:39

Thanks so much for advise.. She can vary and needs a lot of work to sleep during the day .. From six am she will sleep maybe four hours just on and off in total... She has big startle reflex and will waken herself up.. Tried swaddling but she always breaks free.. I'm no good at doing it!!! We av tried her on side which is better..to get any sleep last nite she slep on my chest.. I think she is full ofvwind also and we can't get it up.. My friend told me she tried dentinox drops. And someone else said a little cooled boiled water. I'm also wondering about her sleeping on her stomach although this is totally not allowed and think i would be terrified too .. But she fed last nite at 120 to 215 and now at five. So that not bad but she slept on me!!

OP posts:
wellieboots · 27/07/2013 05:51

You can get zipup or velcro swaddles if that would be easier for you. We found swaddling a lifesaver.

When are you trying to get her to sleep and how long is it taking? She may be getting overtired. How do you settle her to sleep?

wellieboots · 27/07/2013 05:53

Also she doesn't need cooled boiled water, your milk is all she needs. if you think its wind try dentinox or infacol or infant's friend.

tiktok · 27/07/2013 08:49

Books which tell you a baby needs a routine of 3 hrly feeds can be binned :)

You are being driven to distraction because your expectations are so very high :):) It'll help to lower your expectations, honestly.

She is so very little. She is learning about the world. 3 weeks ago she was inside you - she will take time to adjust and she needs your comfort and your closeness to help her along the way.

The unsettledness and the need for you is prob not being full of wind - it's just being a baby:)

AppleYumYum · 27/07/2013 09:11

Always listen to tiktok, she is wise! No one warned me about cluster feeding, everyone beforehand goes on about getting the latch right and you'll be fine. I was stuck on that couch from 6pm till 11pm or more with ds constantly feeding, it passed about 12 weeks. The reward was a slightly longer sleep afterwards as they are tanked up. As their tummies get bigger they will go longer between feeds. Plus they are clever little things, getting your milk supply established for you for the rest of breast feeding so follow their lead, recite this too shall pass Wink

Original poster
Newmum78 · 27/07/2013 09:25

I put her on her stomach to sleep and she has slept from six now ! We hav been watching her like a hawk and she is so comfortable! In morning she is alert so after her feed she would go in her bouncer and swing etc and then she normally take wee top up and then try her down once see her yawn and he sleep for about 45mins. And then feed and then but she can be aler

OP posts:
Original poster
Newmum78 · 27/07/2013 09:27

Sorry can be so alert. So hard t c cues for sleep again as he feeds so regularly. She awake now after her big sleep and in great form. I'll b trying stomach sleeping today ! And dentinox

OP posts:
tiktok · 27/07/2013 12:07

Glad you feel things are getting better, OP. Just a reminder: putting babies to sleep on their fronts is not advised, though for short periods when you are watching closely, as you are, it's fine.

KeepTheFaithBaby · 29/07/2013 08:35

This sounds just like my DD at that age. She is what I'd describe as 'needy' - possibly high needs - and we had just this. Cluster feeding for hours in the evening. Only happy when on the breast. I couldn't even stop for 5 minutes to change into my pjs and brush my teeth! I started expressing in the morning so that DH could do bath and bottle in the evening so I had half an hour to change!

I got advice from a breast feeding hotline - she said to take her somewhere quiet, no tv and just feed her. I have blackouts in the bedroom too so it's darker. I even find the light from my phone is too bright/stimulating but I have a kindle paperwhite which is ok (it's been very helpful!),

DD is now 15 weeks old and this has gradually improved over time. She still feeds a lot in the evening but can now wait while I get changed!

Getting her down at night - she has to be in a deep sleep. I keep reading 'Put baby down drowsy but awake so they learn to self-settle later'. No chance! If she's drowsy and goes down - bang! She's wide awake and feeds again. Instead I get her to settle on me, wait a while (used to be 30 mins now 15-30 mins) and put her down on a sheet that I've warmed on me as she's fed. Sleep in the day involves movement - car, sling, swinging chair. Seriously that chair was worth every penny! :)

Please don't worry about what the books say. DD hasn't read them either!

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