Expiearienced feeders, tell me this is normal and give me the boost I need!

[CbeebiesIsAboutToPop]

So ds is 4 days old today. Despite being my 3rd baby it's the first breast feed child. I've been breast feeding for 2 days now (before that on formula (it's complicated I can go into detail, but it's not really relevant...I don't think!)

Last night he fed 11pm, midnight, 1am, 2am, 3am and 4am. Each time he's having 30 mins and seems very happy after the feed. I'm not worried about how much he's getting (I'm sure he's getting enough) or about his latch (it's a little sore but nipple looks right after feed and everyone who's looked has said it's fine.

He's just had another feed now and has fed for 3 mins. I'm on my knees with tiredness and also have 2 toddlers to look after. Dh is a great help though and will do nursery drop off/pick up and the food shop etc so I can sleep.

I just want to know if this cluster feeding is normal and to be expected. It just feels so relentless compared to formula feeding. I really want to breast feed this time and am determined to make it work, so please tell me it's normal and I will get through it and it does get better!

Normal. Eat cake, let the house go a bit, and focus on the long view if you can. Sounds like you are doing brilliantly.

It's normal in the early days to get your supply going. You do need to let baby suckle as much as they want although I know it's exhausting but it will get better. He will also do this during a growth spurt to increase your supply. Sounds like you're doing great so far, and it definitely will be worth it in the long run! I bf my first for a year and now up to 8 months with my second and it's been a breeze once we got past the first few weeks. Good luck!

Thanks I'm letting him go as long as he wants durin the day it's usually 15 ish minutes (I've been told I have to make him feed longer 40-60 mins but after 15 minutes he's done ) and over night was 30 minute feeds before he was done.

Last night was the first night of exclusive breast feeding it was so satisfying to see him come off with milk around his mouth. I couldn't help but think I did that!

Then suddenly because he was feeding so much I thought what if I'm not giving him enough. Even though I know I am! Just a crisis of confidence.
Thanks, I knew you would tell me it was normal

Sounds v normal. Let him feed for as often and as long as he wants. At night time feeding more boosts your supply more. But overall the more he feeds the better your supply will be and maybe it needs boosting more if he has had some formula. So it will pass in a few days just rest while you can, eat and drink and good luck.

Sounds like you are doing great I slathered Lansinoh on after every feed though in the early days, it really helped me to prevent sore nipples.

Who told you he has to feed for 40-60 minutes?

DS2 was like this in the first week. If you can, feed lying down so you can just swap the baby from one side to the other and doze during the actual feeding.

Yes there's no need to stick to certain length of feeds. When he comes off himself, try the other boob, but if he doesn't want it, that's fine too. :)

The more you feed, the more milk you make. It's not the case that if they feed all the time they're not getting any - it's just that their tummies are so tiny, and all he knows is you. It's as close as he can get to being back in the womb and it makes him feel safe. This is "BF Boot Camp" if you like, feeds will get shorter and more spaced out when he's bigger - some time around 6-12 weeks.

Yep normal there is a growth spurt around 5 days which will account for cluster feeding, though both mine cluster fed all evening for the first 2-3 weeks, basically if they cried, I shoved a breast in their face. It feels relentless at first, does settle down fairly quickly though. And ignore the 'you need to feed for 40 mins each time. Honestly, mine fed/feeds for 5-15 mins most feeds and have been fine!

I do feel for you though, at least mine had the decency to feed from 5-11pm and not through the night!

Aw bless you! Its so tough, these early days, but persevere. Call on the grannies and grandads to help with the little ones and ask friends to help. Eat plenty. Drink plenty. Do very little else for the next couple of weeks. Making milk and feeding DS is more important than dusting, ironing, hoovering etc.

It will get easier!

Thanks everyone, just had woke him up for a proper feed (not had one since 3 mins this morning)

Thank you for the reassurance about the length. The midwives have given conflicting advice, one suggesting if he wasn't feeding for 40-60 mins then I wouldn't get empty and end up with mastitis, but it's really hard to feed a baby who doesn't want it!

They've also said not to let him go more than 3 hours without a feed, but again he's happy (during the day) to go 3-4 hours between feeds but then in the evening has 2 hours between feeds and over night had 1 hour.

I think he's doing just fine but these midwives like to worry you!

Sounds like he has day and night the wrong way round, which is pretty typical! You can try feeding more frequently in the day (every time he stirs), keeping things bright and noisy in the day and quiet and dark at night, lots of skin to skin and keeping him close to the breast in the daytime. Hopefully you will soon be getting those 3-4 hour stretches at night.

The midwife's advice is outdated. You don't need to worry about getting empty. Just follow his cues! :)

Thanks Bertie, the midwife wasn't very supportive of me breast feeding anyway :( ('well you formula fed for the first 36 hours so it's likely to fail anyway' type thing)

Good to know I'm doing the right things. Hoping a nicer midwife comes to see us tomorrow! (All the others are nice, it's just this one that isn't, I moved surgeries to get away from her at the beginning of my pregnancy! )

Sounds very like both of my dcs in the early days (I fed them for 10 and 11 months): night time cluster feeding which gradually comes down to something thatallows you to sleep! Can you get to a supported position so that you can doze while feeding? I used to love that! Sounds like you are doing very well though. Have some and

Oh I had one like that too! Sympathies! At least you know to seek a second opinion about her advice :)

my 6week old ds3 started just like this. he cluster feeds like mad in the evenings then goes 21/2 - 3 hours at night; I play Sudoku on my phone . I get headaches if I don't drink enogh so plenty of fluids. you're doing great,

It all sounds familiar to me. Cluster feeding, check. So tired I want to drop, check. Dd is now 22 weeks and its a piece of piss to feed her apart from when she likes to look around while feeding and leave me exposed to the world she has rarely fed for longer than 15 mins and some feeds were more like 5 even in the early days. She was efficient from birth. Sounds like you're doing fab.

Just to reassure you on the ff for the first few days thing - my DTs were in NICU for the first 3 days and tube fed formula as I couldn't express enough. Both fully breastfed at 5 days and ebf after that until 10 months :)