Cluster feeding- please tell me it gets easier!

[barmybunting]

DD1 is 8 days only, ebf. For the last three nights, she has fed almost nonstop from 6pm-5am, and this morning carried on until about 8am. I know it is such early days, and she is going through a growth spurt most likely, but I am beside myself with tiredness and pain from her feeding constantly and DH is back at work, so I can't ask him to take her during the night very much at this stage. Part of me is so tempted to just walk away from bf in the hope it might be easier. Please tell me this is just a stage which lasts a few days?

Congratulations on your little one. BF does get easier, but support is always helpful. I am assuming that she is having a lot of wet and dirty nappies. It could be a growth spurt. It may be also worth checking the latch to make sure she latched properly. That does sound like an awfully long time. It may also be worth checking that she is the right temperature at night. I found mine wanted to be with me all night when they were cold. We ended up leaving the heat on through the night - minimal. it also helped to remember that she was connected to you for 9 months and at 8 days, life is a shock. this also takes time.

Do you have a breastfeeding group near you? it may be worth checking in with them to look at the latch and discuss any concerns you have and in general support. The early days, no matter how you are feeding, are the most stressful

Thanks for your reply. I did wonder about her latch today, so have had that checked by the midwife who has said it is fine. DD has just started off the cluster feeding for tonight it seems, bobbing on and off and sleeping every 15 mins or so. I am aware that she will cluster feed but hadn't cottoned on that it might be for over 12 hours a night hence my concern. She is having lots of wet and dirty nappies and has put on weight, so hopefully all is well.

I will see how tonight goes, and if need be phone the breastfeeding support worker tomorrow to ask for more help. Fingers crossed!

I meant to add, good point about the temperature actually, it has been pretty cold here the last few nights so maybe that has something to do with it. Thank you!

Oh bless you it's not easy when they cluster feed. Both of my boys cluster fed all night for the first couple of weeks, it very quickly got better after that. Do you have other kids? Could you sleep in the morning? Xx

Mine fed for a similar length of time by the way xx

DEFINITELY gets easier!

When you start breastfeeding everyone raves about it, I thought they were mad! I mean, I never considered not doing it but it wasn't until around 8-10 weeks I actually understood what women who loved it were on about.

The cluster feeding lasts a few weeks max I think but soon you'll be feeling sorry for formula feeders that have to carry heating/cooling stuff plus all the sterilising etc

You're doing a really great thing for your baby, it's pretty thankless but it really is the best thing. Well done

It gets easier

Another one here saying it gets much easier.

Congratulations on your baby

Thanks everyone, it is reassuring the hear it is a stage! She is our first baby, so we are a tad clueless! I am still struggling after her birth going a bit haywire, which isn't helping the tiredness and emotion I don't think.

Hoping tonight might be easier :).

Echo what peonies says! Deffo gets easier and my ds reduced his cluster feeding after 2 weeks. I didn't feel like I truly cracked bf until about ten weeks. Now I love it and am a little sad he will start solids soon!

Buy lanisoh ointment and apply by the bucket load after each feed, it is a miracle cure.

Lastly I appreciate your dp is back at work but try getting someone to help if possible. I found I had to feed while lying down/sleeping sometimes and my wonderful dh helped by watching my ds didn't de-latch or roll into danger. Sounds complicated but it made a huge difference to be able to get some (brief) sleep.

Thanks Zebra, I am hoping that if I hang on, it may get easier and not feel like such a fog so I actually carry on bf.

DH is being an absolute star, doing as much as he can to help, but he is in the military (hence no paternity leave) and for safety reasons, has to sleep as he on call to fly every day- thankfully he has some time off in 2 weeks, we just need to survive until then!

Heya barmy, congrats! Just wanted to second the temperature thing and also suggest a nice secure swaddle in a large muslin along with some white noise to see if that can buy you a break for a few hours. Hope you feel better soon..If you've general aches and pains after the birth don't hesitate to take paracetamol at night to ease things.

It does get easier. Can you take naps in the day? Even if you can just get an hour between feeds then it makes a huge difference. Try to take it as easy as you can, concentrate on feeding and resting yourself, and ask your dp to help as much as possible with cooking, bringing you drinks, etc. This stage will pass - and the cluster feeding might also shift to a less anti-social time of day. It sounds like you are doing really well.

Thanks everyone! We survived the night and has thankfully cluster fed from 6-midnight instead the last two nights which has been much easier. Safe until the next session

My 4 week old has been wanting to feed constantly for the past 5 hours and is not breaking off of his own accord at all. His latch is good and we are getting lots of dirty nappies.
Is this normal cluster feeding? It's driving me potty and resulting in sore breasts in to the bargain...