Mega cluster feeding 9 day old newborn, need handhold

[dippypanda]

I've currently been on a mammoth cluster feed all morning since about 6am, and I'm exhausted.

My Dc2 is 9 days old, I was unable to bf my Dc1 so I'm really pleased that I'm able to this time round. But I will admit today has been a struggle, it's been constant since early morning, it doesn't help that he's constantly pooping as well , I think we've had 7 dirty nappies this morning as well. Is this normal? Seems when I've had a read about there is mixed opinion.

I have formula in the house and I'm so tempted but at the same time I don't want to and just want to ride it out.

Would love to hear any words of wisdom to get through this!!

All sounds very normal! Sending you hang on in there! I almost gave up feeding at 6 weeks.. but we’ve made it to 12 & things got much easier. It is so hard at first.. just put your feed up, good box set & enjoy the snuggles if you can. Do you have other children? Xx

Sorry just read you have another child sorry 🙈! Get any help you can roped in too xx

7 poos sounds good!! What colour are they? Has baby had a weigh? If so (they should re weigh day 3/4) then Hopefully, baby should have passed the level of maximum weight loss and be well in to gaining again - is he getting back towards birth weight? If so, GOOD! If not, get MW.

If all above is good, suggests milk intake is all :-))

In which case, may be a case of hanging in and coping, it is so hard with a number 1 as well. Gettung advice on attachment so they are latching effectively as poss is good. Are you up to getting out.. I know it's way early but depends how birth was. I coped with the no1/2 situation by getting friends round who had a child age of no1 so they can play together and no1 not trying to leap on us or feel jealous. Also a bit later, started to go to regular stay and play session so no1 is kept busy by the play organisers and I could sit in corner with no2 feeding.

I totally appreciate not all of that may work for you! The strategy of getting other people to take no1 out didn't work for me cos she was so jealous and thought was being rejected and her behaviour went mental. So I had to do things where I could juggle them both. Adding other children her friends into the mix helped. Good luck!!! Congrats!!!

If baby is pooing that copiously, it suggests plenty of milk is going in :) so clearly he is on a growth spurt and needs it!

It's tough i know but if you can settle in and ride it out I would. Can you have a lie down and feed on your side in bed for a bit? Or do you have a sling and with a bit of jiggling might be able to feed hands free in it? Can really help with older child around.

Thanks everyone, glad the amount of dirty nappies sounds about right, they are a bright yellow colour and fairly watery so was a little concerned whether it was diarrhoea... I have my midwife and bf counsellor coming round tomorrow morning for the next set of weekly checks. Dc2 had lost 6% of his birth weight by day 5 so will see how he weighs in tomorrow.

My Dc1 is with her grandma today as she had a sleepover last night which was a blessing. She's nearly 7 so old enough to help out a little bit also is able to understand a bit better why I can't be my usual self etc.

We've just managed to get out the house for half an hour to get some fresh air and thankfully Dc2 settled a bit in the pram so it's given me a little respite

I ordered a sling the other day so just waiting for it to arrive as I think it'll really help around the house.

That sounds pretty normal for ebf baby poo - it's more liquid than formula poo and bright mustardy yellow in colour, basically resembles chicken korma. Remember, poo can only come out if milk has first gone in, so I'd treat that as a sign milk transfer is working pretty well.
Fresh air is always good and hopefully the sling will help, but if you need to just sit on your arse watching TV and feeding all day occasionally, such is life and everyone will survive.

Thanks for the reassurance Tiramisu of course, that makes sense! Getting out has helped, I feel like all I've done is sit on my arse for the past week and going a bit stir crazy looking at the same four walls day and night

I'm guessing the insatiable thirst I have is normal as well??

Yep. Consider how much more liquid than normal is coming out of you!

Just wanted to offer some reassurance. Dc3 cluster fed from about 7pm til around 1am every single night from day one to 6 weeks. I was young and underconfident with dc 1 and 2 and had started topping up with formula by then with them. With dc3 I trusted that it would get better and slowly but surely from around 6/7 weeks it has. She's nearly 12 weeks now and I have got my evenings back, I don't feel quite as much like a dairy cow and she is going down at about 8pm, sleeping for 5-6 hours before a night feed. So very glad I stuck with it this time although she kinda forced me to when I gave in and tried a bottle.. .She refused completely. You're doing great 😊

If it was just the evenings I think I could cope a little better, just today has been constant boob except for the half hour or so that we went out for a walk.

I have definitely felt like a dairy cow today. Plus I've been snappy, grumpy and teary with DH and Dc1 throughout the day which doesn't help.

Also he's really fussy when first latching on, and almost fights me but if I move him away then he's rooting about frantically and gets upset. I just can't seem to win

Aw it's so tough, you are doing great! I remember having one day of 12 hour cluster feeding and feeling so trapped. Fingers crossed it calms down soon.

When I say cluster feeding at that time I mean constantly, could not be put down for 6-7 hours literally. She also fed at least every hour during the day. I'm not writing this as a competition on who had/has it worse, I'm trying to convey how hard it was and how it has gradually got better and better. BUT, if you don't want to keep going you really don't have to. Dc1 and 2 were exclusively formula fed by 5 months, they are now very bright and (apart from a condition dc1 was born with) have never had more than a cold.

God cluster feeding is exhausting- sounds like you're getting through it though. Everything you describe sounds the same as my experience and we both survived

Hope you get to the end of it soon, good luck will help!

Sounds like a super growth spurt. Exhausting, mentally and physically, but over soon, honestly.

I've just got through that early phase, and I'd forgotten how mentally taxing it was. Do get to bed as early as you can, do eat a ton and drink even more, and know that it's normal enough. It's also fine to pass her to someone else for half an hour while you just get some space. Stand under the shower, go out, lie-down, play with your daughter, whatever you like (I wish I'd realised this the first time - the second time, it seemed much less awful to stop feeding for a minute).

Hope tomorrow's appointment gives you reassurance - sounds like you're doing a fine job.

Just be wary he's not using you as a dummy... happened to me, mw told me to be brutal with timing of feedings and not doing it hours on end

I hear ya! I know it's good for them etc but GOD it's boring!

Keep going ;)