Cluster feeding at 4am!

[BluePheasant]

DS is 10 weeks and lately has started not only cluster feeding all evening from about 7pm to 11pm but now he’s also started to cluster feed anytime from 3am onwards to 6am. He’ll often have a feed somewhere in between the two sessions of cluster feeding as well. I’m exhausted!

During the day I have him in the sling all morning as he won’t nap on his own so it’s the only way I can do anything as he’ll sleep in the sling for about 3 hours. Maybe this is making him feed more at night instead? Or is it normal? I’m really fed up atm

It's normal though it's hard I know! Mine's 10 months and EBF and has gone through so many 'phases' I've stopped checking and just started to go with them :)

Thank you @Skweeler, it’s so hard isn’t it at times!
DH is absolutely burnt out from working long hour so I can’t ask him to help with the night feeds and beside which, I’ve tried expressing to do bottles and so far DS is pretty piss poor at bottle feeding and ends up getting really upset with it

I’m sure it was probably similar with DD but maybe I’ve blocked the bad memories of sleep deprivation!

Aye you're not alone though it feels it sometimes 🙁
Have you tried different bottles and teats? Even ones of the same brand have different flows which may suit him better. Our HV recommend poundshop bottles and teats as she found they're more readily accepted!

Could you do side-lying feeding for the night cluster feed, and just close your eyes and doze during it?

You can try interrupting the long morning nap to get him to feed, but that may well not do anything about the clustering, sorry.

My little ween is 10 weeks and EBF too she also doesn't want to sleep much in the day!! Sometimes goes down for up to 1 hour at a time if lose swaddled and shown on a tour around the bedroom or post lying down feeds or if we're out in the pram. But will sit in baby bouncer amusing herself for 15 min slots in the day, learning how to kick the dangly clouds with her feet. Feeding maybe 4 time in the day. Clusters from 6-9 to sleep then small feed at 0030 and wakes up v grisly at 0430 . I nap if I am lying down with her as much as possible.
God speed you!

@Skweeler yes was wondering if worth trying a different bottle, Poundshop ones sound worth a go!

@QueenAravisofArchenland yeah I feed him lying down during this fussy early morning phase but he constantly latches on and off and can’t usually latch on without my help so I’m pretty much awake from 4am every night 😩

@thisradioactive your DD sounds similar to my DS although she sounds better at napping, I’m lucky to get 10mins atm. Suppose have to hope this phase changes soon...God I’m tired!

It will pass, it's so hard isn't it. I was told your milk is a better quality at night.. so try and remember that.

For daytime naps try walking in the pram, in the car too, pushing in the pram in the house works too (You sit down and rock with your feet). I'm wondered if that big morning nap is making up for the night. Have a little experiment and see if shorter ones work better.

Make sure you look after yourself during this bit too.. eat well to make good milk and rest x