Newborn night feeding

[Yas0000]

Hi everyone, I am exclusively breastfeeding my baby boy who is 2 weeks old today. Last night and the night before I was up from 11pm to 4am pretty much back to back feeding and unable to settle him back to sleep in between. In the day he has been feeding every 1- 2 hours which is a bit more manageable but it’s making me think I’m doing somthing wrong! Needless to say I am dreading what this evening has in store!
Is this normal for a newborn? Does breastfeeding get easier? Any advice or words of encouragement would be appreciated!

Sounds like your little one is cluster feeding. Unfortunately it's totally normal and is just him building your supply. I was told by everyone it would get better after about 6 weeks but I didn't notice much of an improvement until about 10 weeks with my DD and she still cluster feeds in the evenings a lot and when she's having a growth spurt now and she's 4 months now.

Totally normal, it's a growth spurt. Theres often one around 10 days, another at 4 weeks then they space out a bit. I remember being in tears the with my eldest, fearing that I'd never leave the sofa again. But it usually only lasts a couple of days. What's going on is the supply and demand aspect of breastfeeding. By wanting to nurse more frequently, its triggering your body to produce more milk.
Just go with it, plenty of drinks and snacks on hand for yourself and box sets to keep you sane. It will get easier

Completely normal. Just go with the baby’s lead and look after yourself in the process. Sleep when you can too, even if it’s during the day when the baby sleeps. Breastfeeding will be second nature to you in a few weeks if you stick with it!

Thanks all for your words of encouragement. It’s so tough in the early weeks isnt it! Nothing can prepare you but I’ll keep reading your words of support to get me through xxx

My little boy was like this. At this age they don’t know the difference between night and day and also need a lot or reassurance. I found taking him outside for a bit in the middle of the day helped him realise the difference.

It is so hard but you aware doing really well.

The first few weeks are the hardest but it all sounds totally normal and you are defiantly more than enough for your baby! Trust your body and baby they know exactly what they are doing. I found it all got a lot easier at about 3 months and I learnt to lie down and feed so that I could get sleep while baby feeds. My little one is 7 months now and although the still feeds through the night I feel like I'm getting full nights sleep. You're doing fab!❤️

Thanks for the words of support and encouragement everyone! Motherhood is such an amazing but scary journey and it’s great to get support from you all who have been there and know what I’m experiencing

Completely normal as PP's have said the baby is building up his milk supply. You're doing great! BF is absolutely exhausting particularly at first but you're doing an amazing job for your LO.
My DS was the same. After some weeks I started to notice a vague routine (not a particularly good routine just a vague one haha) but it does get easier and easier. My DS has just turned 6 months and I'm still BF. It's sooo much easier now! I don't know how I managed to power through the sleepless nights and being stuck to him 24/7 but I'm glad I did as I've got a healthy and strong boy here. Keep up the very exhausting but good work 🌺 it will get easier

Thanks for your support and advice! Still powering through with breastfeeding and the sleepless nights! Did your baby start to fall into a sleep routine naturally or do you have any advice? I’m feeding on demand at the moment so it’s hard to see how or if any pattern will emerge!

I'm feeding on demand too and have been from the start. Although now he's older I can delay him with food so there's far more flexibility. My DS fell into a sleep routine naturally. I think so anyway! I did dim lights from about 5-6ish, bath, book (if he wasn't screaming the house down by then) and milk. For a long while it didn't seem to make any difference to him but then I started noticing that every day he was getting tired at 7ish and started sleeping for longer stretches. He'd still wake up at night but just have boob and back to sleep. I think he was around 12 weeks by then although not sure as the early days have now all blended together

Forgot to add for many weeks I was feeding my LO from about 5 until 10pm pretty much non stop. Only breaks being toilet 😅 Every single day..😞 It's not like that anymore. It's loads easier. Just the early weeks that are rubbish

Your doing amazing - my baby is 12 days old and he's doing the same thing. I also ebf my son and I just used to time every 2 hours on my phone and the wake up just before him and try to feed him while a little sleepy. It's easier if you can occupy your self while feeding to take your mind of the tirmdess- just try to enjoy and except the feeding/ as with everything /
(It doesn't last forever). I enjoyed every moment when feeding my 1st son and when he was between 2/3months things started to get more into a routine and became so easy to feed. Keep going and try to stay positive x

Aww thanks so much your comments are so reassuring.i keep saying to my partner that I’m worries baby is using the boob as a way of comfort but a lot of people say that’s what n newborns do! I’ll try and enjoy it like you say and keep reminding myself it will get better
I’m going to consider pumping too so my other half can help out occasionally. X