5 month old (excl. bf) cluster feeding

[jingleallnewjinglebells]

DS is 23 weeks and has started to cluster feed - all day and all night, he wants to feed most of the time.

He always did feed very often - every 2 hours or more, but the last couple of weeks it has become more and more frequent. For the first time ever, my nipples are starting to hurt. I'm really worried that he's too hungry and that I'm being cruel by not giving him something else. Haven't had him weighed in the last few weeks so not sure if he's still putting on weight.

Any advice?

it's probably a growth spurt jingle

It will pass but this is the real killer of growth spurts, I remember it with DD - two weeks of utter hell

hi jingle, no advice but sympathy, dd is 22 weeks and didnt put on any weight this week but is eating like a horse day and night. i hope that she puts on weight this week or i will feel i should start to give her solids when i was holdin g out for 26 weeks.

Sounds like the biggest growth spurt, DD's lasted about 2 weeks too I think. Don't worry about weight, it's common for it to level off a bit at this age. It will pass

oh hi wmmc, missed you there Not much improvement as yet, her little tummy's still gurgling away and she's so whingy and clingy! I'm popping her to the docs in the morning to get checked just in case I'm missing something. I'm so touched out today, she's been bfing constantly or messing with me - she's on my knee right now! Thanks for asking

Hi there, we had the same thing. I thought it was because dd was poorly that she kept waking all evening for more boob. Then after a week I decided to listen to my HV and give a formula top-up following the bedtime BF (= both breasts several times). Well, she chugged down all 120 ml! And was hungry again when she got her usual 11pm bottle. Now I give a top-up every evening and am waiting to start solids at 6 months.

oh yes it can be diffiuclt but just try to go with it - it won't last.

you can try offering milk as the last result - so really try to entertain, have fun (still hard work) and if that won't work feed him.

Thanks all
I've been considering offering a ff top-up just to get me through the next few weeks before 6 months, but every evening I chicken out. Might try it tonight

I had a month of cluster feeding at this s atge- I gave in and gave some solids only fruit/veg and it did help. DD could sit up on her own and seemed keen for food. I prefered to give her solids than formula, she never did have a drop of formula though. Bizarely (give my and most peoples opinion of HVs) HV advised solids over formula.