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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Solution for evening cluster feeding?

34 replies

killerkitty · 17/03/2009 13:20

Hello, I have a happy, healthy bf 2-week-old who sleeps really well (thank the gods). However she cluster feeds most evenings, sometimes for five hours. One night, out of desperation for my aching nipples I gave her a small bottle of SMA Gold I keep for emergency cover. This really helped fill her up and she fed less that evening. It made me think that by expressing 80-100ml of my milk in the morning when it's creamier, I could do the same trick. Which I did last night - and it worked. However, I'm worried that I may be storing up problems for myself in that my supply may reduce in evenings when she clearly needs it. On the other hand, part of the cause of cluster feeding in the evening is that my milk is thinner and therefore doesn't fill her up. Is my solution self-defeating?

Oh and another question - I am getting very painful let-down, especially at night when my boobs are engorged. Is there anything I can do to stop myself (inwardly) shrieking in agony? I know it will go eventually when my supply settles down, but it's absolutely f***g agony in the meantime. Any suggestions gratefully received...

OP posts:

breadandroses · 17/03/2009 13:28

telly, food.

You need to plan for this part of the day (eg, have bath earlier rather than think "Ooh, I'll have a bath once the baby's in bed").

2 weeks old is the time to be feeding your baby rather than expressing- the baby is a much better stimulator. If you allow her as much time at the breast as she needs, she'll be getting plenty.

Original poster

killerkitty · 17/03/2009 13:34

I should also add, she was born 10 pounds 4 ounces. So she's a big lass and takes a bit of feeding...

OP posts:

Lulumama · 17/03/2009 13:38

your milk is not thicker in the morning and thinner in the evening. that is just not true, the milk does not come out in set stages , although if you express and leave it to settle you will see it forms layers, but when it is flowing from teh breast it is more akin to a tap flowing, and the milk gradually coming through differently, same as a hot tap can start cold and then goes to warm and then hot

have a look at kellymom.com

any formula feeding at this stage and not emtying your breasts can affect supply

the best thing is that you feed and feed and feeed and feed

set yourself up on teh sofa, with snacks , drinks and the remote and feed

cluster feeding is normal, and it is part and parcel of feeding a newborn.

i think there is more prolactin at night too, so feeding more at night will help establish your supply

if you are having pain feeding, then it might be worth getting some real life help via the NCT or ABM or LLL , to make sure all is well with your position and latch

if your baby is weeing, pooing etc then she is getting enough, your milk is made for her!

purplemonkeydishwasher · 17/03/2009 13:39

KK - like breadandroses said you just need to plan for that part of the day. it's totally normal for babies to nurse that much, especially when they are so young.

giving formula this soon may lead to reduced supply and giving any bottle (even of EBM) can cause nipple confusion.

in the end you have to do what you feel is right for both you and your DD.

as for painful letdowns - is it definitely just the letdown that hurts?

Original poster

killerkitty · 17/03/2009 13:49

Yep, the let-down is excrutiating for 20 seconds then all is ok.

OP posts:

GinaFjord · 17/03/2009 13:55

I don't think cluster feeding needs a 'solution' it's a natural part of breastfeeding - just go with it.

breadandroses · 17/03/2009 13:56

GinaFjord, i love your name!

purplemonkeydishwasher · 17/03/2009 13:56

not much you can do about taht i'm afraid. my let downs always felt like someone was pinching my boob really really hard. you just get used to it, i guess.

BouncingTurtle · 17/03/2009 13:58

Killerkitty, I truly sympathasise, been through it myself, only solution is the telly remote, a stack of DVDs and a large packet of chocolate hobnobs. And get your DP on drink making duty

IT WILL PASS, I promise your dd is building up your supply. I'd be cautious about giving formula at this age, as it could decrease your supply - the more she feeds from you, the more she makes!

I would ring A BFC about the painful letdown just to check there is nothing wrong. You'll find them here on the right hand side of the page.

HTH and keep up the great work

BouncingTurtle · 17/03/2009 13:59

the more YOU make I mean

seeker · 17/03/2009 14:00

I KNOW this isn't going to sound helpful - but if you stick with it for another two or three weeks (you're half way there already!) it will change. This is how 2 week olds behave - she will be a completely different person in another fortnight! And you will have forgotten all about the painful let down - your breasts will be used to feeding and all will be so much easier. Just hang in there!

It's not true about thicker and thinner milk, by the way - it's an old husband's tale!

StarlightMcKenzie · 17/03/2009 14:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

GinaFjord · 17/03/2009 14:03

Aw thanks KK, it's new I'm just trying it out for size

Best of luck with the b/feeding, and as they others have said don't fight it and just go with it.

Original poster

killerkitty · 17/03/2009 14:13

OK, thanks guys. I'll ditch the pump then and just go with the flow. It's just the midwife said my milk was thicker in the morning, so I hoped I could give her more food by saving it for the evening. But like you say, it makes more sense that the fuller my breasts, the less fat, so during cluster-feeding she's getting more cream. Shouldn't mess with Mothernature, I guess.

I really enjoy breastfeeding my baby - even when cluster-feeding, but the let-down is making me a bit like Pavlov's dog. I'm beginning to associate b/f with pain. But like you say, I'll hang on in there and hopefully all will get better.

Thanks for your help.

OP posts:

Lulumama · 17/03/2009 14:21

your MW is wrong i reckon!

StarlightMcKenzie · 17/03/2009 14:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

tiktok · 17/03/2009 19:02

What a rubbish thing for a midwife to tell a new mother - dear me.

Cluster feeds are normal, and temporary , and they are nature's way of ensuring you stay on the sofa all evening resting, while other people care for you.

I am not joking - I do suspect they have this beneficial biological function for the mum

mcflumpy · 15/06/2009 23:13

Think our baby has just started cluster feeding (she's just a week old) she's been on the breast almost all day and I'm shattered. Can anyone advise how long cluster feeding is likely to last?

Thanks from a worn out new mum....

tiktok · 15/06/2009 23:31

mcflumpy - this is normal behaviour, not a problem to be changed, and should not be making you feed tired....just stay on the sofa, and have people looking after you and doing everything else.

It's a feature of the newborn period and commonly last the first few months (though it's not all day for that length of time).

Hope you have a nice day tomorrow.

booyhoo · 16/06/2009 15:51

macflumpy my ds did that at a week old, he fed pretty much the whole day, make the most of the chance to just sit. have someone else takeover the house and look after you.

posieparker · 16/06/2009 15:59

That tiny little baby has a sharp incline on the growth chart and will feed a lot, people who get a 3 hourly feeding nb that is bf are few and far between, and it's sheer luck. The only thing that you can do is eat well, drink well and sleep whenever you can. Oh and watch Judge Judy.... great 'crap' tv!!!

mcflumpy · 16/06/2009 17:52

Thanks, she seems OK during the day happy go for 3 hours at a time, it's the evening into late night/early morning that is the reason I am tired, I'll try to restructure my day so I get some sleep during the day in order to deal with the late nights. Just happy she's content to feed at the breast at all to be honest and that I have an enormously supportive husband.

HeadFairy · 16/06/2009 17:59

killerkitty - I did this with ds, thought I was awfully clever, and to be honest, ds was a brilliant sleeper from a really early age (but that might just be him). I always used to bf him and then top up with ebm as he struggled to get full feeds in the evenings, but I do think what I did contributed to my dwindling milk later on, because it's important to feed on your babies cues rather than according to our sleep patterns. Shattering as it is, it's a sad fact.

You have to get used to having your dinner cut up for you, or eating things that require one hand only (I lived on ravioli and pizza - ds often ended up with cheese on his head ) and then hope your dd gets enough during the early evening to let you go to bed at a reasonable time - ds always cluster fed from about 5pm until about 11pm.

Sarahp5616 · 26/10/2009 20:05

I need some comfort knowing that my 2wk old boys breastfeeding bhvr is common. I have abt cluster feeding & assume this is wots happening... Feeding isn't so bad daytime, but at the regular 11pm feed it takes me until at least 4am to settle him. He falls asleep during the feed, I stir him to make sure he's finished, but as soon as I put him down he cries & wants feeding again ! He gets frustrated, knaws his fists head buts the breast before settling for a short feed before the cycle starts again - is thus normal and it cluster feeding ?

Also he's an incredibly windy baby, he seems to strain / grunt & makes fists generally looking uncomfortable which I thought was strange being breastfed??

I hope I'm not alone. Any advice / words of wisdom?

1stMrsF · 26/10/2009 21:42

You just have to wait it out. I watched the whole of the eurovision song contest sitting on the sofa feeding - literally didn't move all night. It passes.

Milk isn't thicker in the morning but there is some new research (cited in New Scientist 2 weeks ago) that shows that breast milk at nighttime has chemicals that encourage sleep, whilst milk in the morning/daytime doesn't, so theres a good reason to feed your baby 'real time' rather than express or ff.

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