Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Constant evening feeding

13 replies

Amys136 · 13/05/2019 03:08

My 3 week old for the past 2 weeks has constantly wanted feeding of an evening/night.

I give her the boob from around 6 when she starts fussing till around 10 when she has about 50 mls from a bottle. Then she’ll start refusing anymore from her bottle but straight after start crying till I give her boob again. This goes on till about 1am when I manage to get her down.

Any advice on how I can get her to settle after her bottle and not want feeding all evening?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ballooningmum · 13/05/2019 03:32

This is really normal. Unfortunately it's exhausting, fortunately it passes!!

It's your baby cluster feeding to establish your milk supply. If you are topping up with formula it's going to be confusing your body which is currently trying to make enough milk for baby.

Aquamarine1029 · 13/05/2019 03:43

This is totally normal and your baby makes the rules. Just relax and go with it. It doesn't last forever. Thankfully.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 13/05/2019 03:43

Yup, totally normal, if you can stop the formula top ups it's better to help regulate your supply, Jxx

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old Babies & sleep Breast & bottle feeding Families

MaverickSnoopy · 13/05/2019 03:51

Yes i agree. This is where I went wrong. So long as baby is gaining weight then cut the formula for a few nights and see what happens.

Original poster

Amys136 · 13/05/2019 15:51

I should of said she has expressed BM most days rather than formula.

Today’s been my first day home alone with her and she’s fed literally 90% of the day. I think she’s potentially using me for comfort but every time I put her down she wakes up and cries to be fed then drifts off again while still latched. It’s exhausting

OP posts:

Boatsexer · 13/05/2019 15:58

Honestly it's normal. It's called cluster feeding. It does pass - take it easy on yourself. I fought it with my first. Went with the flow with my second and curled up in the sofa with drinks, snacks and box sets!

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/05/2019 16:06

It is exhausting, it is totally normal.

We used to mime the Russian roulette scene from Deerhunter at about 6pm when it started. It was a nightmare. Sorry.

yikesanotherbooboo · 13/05/2019 17:09

Just go with it would be my advice. You aren't doing anything wrong; it's normal. It is exhausting but it improves gradually. Rest when you can and make sure you have plenty to drink. If you can stop having to express I would as that is an extra drain on your tome and resources. I really feel for you, it's a shock to the system having no control over one's life.

spugzbunny · 13/05/2019 17:13

Totally normal. She's basically upping your milk supply ready for a growth spurt. She's also quite new to a scary world so hanging out on a boob is a nice comforting place for her.

spugzbunny · 13/05/2019 17:14

Oh and I should have said - it will pass so quickly. Within a week or so she'll start to calm down a bit.

SelfIdentifyingAsAnonymous · 13/05/2019 17:15

Totally normal. I used to think of it as making sure they’re nice and topped up full for the night so they’ll sleep a bit longer.

user1493413286 · 13/05/2019 17:19

Very normal; google cluster feeding. I thought that DD wasn’t getting enough from me but then someone told me about cluster feeding. I think it’s a way of increasing supply. My DD was having expressed breast milk at first as she was in hospital and she fed every 3 hours but at 3 weeks when she came home and had established direct breast feeding she would cluster feed. Babies go through stages of it but it won’t be forever. Try to go with the flow with it rather than fight it; make sure you’re comfortable with access to the tv and have someone to make dinner for you. I ate a lot of meals one handed over DDs head.

teaandbiscuitsforme · 13/05/2019 20:04

Try to drop the top up feed - even of EBM. She's cluster feeding to build and regulate your supply. Your body doesn't know that she's having that EBM so therefore possibly isn't making quite enough for her during other feeds, hence her having to be attached a lot. But it is perfectly normal for them to feed all the tine. She needs to cluster feed for whatever reason and that's what she needs to do. Best thing I did with my second was stop clock watching and timing feeds!

Also, it doesn't matter if she's using you 'for comfort'. She's 3 weeks old and your her mum so you're all she's got as far as she's concerned! She will want a lot of comfort. Read up on the forth trimester - explains why newborns don't generally like to be put down!

Try to just go with it as much as possible. Stock up on snacks, drinks, box sets etc and feed if that's what she wants. It will get easier soon!

Flip