@DoesHePlayTheFiddle
Breastfeeding goes like this.
Baby pops out. You put him/her to the breast. And leave him there. 24/7. For about two years.
Along the way, baby decides that s/he will or won't feed all the time, or all night, or whatever.
The way to do it is to let the baby decide. After the second birthday, you can negotiate.
This 'cluster-feeding' business is nonsense. Babies live to feed and feed to live. It's like breathing.
So, your baby is absolutely normal, and you, as most mothers today, have been misinformed.
The way to deal with exhaustion is to do nothing other than feed your baby. Stay in bed. Take sandwiches and a flask. Your own nutrition is very important. Lots of healthy snacks.
I shall sit back now and wait while all the misinformed mothers come on here and abuse me. Even so, I am right, so I can observe their outraged comments without taking offence.
Oh god, are you that poster who posted on that poor desperate mother’s post about how she was dying of unhappiness with all that shite about how her ‘ace’ baby knew all the survival rules and mum just needed to positive mental attitude her way out of her desperation and depression?
If not then apologies. If so then please know you make my eyes roll so hard I’m in danger of having an aneurysm, and I’ve never found anything less helpful or more aggravating than your posts (and I say that as someone who exclusively breastfeeds and is part of a breastfeeding peer support group).
OP - first of all, have a massive dose of sympathy and a pat on the back because it’s bloody hard and you’re doing a great job.
My baby definitely still went through phases of very intense feeding at that age, where he seemed surgically attached to my boob. It wasn’t constant, but there were periods of time where he fed and fed and fed.
It’s worth remembering that babies feed for lots of reasons including comfort / pain relief / hydration / connection with you etc. You can sometimes meet those needs in other ways (cuddles, distractions, walks, naps) - but sometimes, only the boob will do.
If your baby is gaining weight fine and has plenty of wet nappies you don’t need to worry that he’s not getting enough milk. If he’s fussy at the breast, however, there may be other issues. Getting the tongue tie checked will hopefully rule that in or out either way. It’s also worth considering your let down - is it fast? If so, hand expressing a little before your baby feeds can make it more manageable for them.
Finally, it is not true that your baby needs to be attached to your boob 24/7 regardless of what the psycho I’ve quoted says. I know many women who breastfeed and I don’t know a single one who believes that shite. If you need a break please have a break - give your baby expressed milk in a bottle, try a dummy, let your partner have a go etc. YOUR NEEDS MATTER. YOU MATTER. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you having a break when you need one 