cluster feeding between 5-9pm exhausting

[nearlymumofone]

My 2 week old is BF and feeds 3 hourly throughout the day each feed taking 20 mins on each breast. When it gets to the bedtime feed at 5/6 he won't settle at bedtime afterwards as he still appears hungry or he falls asleep wakes 30-45 mins later appearing to need a feed, will feed fully off a breast again, fall asleep and either settles back to sleep for a very short time before waking needing to be fed again or won't go back to sleep before having another full breast.

I'm not sure what is actually left in my breasts at this time- he's basically on them from 5-9pm and I am exhausted. I plan to start introducing formula anyway soon.

Anyone got any ideas on what to do? Thanks x

I feel your pain Nearly. DS2 still does this now at 8 weeks although not as constant as when he was 2/3 weeks, and my other two DC did it too. It eases off, I promise.

If you're introducing formula just because of this, wait it out because it does get better. But if you are going to anyway then do what suits you.

Hello. Sounds perfectly normal for a two well old, lots and lots of babies do this and lots of mothers feel they have less milk at this time of day. But your breasts are never empty, someone told me they are like rivers not ponds so the flow can increase and decrease but there's always some there. Continuing to feed on demand will make sure your supply responds to your baby.

My son did the same and I found it really tough. What kept me going in the end was just embracing it- I figured I'd spend each evening tied to the couch feeding so I started watching some box sets and got DH to bring me dinner etc. It was easier once I relaxed and stopped expecting him to go to sleep.