Cluster feeding for over 5 hours... And other issues

[Pielette]

Is this normal?

My baby is 3 days old and my milk hasn't come in yet. He seems to have a pattern of cluster feeding rather than intervals, so for example today he fed for about two hours and then fell asleep for three hours. But this evening he started feeding at about 7pm and its now gone 1am and he's still at it.

I'm really trying to get this properly going this time because I was naive with my first and switched to ff. My nipples are extremely sore though and it's toe curling when he latches. I'm persevering because I know the latch is good, my midwives said it was and its just that I have very prominent nipples and he has a small mouth, and that it should improve.

I don't really know what I'm after other than a bit of support. When will it get better? Will it help when my milk comes in? I'm also concerned about how it will be when my DH goes back to work, at the moment it's fine because he's here to help with my toddler, but what about afterwards?

 

[danielle1984]

Your not alone! My son is 14 days old and did the same thing during his first week. When he was 5 days old he was 24 hours at my breasts!! The nurse came to my house and told me to give him a supplement of formula cuz he needed to sleep and so did I. It helped cuz he slept for 4 hours right after. Poor thing. It did help my milk supply! The more they are at the breasts the more it helps bring in your milk. It does get better apparently, thats what everyone tells me anyway lol.

 

[JenX]

It got a great deal better for me after the first week. Hopefully you'll get relief soon. I only have one baby, so can't help with the question about how to handle both. How do you keep your toddler occupied when you have to do other things normally? Maybe the same techniques would work?

 

[Pielette]

Thanks Danielle, it's nice to know that firstly it's not unheard of and secondly that I'm not alone! I just can't get my head around how he can fit so much in him

Thanks for your reply Jen, at least if I can get past the first week then it might improve. My little boy is good at entertaining himself for maybe 15-20 minutes if I need to get something done, but I can't see him being happy if I'm stuck feeding for hours on end!

 

[danielle1984]

I was thinking the same thing, aren't their stomach really small? But the nurse told me its digested easily and quickly. I finally started seeing a difference today just as I was about to give up and turn for FF. But he has been feeding for 10-15 minutes today every hour, which is better lol. Usually he would feed for almost two hours and would only sleep 1-2 hour during the day. Guess I'll keep BF! Hopefully it will get better for now on.

 

[Fortune Cooki]

Welcome to the world of breastfeeding. I would say I felt a little bit better after 4 weeks, but hey, guess what, I have a yeast infection on my nipples! No wonder I had so much pain... I'm still attempting to treat it, but my nipples do feel much better, but not 100%. My goal is to breastfeed until LO is 2yrs, so I am battling on! Seriously though, I couldn't imagine formula feeding. It seems waaaaay too inconvenient. Right now, I sit at my computer while I'm breastfeeding and I'm hands free! I get to surf around and watch Netflix and stuff. With a bottle I'd have to pay attention to her more, because, well, she chokes up too much, even with slow flow, and I'd have to hold the darn bottle. But yeah, the cluster feeding was INSANE at the 3 week and 4 week mark due to growth spurts. The first 2 weeks also felt like: waking every 2 hours to feed, feeding forever, diaper changes (and I cloth diaper, so it's more often). Just this continual rotation. Now she sleeps 5 hours at night, a nap in the late morning and a nap at noonish or afternoon.

Well, I only have one kid, so I don't have much advice for handling two youngsters, but I get more stuff done with babywearing. I breastfeed her while wearing her, so I can walk around and do laundry, dishes, vacuum, etc. That way I can just sleep when she sleeps! Here is a picture, so you get an idea:

 

[Pielette]

Thank you so much fortune cooki. That's the thing, I really don't want to switch to ff this time because I feel like we are getting somewhere and I don't want all of that to have been for nothing.

I think it's just my emotional state, I find it very tough to be on a feeding session of 7 hours on and off. Which is what it ended up being last night. Towards the end of it he would fuss for the boob and go on, then suck only a little and fall asleep. Then if I took him off, or he took himself off he'd wake up and cry for more! So I don't really understand that one. Is that just comfort sucking?

Thank you for that picture, I have a moby and love it so if I can get the hang of feeding him in it that would be fab

I think my milk is in now, I'm not overly engorged but my breasts feel fuller and I'm now leaking white stuff rather than clear or yellowish. Will that help matters? Just thinking the colostrum is tough to get out isn't it?

 

[xsadiex]

I know how you feel! My baby cluster feeds a lot. It's tough, but it will improve. Try and enjoy the lazing about on the sofa for now. It will all be worth it!!
Have you thought about making a nursing box for your toddler? Full of lots of bits and bobs to play with that you only get out when feeding? Also keeping toddler entertained with snacks too?
I know for the next month the tv might be on more than I like but I'm trying to look at the bigger picture as this really is an investment in their health.
Soon there will be much bigger gaps between feeds and you will be able to give your toddler more attention.

My nipples don't hurt any more now, latching really improved after the first week. I have found 'the womanly art of breastfeeding' book from lll really useful for latching advice xxx

 

[xsadiex]

P.s. I've had some marathon nursing sessions too, had 12 hours on and off the other day. It can ware you down but breathe deeply and try to relax!

 

[danielle1984]

I just spend the whole night breastfeeding lol and we have a wedding today. I had to make Formula bottles, I can't breastfeed during the whole thing! But then I have a whole week to just breastfeed. We still plan on giving him one bottle before night time.
Is it normal that my nipples are sore? I just hope he's not getting confuse with the bottle and my nipples lol

 

[Fortune Cooki]

In a few weeks, when your kiddo is used to latching on to the boob, it will also be really easy to breastfeed while lying down. I don't fall asleep in that position, but at least I get to rest my body and shut my eyes for a bit. I didn't really pay attention exactly to when my milk came in. I think I was still in the hospital at that point and super distracted. I have stupidly fast let downs and have sprayed LO in the face a few times. -____-

 

[Pielette]

Thank you for your advice ladies, I appreciate it

Things seem to be going well, I have very sore nipples but am gritting my teeth and persevering, hoping that in the next week or so it will at least ease off a bit. He's getting better at latching properly I think because my nipples did look very sore around the 'base' but they look better now.

A couple of questions though. I just wanted to check if I'm doing this right - so for instance I'll offer him the left breast and he'll have his main feed, usually about half an hour, then typically he'll fall asleep and pull off. I always then offer him the right breast and usually he'll take it but only for about 5/10 mins. Is that ok or should I be sticking to one breast per feed? I usually find that if I don't offer both breasts he won't be as satisfied. And then on the next feed I start with the right breast. Is that what I should be doing?

Another one - I have so much milk leaking out of me it's crazy! What do you ladies do at night? I'm sat here feeding LO right now and my pillow is soaked from the breast he's not on. Even though I have a muslin wrapped round it. But I can't bear to sleep in a bra, my nipples need the air. How do you stop everything getting soaked?

 

[Kellen]

It sounds like you are doing the correct thing by alternating which breast you offer first. Good job keeping going too! It does hurt at first, but as baby gets bigger and more efficient at feeding it gets easier.

Eventually your milk flow will even out as your body adjusts to the needs of your LO. I used to soak our sheets during the first two months or so. Now I don't really leak unless my LO sleeps through the night and I haven't fed her in 12-13 hours. I would just typically keep a blanket under me. You could try putting some lanolin on a breastpad and see how that works. But I remember how good the air felt. Also try expressing a little BM after a feed and painting it on to your nipples. It helps heal them quickly! Also, if your LO gets diaper rash BM is awesome at clearing it up... postpartum acne too if you get it... or scratches from your LO's fingernails. The uses for BM to heal are practically endless... but I digress.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

Sounds like everything is going as it should.

It will hurt for a while hun but not forever.

You can do it. xxx

 

[Pielette]

Thank you ladies I'm really pleased with how things are going now although I feel like every day I have a new question! My right breast seems to be feeling a bit better, the left is still very sore but it always was more sore than the other. He seems to be getting more efficient too, sometimes he'll only feed for 15 minutes and I'll be sat thinking really, is that it? And it will be for a couple of hours!

 

[danielle1984]

Thank you ladies I'm really pleased with how things are going now although I feel like every day I have a new question! My right breast seems to be feeling a bit better, the left is still very sore but it always was more sore than the other. He seems to be getting more efficient too, sometimes he'll only feed for 15 minutes and I'll be sat thinking really, is that it? And it will be for a couple of hours!

Lucky! Mine is almost 3weeks and still feed constantly.