Cluster feeding is getting me down

Nickireg · Feb 6, 2011 1:45PM

Stan is two weeks old tomorrow. All he seems to be doing is feeding. My poor nipples. The health visitor and breastfeeding specialist said its normal and it will get easier. But when? It seems to be getting worse. Its gone from evening cluster feeding to all day! The midwife said I'm doing everything correctly as he is putting weight on.My husband is getting frustrated as I'm not getting any sleep in the day and he is worried I'm going to make myself ill. He said to get some formula to top up the feeds. But I have worked hard for two weeks and I don't want Stan to reject the breast.

Please help!

Babysteps · Jan 21, 2011 4:32AM

Hey Nicki

Well I'm a first timer too so I don't know how much advice I can offer, but I did want to sympathise. Lottie and I had problems establishing feeding too, and from not feeding at all and having to use a syringe to get something inside her to demand feeding for an hour at a time!

My nipples have taken the brunt of it and have been quite sore/cracked (it doesn't help that Lottie takes some time to decide to latch on each time). A couple of things that have helped me are Savoy cabbage leaves from the fridge in my bra for 15 minutes after a feed (really cooling, I know sounds bonkers). Also making sure I dry them after each feed, give them a bit of air then apply some Lansinoh. Hope this helps and you are not alone! I asked my Midwife about how long each feeding session should last only yesterday and she said that it's common for babies to have a growth spurt at 8-10 days so that is probably why Lottie is feeding for so long each time. Hopefully it will settle again soon. In the meantime grabo a nap as soon as the baby does hun, difficult I know when it's in the middle of the day but it really does make a difference. Hope I haven't come across as too preachy just wanted to help

Babysteps & Lottie xxx

OJMummy · Jan 21, 2011 5:27AM

hi, im a first timer too and oscar is 3 weeks tomorrow. he was going 3-4hrs between feeds, but the last couple of days its gone back to every 2-2.5hrs which is really tiring. about a week or so ago i decided to try expressing so hubby could do a feed and let me get some sleep between 10pm and 2am. we got the medela swing pump (not the cheapest, but i read it was the best) and are using tommee tippee closer to nature bottles. oscar has not had any trouble switching between the 2 - he will eat anything from anywhere i think! i also use a dummy to help settle him for his naps and he has taken to that well. I know all baby's are different and like you, i was worried about spending all that time establishing breastfeeding only for him to reject me and prefer the bottle, but our experience has been really positive and has helped me get some rest (i am still exhausted tho!). I have also given him some formula if I can express enough, and he took that fine and went back to breastmilk fine.

good luck

clareabella · Jan 22, 2011 4:21AM

I know how you feel ladies, it's my third time but it's still difficult in the first few weeks!

Imogen was feeding almost round the clock for the first few days and made me SOOOO sore. She's settled more now, apart from last night when she was only giving me about half an hour's rest between feeds so think she's on for a growth spurt.

I've bought some 'breast nurse' gel filled pads from boots that you put in the fridge and then place in your bra, has the same effect as the savoy cabbage but with the smell lol. they do help to soothe a little.

All I can say is that it does get easier as your nipples harden to it, and having lansinoh/kamillosan handy does help too, or expressing for the odd feed to give you a bit of a rest.

Nickireg · Jan 22, 2011 5:09AM

How early can you express? The breastfeeding lady said to wait until he's 4 weeks old so both my breasts and Stan have established breastfeeding. But my friend in oz was told to express straight away. How much do you express?

clareabella · Jan 22, 2011 8:38AM

I expressed at about six days hun. As long as baby is doing well at breastfeeding then you should be ok. If you leave it too long then baby might not take a bottle. It's finding the happy medium but for me expressing has helped my nipples start to repair themselves.

I've got around 3-4 oz off, but everyone is different.

gemgems13 · Jan 22, 2011 4:29PM

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurt.html

g/c from BIS. I found the above helpful. You're at a tough stage now, because you only just get over the 7-10 day one, then you're in the 2-3 weeks one. But it really does start to get easier after that. After 6 weeks everything became loads easier.

I never thought breastfeeding would be so hard, I thought it would just come naturally. But now it does! It's so easy. Just try to stick with it a while longer, and hopefully everything will settle down

Lisaj142 · Jan 23, 2011 2:34PM

Hey all

It's good to know tht the whole breast feeding thing doesn't come as easily to everyone as some of the health visitors seem to think it should!

Quick question for you and please don't think i'm being selfish but me and Charlie are getting on fairly well with feeding and I'd like to go out next Sunday for a while so I've been thinking about expressing. Only thing is I had so much trouble breastfeeding my first (he wouldn't latch on properly) that I'm worried if I let Charlie take from a bottle he'll prefer it and won't take properly from me anymore.

Am I just being paranoid? Should I leave it another few weeks before trying? It's just I could really do with a few hours out and about but won't do it if it's going to mess up our feeding.

What do you guys think?

Sorry to gatecrash your thread Nickireg but didn't want to start a new one when this topic s pretty closely related

xx :roll: :roll:

Nickireg · Jan 23, 2011 9:43PM

That's fine Lisaj142. I'd be interested to see what others think to your question as I want to express too but I don't want to do it too early.

clareabella · Jan 24, 2011 11:59AM

Hi Lisa142, how old is Charlie now?

Imogen is two weeks today and has already had expressed milk from a bottle three times mow and doesn't find it difficult going back to the breast. Sometimes if you leave it too long you have the other problem in them not wanting to take a bottle at all.

If you are worried would you not feed baby yourself when you're out and about? I've always fed my babies wherever I've been and have to say that, as long as you're covered up no one usually comments (I've never had comments or dirty looks yet and Immy is my third).

Babysteps · Jan 24, 2011 5:06PM

Hi ladies

Think I spoke too soon about a routine :0(

Lottie seems to be insatiable in the evenings, from 4pm today she hasn't settled at all and just wants to feed all the time. So far we have fed at 5pm, 6pm, 6.30pm, 7pm, 8pm and 9pm, 9,30pm and she is still hungry :0(((((

Wish me luck this could be a long night

Babysteps + Lottie

12 days today xx

Lisaj142 · Jan 25, 2011 6:49AM

Oh dear babysteps - things don't stay the same for 2 minutes with babies do they?!

Thx for your reply Mrs C - I have just been out and bought the TT Closer to nature bottles and I am going to try expressing some milk off and see how Charlie gets on. He will be 4 weeks old on Friday.

I am happy to feed him when I'm out (unless it' a restaurant or something) but I'm looking at popping out for the afternoon on my own and leaving hubbie with Charlie (does that sound bad when he is only 4 weeks?)

Thx for your advice anyways... I'll let you know how I get on!

Lisa

clareabella · Jan 25, 2011 7:10AM

Ah, i misunderstood

Now Lisa, that doesn't sound bad at all. we all need a bit of space. I expressed with my son when he was only two weeks old and left him with my mum for a few hours and he was fine.

Seems like Lottie is on for a growth spurt babysteps. hope you managed some sleep...

Nickireg · Feb 1, 2011 6:45AM

Well this cluster feeding seems to have improved. But my nipples are still sore, so the breastfeeding lady came round. She said that Stan wasn't opening his mouth wide enough, so he wasn't latching on properly. So now I need to work on latching on. I really want to get this breastfeeding right. I have started expressing to as I started 1 to 1 tuition yesterday for an hr a week. Husband told me, that he took the bottle well.

Babysteps · Feb 1, 2011 8:09AM

Well done Nicky, glad things are getting better for you hun. I really admire you getting out for your tuition too.

Lottie has settled a bit but is still cluster feeding at night from 6-10pm every hour. She sleeps for 3 hours after each feed, more or less which is OK. I invested in an electric breastpump today so have expressed about 20ml for a feed later on. Lottie is 3 weeks old today so am hoping to introduce the very occasional expressed feed from bottle or cup so that OH can have a go, and I can get some sleep!

Babysteps & Lottie

3 weeks old today xx

Nickireg · Feb 1, 2011 5:16PM

Thanks Babysteps.

Stan seems to fed more between 6 - 10pm too. Just starts when I am about to eat my tea!

Nickireg · Feb 5, 2011 1:54PM

He is cluster feeding AGAIN! I have spent since lunch feeding. Just when my nipples were beginning to get better, now are beginning to sting! I'm not even getting two minutes - not even time for a wee! He is crying if he's not feeding. I wouldn't mind so much but husband is enjoying himself at a football match at the mo, he been out since 1.30pm and won't be back till 9pm, while I am just losing my patience and could just cry!!!! :?

I don't know why I let these cluster feeds get to me, but I don't enjoy them one bit. I thought the next one was at 6 weeks not 4!

Babysteps · Feb 5, 2011 2:35PM

Ohh Nicky I'm sorry to hear you're having a rotten day. I know this sounds a bit daft, but can you carry him whilst he's feeding? I just about manage with Lottie sometimes. Or can you bear to let him cry for just a couple of minutes?

The reason I ask is try to treat yourself hun, go get a nice cuppa, or a hot chocolate (just think of all those calories he's using!) and turn the TV to something you enjoy. And text your OH to let him know he needs to bring home your favourite treat (as you can tell mine would be chocolate!!), a magazine and a hug!!!

Hold on in there hun I am sure it will be me tomorrow xx

Nickireg · Feb 5, 2011 3:20PM

He is still going 7 and a hours later. My poor nipples. I have tried walking around whilst feeding but he tends to slip and just suck on the tip of the nipple which makes it sore. I have left him to cry to cook my tea and make a brew. Poor Stan had half of my tea split down him though, as he was feeding while I was eating! Bless him.

I'm going to have some chocolate when husband comes home!

Thanks for support Babystepsuk.

Babysteps · Feb 5, 2011 3:48PM

Aww hun. Am sending you a big virtual hug.

Enjoy that chocolate you've earned it and well done for being a brilliant mummy xxx

Nickireg · Feb 5, 2011 4:43PM

Ah bless ya.

Well I've had a hug, a cry and pigged a Double Decker and 3 chocolate biscuits. My husband has taken Stan off me to settle him.

He said maybe we shall top Stan up with formula. But I feel such a failure. I really want to just breastfeed and use expressed milk.

Cluster feeding is getting me down

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