Daniela Knaan
UX/UI Designer at - AdobeWhat is it?
Who of you does not know this: you just spent close to an hour feeding your newborn, no sitting position is comfortable anymore, you have to pee, and honestly some snack would also be nice- but as soon as you try to put your baby down it starts all over again.
All-day long nursing or multiple close together feedings are called cluster feeding and It occurs mostly in the evenings, during growth spurts and in times our baby doesn`t feel well.
On this Page
- Me and my First Baby
- Formula
- Is he getting enough milk?
- What is worth fighting for pays out in the end
- Tips for dealing with cluster feeding
Me and My First Baby
When I had my first baby, I wish there had been somebody there to tell me newborn cluster feeding was a real thing!
My first son would nurse the whole day long until he was three months old!
Luckily he had a good night` s sleep…
I would get up in the morning, start nursing- and don`t finish until 10 pm. From side to side, with 10 minutes in between at most!
Every time I tried to put him down for a nap he would cry to be hold or nursed again.
Formula?
For me it was clear from the beginning I did not want to give any kind of formula, neither was I interested in pacifiers. So I had to fight myself through…
So those first days were a horrible time of insecurity, fear, and helplessness. My nipples hurt so bad and my back and shoulders were tense.
Together with the hormonal changes and being new to motherhood, I was exhausted and tired.
I just wanted to know if he was getting enough milk…
My midwife told me to try and pump to check on my supply, but feeding my baby all day long, this was really nothing I could try.
And today I know that the amount of expressed milk does not really indicate the amount of milk a abay is gets through nursing!
Of course, I observed his wet diapers and stool, but I did not feel really certain about the whole thing until my first baby-well check up after two weeks …
The weight control showed he gained weight well over the expected!
What is worth fighting for pays off in the end…
Cluster feeding went on for me and my son for three whole months, but after that there finally started to be longer time outs.
The all-day-long nursing itself is not what made it most difficult for me, it was the insecurity and the not knowing if everything was all right.
And to all breastfeeding moms who feel the way I felt..
Don`t listen to everybody around… There will be a lot of people telling you your baby is not getting enough milk and in most cases, this simply is not true. Only a real small percentage of women, as studies show, have medical issues that make it impossible for them to breastfeed. So if you and your baby are good and you feel confident about what you are doing, just feed him as much as he needs and do not listen to others.
The first months of breastfeeding are really hard. Wound nipples, sour back, and neck are only a small part of what we go through.
Why does cluster feeding happen?
Your milk is a matter of demand and supply. In times your baby cluster feeds, he may just need a little more and it takes some time for your body to adjust. If you decide to give formula during this sensitive time, you may destroy the balance your body is trying to build up.
And if it is not a growth spurt, your baby may just need your closeness and warmth! In the evenings our baby is tired and overstimulated and he needs to clam down- which he knows only in your arms!
Tips for dealing with cluster feeding
- Get some of the housework done at night while the baby is sleeping so you won`t have to worry about those things the next day.. This way you won`t have to sit and nurse while you see one thousand things around that have to be done
- Try and get dinner ready or at least prepared to a certain stage by early afternoon, babies mostly get fussy in the evening
- Wear your baby at times he wants to be hold or nursed all the time, it helps both of you to calm and you even can go for a walk or get some things done around the house.
- skin to skin care may relax your baby and stimulate milk producing hormones
- babywearing has been shown to relieve tummy pain and fussiness in babies. You could go for a walk or simply wear your baby at home while getting things done
- don` t plan activities for times you expect cluster feeding.
It always makes things easier if we plan ahead and are prepared for certain situations. Most babies show a pattern for their feeding behavior. If we try and fit our routine to the baby`s routine and not the other way around it will make it a lot easier to cope with the whole situation and save us a lot of frustration.
Conclusion
Nursing might be the most natural thing on earth but that doesn`t make it easy. I was very surprised and I had not expected it would be that complicated and hard, but like most things that pay off in the end, we have to fight our way through to make it work..
Breastfeeding will be one of the most beautiful, special and bonding experiences you have with your child.
What about you, are you having a hard time with a cluster feeding baby? Share your story!
Further Reading
