04/05/2022
Fuss-feed-doze-fuss-feed-squirm-feed-cry-feed-doze-pee-fuss-change-cry-feed-poop-cry-change-feed-fuss-feed-doze…
*REPEAT*
Suddenly it seems like baby just can’t get enough milk and wants to feed multiple times an hour for several hours. What’s going on? Before you panic that baby isn’t getting enough milk, it may be cluster feeding.
Normal feeding intervals are every 2-4 hours for a newborn (every 2-3 during the day, 3-4 at night) which is usually expected to be somewhere between 8-12 feeds a day. Sometimes more!
Particularly if baby is cluster feeding.
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Cluster feeding is when a breastfed baby temporarily feeds more frequently usually because of a growth spurt but also may be related to developmental milestones. Marked by several short feeds over a few hours a day (not all day long), a cluster feeding stage typically lasts anywhere between 2-5 days. Cluster feeding babies can feed 3-6 times in one hour for 2-3 hours, popping on and off the breast to complain, dozing and waking easily needing to suckle again, latching for 5-20 minutes (and sometimes long- and you’ll wonder how it is possible to be constantly latched and fussy!). Common around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months but can happen any other time as well, cluster feeding is a baby’s natural way of increasing breastmilk supply. Sometimes young babies will go longer stretches of time with what seems like cluster feeding in the evening, often around dinner time, being more fussy and wanting to frequently suckle at the breast. This can go on for even a couple of months. Though not always a precursor to a long sleep period, these types of feeds often come just before a longer stretch of sleep.
***Note: if you're not sure what you're seeing is just cluster feeding and are concerned about your baby's milk intake, please see a lactation helper such as an IBCLC.***
Cluster feeding and fussy evening periods are not unique to breastfed babies, bottle-fed breastmilk fed babies and formula fed babies may also have these cycles. Before you worry about milk supply or the quality of your milk if you are breastfeeding, understand that this is very normal behavior and as long as your baby is growing on their own growth curve, has plenty of wet diapers (after 6 days old, expect 6-8+ wet diapers a day and no less than 4-5). There are several different theories as to why a regular fussy periods happen marked by brief feeds, dozing, restlessness, and crying, but whatever the cause, talk with your child’s health care provider to rule out any serious issues.
If a cluster feeding phase is related to a growth spurt and your baby is feeding more because they need more calories, milk supply usually increases in 3-5 days of increased demand and milk removal. Remember, the more your baby empties your breast, the more milk this tells your body to produce. If you are expressing milk for your baby and they cluster feed and increase their milk intake (practice paced feeding to ensure they are not being overfed) you will want to mimic their pattern of feeding intervals in your milk expression to increase your supply and milk output to match their needs.
Your baby’s fussy and cluster feeding periods are not a reflection on you, your milk, or your parenting. It’s a lot of work being a baby and growing and sometimes it is just hard and babies need to tell us about it, finding comfort in our arms and on our breasts. By responding to their need for comfort and milk, you are doing exactly what they need.
Tips for getting through those cluster feeding phases:
🤱 Offer the breast frequently.
🤱 Resist urge to offer a bottle or formula unless there are other indicators that it is necessary or it can lower your breastmilk supply.
🤱 Go for a walk, give baby a bath, change stimulation- a change of scenery can sometimes help.
🤱 Put baby in a carrier and babywear.
🤱 Try a swing or rocking chair.
🤱 Baby massage (I like coconut oil).
🤱 Remember this will not last forever but acknowledge it is really hard in the thick of it.
🤱 Minimize sensory input- dim the lights, swaddle baby, use a white or pink noise machine.
🤱 Try a prone breastfeeding position.
🤱 Take breaks- a few minutes in a safe space while you take a deep breath will be ok for baby or hand off to another trusted caregiver.
Keep in mind:
💙 This isn’t your fault and you aren't doing anything wrong that your baby needs to cluster feed.💙
💙 Your baby isn’t being difficult, needy, manipulative, lazy, etc.
💙 If all the signs of proper nutrition and hydration are present, this doesn’t mean your baby is not getting enough milk.
💙 Cluster feeding and fussy periods don’t last all day (colic may last all day and low supply can sometimes look like cluster feeding all day along with other signs that baby is not getting enough).
💙 Call your child’s health care provider if the crying escalates, the crying doesn’t stop and can’t be soothed, your child becomes listless, there is a fever, if there are any signs of dehydration, or if your baby seems to be in pain.
Cluster feeding and evening fussiness can be challenging. The timing rarely seems convenient with dinner and activities but your baby isn’t doing this to be inconvenient. They can’t help it and they just need you to help them get through it. Responding to your baby’s need for closeness, milk, and comfort during these times is crucial for their brain development and their attachment to you. Your comforting them builds trust and feeding responsively protects your milk supply and your relationship with your baby.
You’ve got this.
Keep calm and b**b on.
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