Cluster.
Our second night in the hospital Nate wanted to be on the boob constantly. Then the same thing happened our first night at home. Then the same thing happened again last night between oh, say, midnight and six o’clock. He just didn’t want to sleep in the pack ‘n play, either. Eventually he fell asleep, upright on my chest, his sweaty little head curled under my chin. I dozed, but didn’t get to actually fall asleep until about 9:30 when Graham took a shift. Then I slept for an hour before Nate was ready to feed again.
Cluster feeding is something I never read about before the baby was born. In all of the conversations I had with more experienced moms while I was pregnant, it never came up. I knew there would be sleepless nights, but actually experiencing them? Nothing could have prepared me for the bittersweetness of being able to comfort Nate with my body while depriving myself of sleep.
In fact, new motherhood can pretty much be summed up this way…it’s ALL bittersweet. No other experience in this life is filled with such extremes of joy, frustration, fatigue and wonder.
I just feel like squeeing with wonder for you. First babies are something else. They bring so much love and wonder and happiness and exhaustion with them. I'm just so happy for the three of you. He's beautiful. JUST LIKE YOU.
What a beautiful little boy! Congrats.
Something to think about… cluster feeding could (possibly) be a sign of reflux. My baby boy used to cluster feed, and had a horrible case of reflux. (actually had 3 with varying degrees of reflux). Especially since it sounds like he likes being upright. Just a thought, but hope it's not
You've got it 100% right.
I learned w/ my girls that it's impossible to spoil a newborn. For their first 3 months, you do everything they need.
IMPOSSIBLE to spoil them. Feed him all he needs.
Once they're 3 years old, yeah. Don't spoil. I'm learning the hard way.
The first few days were like that with my newborn too. Then she started sleeping from about 11 pm – 2 am. Then 10 pm – 2 am. She usually goes about 5-6 hours a night now, and she's just over a month. She still cluster feeds from about 5 in the evening until she goes to sleep for the night. So it might get (somewhat) better for you quickly and without warning. I wish I could say I did something that made it click, but it was all her. Good luck getting some sleep! They're so much cuter when you're well-rested (or at least not so tired your head feels foggy).
At 2 days old, the feeding helps to bring in your milk.
Evenings are also when milk supply tends to be lowest, so the cluster feeding helps build milk supply. Could also signify a growth spurt.
Good luck. He’s lovely.
I took a breastfeeding class and the lactation specialist talked about how boys, in particular, love to hang out on the boob while not really eating much. It might be worth a call to the lac spec at your hospital to ask about this. I think the specialist said to break the seal of mouth to boob and then replace their mouth more entirely over the aeriola but i'm not really sure. That is unless he's REALLY eating all that time in which case…WOW. Just wow and take care and use lanolin.
Sigh. ALL the things you don't hear about! Everyone has to find their own way, because no two babies/experiences are the same…you sound like you are doing well, though, exhaustion and all!
Heh. There's a reason people do this more than once.
He fits you so naturally Amy, I'm so deliriously happy for you.
so so so.
The hardest thing about a newborn is getting to know them. Do they have reflux? Is it gas? Are their days and nights mixed up? How do they like to be held? How do they like to be burped? Are they merely an agent of satan sent to torture me?
All I can say is try new things if the same things don't start working soon. My son had reflux and gas. He hated sleeping on his back and tried to "eat" his pain away with lots of feedings. We used gas drops and he slept in his car seat for 4 months.
Try to take care of yourself the best you can (which is nigh unto impossible, but try hard all the same).
Nate is too cute! Cluster feeding sucks, but it usually dosen't last too long (of coarse it feels like it will never end when you're going through it). You are a great mommy, and fitting into the role beautifully.
I love these updates.