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Night cluster feeding

Vicki3203Vicki3203
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
I've noticed that LO tends to cluster feed, about an hour between feedings starting around 5pm until her last night feeding around 10pm. during this time she also gets super fussy like I'm not making enough milk in that 1 hour.

Anyone else's baby have a similar routine?
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Re: Night cluster feeding

  • SPIJaimieSPIJaimie member
    Yes, LO eats a ton. MIL usually gives him a bottle right at 5. We give him usually 2 more (all 4 oz BM bottles) before he is out at 9:30. I'm not much help on the nursing-not making enough milk situation since I pump with oversupply so always have milk ready. I think your body will realize what is happening and start making more though.
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  • psthielpsthiel member
    I recently posted almost exactly this on the April 2013 board. DD is 1 month and she does the same thing at night. Based on what other people have said, it's pretty normal and doesn't necessarily mean she's still hungry. By the end of the day, babies can be overtired and are letting us know it! I just put DD to the breast for comfort or give her a finger to suck on and that calms her down.

    Edit: I should add that a lot of kids cluster at night to store up for the night.
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  • JTGochnourJTGochnour member

    I could have written your post myself!  Everyone I've talked to says it's totally normal, and will level out.  I've heard that weeks 6-8 are the worst for this.  We are in the middle of week 6 (a growth spurt week) and let me tell you, it's been quite a week!

     Hang in there!

     

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  • BCaldwell2013BCaldwell2013
    My LO does the same thing - she's 4 weeks and has had this same routine since we brought her home from the hospital. Some days are definitely worse than others. I too fear that I'm not making enough milk during that time (b/c my breasts don't feel full) but then I see milk flowing out of her mouth if she pulls away before swallowing so I know she's getting something. My problem is that given she does this every evening, she revs up my milk supply going into the overnight. Fortunately, she's a great sleeper and only wakes up once and sometimes sleeps through the night (she's a big girl so we don't have to worry about waking to feed) - I end up having to pump a lot of nights b/c I'm uncomfortably full. Obviously I'd rather not get up to pump if the LO is letting me get my rest plus I get nervous that murphy's law she'll wake right after I pump and then I won't have enough to satisfy her. Most importantly, I don't want the long break w/o nursing overnight to decrease my milk supply. Anyone else run into this issue? Should I pump overnight if she sleeps a long stretch even if I'm not that uncomfortable but just for sake of keeping up the supply? I have no reason to think my milk supply is low so maybe I'm being paranoid. 
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  • buffyverrban1buffyverrban1

    If she is getting fussy, have you tried feeding her more often? My daughter cluster fed from 6-9 every night. I basically fed her, held her for 20 minutes and put her back on the other side. (Are you 1 side feeding or 2 side feeding at a time?)

    If you are feeding both sides, try one at a time. That way baby gets more hind milk which keeps her fuller longer, and your other breast gets a break. 

    You probably don't have a problem making milk, babies just feed like crazy for a window every day. If you aren't keeping up yet, don't worry your body will figure out what she is looking for soon. The more you latch her and the longer you let her suck, the more milk your body will make. (And don't worry, cluster feeding doesn't last forever.)

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