https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 13 May 2026 09:45:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822430 Mon, 14 May 2018 18:36:12 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2822430@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice just hugs! I pumped them weaned for two of my babies, mostly for my last baby. I don't know if that's an option and it was def a PITA. But it was more straightforward. I also found that weaning can be a trigger for anxiety (but so is bring for me... just worse when weaning.) So just know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822337 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:50:15 +0000 JJ2626 2822337@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was in a similar boat about a month ago. I followed sweetiepie’s advice and switched entirely to pumping right away and then weaned from there. It was easier to keep track and mentally made sense for me to have a clean break. I’m done now (I think) about 4 weeks later. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822336 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:46:25 +0000 SweetiePie 2822336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there any way you could stop BF entirely and instead get on a solid pumping schedule? It sounds like he already takes bottles. That way you could continue to give bottles of pumped milk and supplement with formula, and with a more exact pumping schedule it could be easier to wean from that and drop sessions. And then it’s a nice slow transition from BM to formula as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822335 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:45:46 +0000 Madison43 2822335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@natalie403: can you just switch your baby to 100% bottle feeds now (sounds like he’s ok with bottles) and then wean your body using scheduled pumps? That way he’s getting to cluster feed as much as he wants (just with a bottle) and you can take the guess work out of winding things down for yourself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822332 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:35:34 +0000 MaryM 2822332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have access to a good lactation consultant?</p> <p>BFing didn't work out for us, but I got some great advice from the LC at my pediatrician's office to help when I decided I needed to wean from the pump for mental health reasons (also around 6/7 weeks). </p> <p>It hasn't been quick because I'm prone to clogs too. But mentally, things have gotten better as I've been less tied to the pump (I'm down to 2 pumps a day at 12 weeks post partum) </p> <p>If you can find a professional to help, I highly recommend it! But only stick with them if they're supportive. I called my SIL's LC when I wasn't able to reach mine and even though I mentioned weaning from the pump, she was pretty pushy at wanting to help me try to get the baby to latch again (which I wasn't interested in). </p> <p>Fed is best! And for me, it all came down to me knowing that my baby needs my love and cuddles and a happy mama a lot more than he needs my milk! </p> <p>Good luck ♥ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-help-during-cluster-feeding#post-2822330 Mon, 14 May 2018 10:22:26 +0000 natalie403 2822330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi ladies,<br /> I have anxiety even typing this out asking for advice :bummed: I have an almost 7 week old. I am looking to start weaning and feel so dumb trying to figure it out. With my first son I exclusively pumped so it was more straight forward when I weaned. I understand I should start by dropping a feed. My concern is his schedule is not so predictable... he eats usually 2-3 hour intervals but has been cluster feeding like crazy (I’ve been attempting to wean the last week) so I can’t figure out what “feed” I’m dropping.. I give a bottle in what I believe is in place of a feed but I can’t tell if it’s making a difference or which feeds to try to drop first? I’m still on maternity leave which helps. The only time I had been pumping was during 2 night feeds when my husband would give pumped bottles to give me a break from nursing. I have cut back on the length of those and only pump during 1 of them now and am trying to space out feeds in general for as long as I can (will top him off with bottle instead) and will pump for comfort when I get engorged (I’m prone to clogged ducts). </p> <p>I totally feel like I’m winging it and it’s making my anxiety so much worse because I don’t know if I’m making progress and then I’m getting more anxious about stopping altogether when I know it’s the best choice for my mental health. I know he will be fine on formula ultimately. He had in in the NICU and he takes bottles fine. My first son is fine and transitioned to formula at around 3.5 month. I hate that I’m second guessing all my decisions. I’m emotional just writing this. </p> <p>I guess I just need some advice and support mamas. I think I’m in the middle of some PPA (history repeating itself. Sigh.) and just need some reassurance. Thanks so much in advance :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1031062 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:42:49 +0000 Freckles 1031062@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How old is he again? It could be a growth spurt.</p> <p>The first 6-8 weeks were hard, but hang in there!!</p> <p>I also nursed 2.5-3 hours, but the last two nursing sessions were 1 hour apart and that was good enough for my LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1031051 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 10:39:03 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1031051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think cluster feeding is necessary, but my last feed for bedtime will often be sooner than three hours.</p> <p>Have you trying going ad lib? It was hard for me to not follow the NICU schedule, but he much preferred eating every two hours all day and then four at night. I just followed his lead and the stretches kept getting longer. Now at 7 months, I do a dream feed at 10:30 and he sleeps until 7ish. His total volume for the day is the same or higher than it was before he slept for a long stretch (I EP). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030935 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:53:49 +0000 Pink Champagne 1030935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds about right for a growth spurt... They go through a lot of those early on, I remember feeling like my nipples were going to fall off!<br /> I kind of felt it wasn't a good idea to "force" the sleeping longer thing... They WILL do this at night as they grow and their bellies get bigger and they can stay fuller for longer. As desperate as you are for sleep yourself, try to be patient :) And good luck with the growth spurt! ("What? You want to eat AGAIN?!?") </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030905 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:38:20 +0000 Bookish 1030905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Welcome to the growth spurt club! Your LO is a month, right? At 3-4 weeks we went through a heck of a spurt. It was a cluster feeding nightmare. Might be what y'all are dealing with! Super hugs, lady. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030524 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 05:47:02 +0000 sotofamilia 1030524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also wanted to add that it totally gets so much better. In those days, my LO would nurse for an hour every two hours and sometimes for two hours. I tried to remind myself that he was establishing my supply and all that, and his weight gain/dirty diapers were great...but it is SOOO hard. Hang in there ladies, it really does get a lot better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030504 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 03:50:52 +0000 .twist. 1030504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@delight: @Sapphiresun: thanks ladies, I feel like we should deem it "cluster club" lol! </p> <p>@Espion: @Penny Lane: thanks ladies, forever changing I guess! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030482 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 01:28:36 +0000 Sapphiresun 1030482@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also sitting here with a 16 day old that has wanted to eat every hour since 7pm (now 11:30), and screams every time we put her down. She'll eat for 15 minutes on each boob, and I'll lift her up to burp her and she's trying to suck on my neck. She made it all the way to my nose once, and was seriously trying to eat from it before I could get a hand out to move her head.</p> <p>No advice, just commiseration. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030476 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:57:24 +0000 Penny Lane 1030476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>sounds like a growth spurt to me! they get further and further apart as he gets older, promise!! hopefully you get some sleep tonight :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030471 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:32:42 +0000 Espion 1030471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The advice is that it will get better. The first few weeks, I felt like he was latched 24-7. We used to joke that we put E in the crib to wake him up... But as of about 7-8 weeks, he's solidly on a every 2.5 to 3 hour schedule. As of 9 weeks, we lay him in his crib between 7 and 8 pm. (And he sleeps until 3ish, which I can totally live with.) The only thing we haven't worked out is daytime naps...but those won't start consolidating for a few more weeks, so I hear. But those first four weeks were never ending. The 4th through 7th weeks started to slowly improve. And after 8 weeks, it's like someone handed us a new, smiley baby. </p> <p>It will get better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030461 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:18:19 +0000 delight 1030461@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a few of us are in the same boat tonight. My problem is that as soon as I put her down she starts crying and will only be calmed by the boob but then falls asleep within 3 minutes. I don't want to get in the habit of letting her sleep on me or beside me in bed. She's only 4 day old though so maybe in should just give up the cradle for a few days!</p> <p>@.twist.: no advice mama, I'm figuring things out myself. I hope you get some sleep tonight though :( you're doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030457 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:10:20 +0000 .twist. 1030457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsLilybugg: thanks! He does the same thing. The minute I try to unlatch him he wakes up and goes at it again. So frustrating. Hope you get some sleep too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030456 Tue, 20 Aug 2013 00:07:27 +0000 MrsLilybugg 1030456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>aghhh no advice here, just wanted to say that I am right there with you!!!! My boobs are going to FALL OFF. She has been at it since midnight (1 a.m. Here) and will fall asleep on boob. But as soon as I try to unlatch her and rest get on shoulder she wakes up and pecks at me until I give her the boob again. Then BAM fast asleep. She is not tricked by pacifier either. She was giving me solid hours of sleep and suddenly, this.<br /> I hope yoi get some rest soon :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/sleeping-eating-dont-know-what-to-do#post-1030455 Mon, 19 Aug 2013 23:59:08 +0000 .twist. 1030455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I at a bit of a loss tonight ladies. I would love some advice. </p> <p>When L was in the NICU they started him on a 2.5 - 3 hour feeding schedule. He has pretty much stayed true to that since. Then a few days ago I got one of the Lucien's list emails about sleeping and how, to get longer night stretches, you should cluster feed at night. So I started doing this a few nights ago, but I swear to you it's only made things worse. L has been more clingy and wanting to feed every hour ALL day long. I'm going crazy and I think my nips are going to fall off. </p> <p>I'm currently sitting on the couch with him in my arms because he freaks out when I lay him down to sleep now. </p> <p>Have I effed up a good thing? Could this be a growth spurt? Does it take a few days to establish longer night stretches? I'm so tired and don't know what to do. :( </p>