https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Jul 2026 10:25:33 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1003130 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 07:27:30 +0000 Foodnerd81 1003130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update- it must have been a growth spurt. Last night she cluster fed from 6-8 ish, slept for a few hours, then nursed really well and efficiently (she's usually so slow) from 1-12, 4-5, and woke up around 7:30 ish. So so different from the night before and it feels like I had the milk for her this time. Oh biology and the crazy ways you work!!</p> <p>Thanks for the support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1003011 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 06:44:05 +0000 lomom 1003011@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO cluster fed every night from 6/7pm-10/11pm. You couldn't get him off the boob for anything in the world. He did that from 8 weeks-13 weeks (we didn't start nursing until 6.5 weeks and not well until around 10 weeks). He's still a big comfort nurser and a slow eater. I just hunkered down and nursed, I had command central in my living room :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002869 Fri, 09 Aug 2013 03:46:52 +0000 Kemma 1002869@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely, definitely normal! Like others have said, she's working on building your supply, she's tanking up for a longer stretch of sleep and she's hanging out in her favourite place participating in her favourite activity :-)</p> <p>Just go with it and before you know it these early days will be a distant memory and you'll almost miss the constant nursing... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002524 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 22:31:53 +0000 Maysprout 1002524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Oh yeah, she's only 10 days old, my LO didn't quite have her nights and days fully figured out until around 2 weeks, she'd get up and want to play (well look around and kick) and eat and play and eat for 2-3 hours in the middle of the night, I'm had no idea such young babies wanted to play. I did get scolded by my pediatrician cause I started letting her do 6 hour stretches probably around 3 weeks but LO never had any hesitation in asking for food and slept right next to our bed so I just went with her signals. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002457 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 22:12:48 +0000 Foodnerd81 1002457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Maysprout: I think she is still too young for six hours but I will happily take some four hour stretches :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002451 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 22:10:52 +0000 Maysprout 1002451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Milk production is higher in the mornings and lower in the evenings for most people so that may have something to do with it. I loved evening cluster feeds though because my lil girl would then sleep 6 hours straight. When I wouldn't cluster feed she'd be up every 2-3 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002448 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 22:09:34 +0000 Foodnerd81 1002448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update - she let us watch a whole movie and now is eating like she's actually hungry (lots of gorgeous gulp noises and everything!) Well see how it goes overnight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1002402 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 21:57:41 +0000 mrskc 1002402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally normal! Probably a growth spurt and your baby signalling your body to make more milk! I don't thing there is much you can do about it besides just accept this is what is happening and go with it. I guess I was lucky in that my baby cluster fed all day long and didn't really do it in the evening. I remember around that time being so tough. There was like a week straight where he was nursing ALL DAY LONG. I thought I was going to go crazy. I sat on the couch all day and nursed him. It was rough! Hang in there mama! You're doing an awesome job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001865 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 20:23:34 +0000 Boheme 1001865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This article on KellyMom really helped me anticipate growth spurts, when cluster feeding was at its peak. It didn't make me so crazy when I was prepared :) You are doing awesome! Hang in there :heart: </p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/growth-spurts/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001683 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:52:07 +0000 Silva 1001683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I remember getting concerned that she wasn't getting enough. I would feel totally empty and she would be crying and banging at my breast. But if I stuck it out she would get more. She is helping build your supply. Pop in a movie, sit on the couch, and just let her have at it! It's touh, but you are doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001681 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:51:37 +0000 mrsbookworm 1001681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That happened to me around that time as well. Luckily, it didn't last too long. My LO would cluster feed from about 6pm-midnight from about 9-14 days old or so. Keep eating ice cream - it will help you get through it! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001658 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:46:58 +0000 Foodnerd81 1001658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hergreenapples: I thought it might be a growth spurt. It's nice to hear the reminder that this is setting my supply up- sometimes it feels like she isn't getting anything. Last night I very briefly considered one of the formula bottles I have but I really want to establish a good supply. Interesting that the milk is higher in fat too- I guess te ice cream I just ate should help ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001637 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:42:42 +0000 heartonastring 1001637@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is a 10 day growth spurt...I bet that's what you're experiencing. I thought I was going to die during that stage (it was the first growth spurt I'd experienced), but it did ease up after a couple days. </p> <p>DD was a big evening cluster feeder though even when she wasn't going through a growth spurt. Your body makes less milk in the evening, but it's higher in fat content. And babies frequently cluster feed all evening long; that's normal and it's signalling your body to make more milk so that you can establish a good supply.</p> <p>I know it's hard, but know that it won't last forever (DD is 15 weeks now and doesn't really cluster feed anymore, outside of growth spurts). Once I knew that I could expect it every evening I just set up a command centre on the couch, got comfy, put on some good shows, had water and snacks close at hand and nursed the night away. </p> <p>You're doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-cluster-feeding#post-1001590 Thu, 08 Aug 2013 19:34:38 +0000 Foodnerd81 1001590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>C is ten days old and for the last several days, has been eating on and off for hours every evening- like last night, more than four hours of feeding, bouncing, burping, feeding, with anything from fussing to screaming in between. During the day, she's a dream- eats in less than one hour then is chill, looks around, sleeps for a few hours. </p> <p>So, anything I can do to encourage more sleep, less cluster feeding at night? And I know some of it is comfort nursing, which if she needs it and its triggering my body to make more milk, fine, but sometimes a mama needs to sleep. We are working on side lying nursing but she's so little it's hit or miss. </p> <p>Advice or commiseration welcome! </p>