The cluster feeding curve-ball

The Cluster-feeding curve ball

This is the second part of a short series on how to breastfeed with your mind as well as your body!  The focus is on simple evidence basis approaches that can make a difference to your milk quality, quantity and your build your confidence up. You can read part one here

How do you cluster feed a baby?

Suddenly when you think that you’re getting somewhere you’re thrown a curve ball when your baby keeps wanting to feed and never seems full or satisfied.  It can feel as if you are not enough, your nipples may be sore, and your boobs may feel empty.  Firstly, your baby isn’t angry, this is how they are communicating, in the only way they know how to tell you that they need to get on the breast.

What is cluster feeding with a newborn?

Cluster feeding usually happens during a growth spurt or is a sign of developmental leaps and often late in the afternoon or evening, those times when feel as if you are glued to the sofa.

Why does it seem so urgent and so hard? Your baby has to suckle more to send a message to your brain that it needs more milk. If you’ve read my previous blog on this you’ll know the size of your baby’s stomach is teeny tiny, but it is growing and as it’s growing it needs more.

This isn’t because your milk isn’t enough – IT’S BECAUSE YOUR MILK IS BEING USED EFFCIENTLY

Cluster-feeding can also help regulate your baby’s circadian rhythm. Those evening feeds are rich in tryptophan and melatonin which help your baby settle for longer stretches at night.

How long does cluster feeding last

All cluster feeding is temporary, but it can last 2-6 hours, and is around 2-3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months and sometimes again at 4-6 months. Every time it happens your baby is having a developmental leap. Sometimes it can feel as if this is happening over a couple of days.

 Believing you can cluster feed your baby

You have to believe you can do it, and to do that it helps to know what’s happening, and also to surrender to the cluster feed!

Here affirmations can be powerful, or you can also audio-tracks that build confidence, patience, and build a beautiful space in your brain for milk hormones to rise.

• When my baby feeds back-to-back I know that I am communicating well with my baby
• When my baby is cluster-feeding I know my milk is being used efficiently
• When I cluster-feed in the evening I am helping my baby learn to regulate their sleep
• I am confident that I am giving my baby everything it needs in these moments
• I may be tired, but I know this is going to get easier and easier
• The more I feed the easier and more natural it feels
• This phase will pass
• This is a developmental leap for my baby

 How your partner can help

You partner can help with

• making sure you are comfortable
• other children
• cooking for you
• keeping the space you are in as comfortable as possible
• getting you drinks
• managing visitors.

➡️ You can find the audio-tracks that support this and explain more about here, available on an app and online you can listen to the tracks anytime, anywhere and instantly feel calmer.