Okay Schedule Help

[Lanasmom]

Does this sound normal for a 5 week old?

I will start with the evenings b/c that is where things get screwy.

He typically nurses around 4-4:30pm then again about 2 hours later so 6-6:30. After that he nurses on and off (more for comfort than for anything else) until 8:30-9 pm when he eats to go to bed. Then he sleeps until anywhere between 11:30-1:30 depending on the last time he nursed before he fell asleep. Then he wakes up at 3:30am, then 5 am, 6am, 7am all wanting to nurse but not really eating. Finally, he eats good again at 8-8:30 and then runs a 2.5hour to 3.5 hour pattern until the evening.

My question is, what is with the cluster feeding in the evening and the morning? That is also when he spits up the most. Its like he is stuffing himself silly for comfort but then puking it up. He won't take a paci during these times as a sub.

Also when is cluster feeding no longer normal?

TIA

[MamaCaroline]

We have similar problems, but not feeding our DS every hour in the morning seems to help him fall back asleep when he isn't actually hungry and to not need me to feed him to fall asleep. It also has taught me that not every fuss requires me to feed him. Sometimes he just fusses a little when he's sleeping, and that's totally normal.

That's the biggest suggestion I'd have...stopping feeding him hourly. Instead, just put a hand on him in the bed to let him know you're there if he's not sleeping himself for at least 2 hours.

I'd be interested to see what others have to say, though. We're having a hard time setting an actual schedule for our DS, who is also 5 weeks.

[konayossie]

First off, just let me say I don't believe in schedules for breastfed babies. Everything in breastfeeding literature says that's a good way to create problems for yourself. Just let your baby tell you when s/he needs to eat.

Clusterfeeding, especially in the evenings, is very normal. Especially near a growth spurt (there's usually one at 6 weeks).

I also would keep on feeding him at night (or the day for that matter) whenever he wants it. It's fine to try and just pat him back to sleep, but if he is truly fussing, then keep on feeding him. You don't want to ignore him and screw up your supply. Not all breasts are built with storage capacity to go more than an hour or two without feeding.

However, the gorging himself and then spitting up does stick out to me. DS had terrible reflux that when undiagnosed for a couple of months. His big symptoms were crying all day long and the inability to sleep and nursing all the time he was awake (and then spitting it up since there's only so much he can hold...). Basically he clusterfed the entire day. Nursing was the only way he could fall asleep. If your baby is suffering from reflux, it's a vicious cycle b/c the nursing comforts them and actually soothes the throat, but then it causes them to reflux, so.... I would be on the watch out if for if your LO develops any other reflux symptoms.