Breastfeeding in the first month: What to expect

What is cluster feeding?

When a baby wants to breastfeed very frequently over the space of several hours, this is known as cluster feeding.6 It often peaks in the evenings between 18:00 and 22:00, which coincides with when many babies are unsettled and want to be held a lot. Mums most often report this happening during two to nine weeks after birth. This is a very normal, common behaviour for babies who are otherwise content during the rest of the day, feeding and gaining weight well, and generally healthy.9

Your baby may be cluster feeding because they are having a developmental spurt and needs to feel secure, reassured and loved. They may be finding it hard to switch off due to all the stimulation their growing brain is receiving, or they may simply feel overwhelmed by it.9 Young babies who are overtired can find it hard to calm themselves and need someone to help. And what better way to be calmed than having a breastfeed, which is not just a source of food, but also a pain reliever and happy hormone giver?10

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“No one had spoken to me about cluster feeding, and 10 days in I was beside myself, convinced my milk supply wasn’t meeting my baby’s needs,” remembers Camilla, mum of one, Australia. “It was a confusing time. I was told to pump and ‘top up’, until I called the Australian Breastfeeding Association. They explained what was going on and that it wasn’t a supply issue.”

Remember this is a temporary phase. Try preparing your evening meal at a time in the day when your baby is sleeping well, so you can just reheat it and eat quickly during the cluster feeding period. If you have support, share holding and rocking your baby to give you a break. If you don’t have support and feel it’s all too much and you’re not coping, place your baby safely in her cot and calm down for a few minutes before coming back to hold them again.

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Enlist your partner, family and friends to help with chores, meals and any older children. If you have the resources, you could consider paying someone to help around the home. Try to have plenty of rest, eat well and stay hydrated.

“My daughter would sleep a lot during the day and then want to cluster feed from about 23:00 to 05:00, which was exhausting,” says Janelle, mum of one, US. “My husband tried to lighten the burden wherever he could: cleaning, making food for me, doing laundry, changing diapers, letting me sleep whenever possible, and always reassuring me that we were doing the best we could.”

If you’re concerned about the intensity of breastfeeding, it’s worth seeking help. “You need to see a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist, to find out if there’s an underlying problem,” explains Cathy. “Don’t fall into the trap of topping up with formula (unless advised to by your healthcare professional) until you get to the root cause. It could be that you’re not producing enough milk, but it might be that your baby is not able to get the milk effectively.”

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