I was talking to a first time parent the other day and they were expressing how exhausted they were and how chapped their nipples were. I instantly brought me back to my own experiences surrounding cluster feeding. Join me in this flash back….
It’s 03:00 am, the room is dimly lit by the vintage tan lamp on the wooden nightstand of the hospital room. I’ve been sitting in the adjustable bed that could have used a layer of memory foam for hours with pillows propping my tired arms as a tirelessly switched my newborn from breast to breast. It felt like it’s been forever and he seems insatiable. My goal was to exclusively breast feed, but I’m starting to second guess that goal as the exhaustion begins to wear at me. Barely 24 hours and I don’t think I can do it…. Maybe I glamorized breast feeding, overestimated how difficult it would be… Am I even producing anything? Am I starving my son?
Cluster Feeding
According to USDA.gov, cluster feeding is patterned by frequent feeding particularly in the evening. It’s often accompanied by a growth spurt. You can think of it as an innate way of the baby forcing your body to increase your milk supply to keep up with the baby’s needs.
After delivery, signals are sent to brain via nipple stimulation to create breast milk. The baby will get colostrum, which is dense in nutrients and the consistency of honey, for the first three to five days postpartum.
Cluster feeding can last a few days and it is completely normal!
Ways to get through clustering
1. Try to reduce external stimulants by turning off the lights and leaving a night light on. Instead of the television, try a sound machine or some instrumental lullabies.
2. Have a nursing station fully stocked with reading material, water, snacks, and even movies…. You may be here a while! I found it useful to stock the nightstand by the rocking chair with goodies like coconut water, my iPad quad to audible, nutritious snacks and maybe some not so wholesome snacks.
3. Get help! Yeah, you’re the only one that can breast feed the baby, but have the other parent, grandparents, aunts, and friends (you get it) readily available to get baby for a few minutes so you can take a break. Because of the constant feedings, you will feel sleepy, take periodic power naps so you have enough energy to power through this nursing frenzy.
4. Use pillows, nursing pads, slings, Boppy pillows to support your arms that will inevitably tire out. See the link below. I loved my Boppy (you know I love a shameless plug).
5. Prep the Nips. At this point, your arms won’t be the only things screaming…. Your nipples are also taking a hit. Have nipple creams like lanolin on hand.
You knew it was coming.
I also kept these breast warmers on hand. Two words…. Game changer.
I survived the multiple phases of cluster feeding and you can too! Let me know if you tried any of these. What worked well and what didn’t work so well for you? Let’s start the dialogue.
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Mommy Guilt 
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