REALLY STRUGGLING WITH NIGHT FEEDING

My baby is 3 days old today and since last night it’s been like every drop of breast milk I’ve given her has been empty calories. I was up feeding her pretty much constantly (only intervals were when she got too upset) from around 12 until half 3, then we fell asleep and we woke up at half 6 and she hasn’t been able to be away from my nipple since. I just caved and gave her a dummy for the first time just to soothe her for a bit. I don’t know what’s wrong - her latch is great, I can hear her swallowing the milk, she fed well thoughout the day the day before. It’s suddenly like she’s using more calories to get the milk out than she gets from drinking - like the more she drinks the thirstier she gets. I don’t know what to do I almost called 111 last night and will if it carries on today. I’ve got a health visitor coming back today anyway but I’m so worried there’s something deeper wrong, I swear I can already hear her screaming “mum” while she cries, it’s so upsetting. Anyone been through similar or know something I don’t?

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Baby is cluster feeding, we had a very similar night last night and my little one is a week today, day 3 is notorious for cluster feeding as your milk is coming in, then will happen when growth spurts along too xxx

You’re doing incredible

This is completely normal although really hard
Cluster feeding is really common
I’m sat here with baby on my nip now. Had her weigh in today and she had only lost 1.4% of her weight so I’m continuing to feed on demand no matter how draining it is! It’s very temporary 😂

You have described my first son to a tee, he would sometimes feed for an hour and then 10 minutes later he'd be rooting and it was exhausting. Some babies are just hungry babies. If youre getting plenty wet/dirty nappies then baby is hydrated. I'd just speak to your health visitor for reassurance when you see them and try not to panic ❤️

This is so so so normal, albeit incredibly hard! I’d highly recommend looking up Lucy Webber on instagram she shares lots of info about what’s normal/ what’s a red flag according to age etc. she really helped me with my first baby understand the behaviour of a breastfed baby and to trust the process x

Is this your first baby? If you’re struggling then you have your midwife coming but also I find ringing the helplines better cos they are impartial and it’s always good to get a second opinion. It’s like everything in life there’s the “theory” of what is meant to happen and then there’s the “reality” and they rarely match up.
It sounds pretty normal what your baby is doing though, you’re doing an amazing thing 🩷

It's absolutely normal. Baby is cluster feeding. Hang in there it gets better around the week mark ❤️❤️❤️ you need these hard long nights early on to "get the milk order" in.

You're doing so well. It's hard but doesn't last forever.

The best phrase for motherhood.... "This too shall pass" xxx

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