EAEASY & Cluster Feeding - a bit (lot) confused.

[Nic and Jackson]

hi
i'm just wondering about the EAEASY routine and cluster feeding.  i was told by health nurse to do feed/play/sleep routine with baby but in afternoons my baby (8 weeks) doesn't seem to want to sleep and i do end up feeding her again sometimes before she does go to sleep.  problem is i'm not sure if she is hungry or has 'colic' because when i try to feed her she is really fussy and cries etc......

can you please explain cluster feeding in a bit more detail and also when (if ever) does the cluster feeding pattern stop.

i'm enjoying breastfeeding for most of the 24 hour time period but from about 4pm to 8pm things turn into a nightmare.  sometimes it is even longer.  i am considering switching to formula just to know whats going in and how often etc but then i am concerned because baby only seems to take 2 ounces at a time anyway when ever i've given bottle (of expressed milk) instead of breast.

thanks

[*Mona*]

hi

can you post your actual routine? with feed and nap times?

I'd say if you are both not used to cluster feeding, don't bother. I don't think it's 'colic' that she doesn't want to eat, she may just be not hungry enough for another feed in short period of time.

don't switch to formula just yet. you can try pumping and feeding your milk from the bottle thou.

anyway, please post your routine and we'll try to help.

Monika

[Nic and Jackson]

ok her day looks like this:

7.00 am feed etc
8.00 am sleep
11.00 am feed
12.00pm sleep
2.00pm feed
3.00pm  sleep with a lot of encouragement

4.00pm (this is where it goes pear shaped) feed (but then sometimes we're too busy crying to feed).
5.00pm try to put to sleep but usually doesn't work
6.00pm might try to get a feed here but usually rejects me anyway
up to about 7.30pm pat, swing, rock, bounce etc etc  maybe get her to feed and then maybe not
8.00pm IF i am lucky she is asleep by now, if not we may still go until closer to 10.00pm (they're the REALLY BAD days)

10.00pm - wake her up to have a feed.  she goes back to sleep nicely.
1.00am  - she wakes for a feed goes to sleep
5.00am - she wakes for feed goes to sleep (with some encouragement)

7.00am back to the beginning.

of course every day changes.  she also passes wind a lot!!!!

thanks for the offer of help.

Nic