Is my baby starving or cluster feeding??

Question

Hi ladies, I'm a FTM and exclusively breastfeeding my 3 week old son. I used to pump often but not anymore, I just use a haaka when I breastfeed. Lately my son has been eating very often and will only feed 10-15 minutes and then not even less than an hour later, he's hungry again. And I feed him and he gets hungry AGAIN. Since I'm not pumping, idk if I'm making enough milk or if he's simply cluster feeding. How do I know I'm not unintentionally starving my baby??? 😭

Answer

Just count the diapers. As long as they are still having enough wet diapers each day, they aren't starving. Also, I'm inclined to say they are just cluster feeding. They might be going through a growth spurt and they are trying to encourage your milk supply to grow with them. As long as baby seems happy, it's okay. My baby has eaten every hour or so (unless she's napping or sleeping) for about 10-15 each feeding for many weeks and she's been gaining a TON of weight. Just keep rolling with it. Eating every 2-3 hours is just the minimum, but some babies will eat more often than that.

Answer

Check to see if he's starting to develop the fat layer under his skin on his arms and legs, if the skin is loose and doesn't bounce back fast when lightly pinched then he's not gaining enough.
I had the exact same problem with my daughter, and I started trying to correct my supply at week 5 and it is proving difficult.
I would supplement with some gentle formula so baby gets what he needs and starts sleeping good. I use Gerber Soothe for colic and excessive crying. And pump pump pump, do what you can to do it every 2 hours, even pump a little right after he feeds to be sure the breast is completely empty. Absolutely seek some help if you can, have a family member or friend either come stay with you or stop by multiple times daily. 
There are also some breast milk support shakes and sweets available at Walmart. I just received my Milky Mama emergency brownies today, I'll let you know how they work out.
You can also call the hospital you delivered at and speak to their lactation consultant. But if you are going to increase your supply your best chance is to pump every 2 hours and power pump once or twice daily. But do not let trying to produce more take over your world, you still need to rest plenty and care for yourself. Supplementing with or even straight feeding formula is Not the end of the world. Most important thing is that baby gets fed, even though it is normal to grieve if you are not able to feed baby yourself. I was seriously upset when I realized how much I was struggling to produce and that my baby wasn't doing well because of it.
Stay strong Mama, you are doing So well! You have got this!

Answer

Either one is possible. When in doubt schedule a weight check. My daughter is formula fed however she’s on a hypoallergenic formula(which is predigested) so during growth spurts, which at 3 weeks also is about the time they hit one, she’s CONSTANTLY cluster feeding. She’s gained a pound in over a week. Where as my nephew was breastfed and he was starving though he was constantly “feeding”. There’s no way of knowing for sure without seeing a doctor.

Answer

I’d call your pediatrician for a weight check if you have any concerns about whether baby is getting enough food. That’s just me. My baby WAS starving. Lost more than 15% of body weight in the first few days of life because I had such a low supply that I didn’t know about. We didn’t know until he was weighed. I figured it was just cluster feeding. It would have been really bad if I would have just continued to assume cluster feedint. I’d always check to be sure if you’re concerned.

Is my baby starving or cluster feeding??

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