What is Cluster Feeding?

What is Cluster Feeding?

Amberlee and her son

For Amberlee, from Australia, breastfeeding came quite naturally. The first time her son was put on her breast he started feeding right away. But she soon discovered that he was a cluster feeder which means that he would feed every 45 minutes. Because of this she was always breastfeeding. Cluster feeding is often a physiological problem with the milk not fully coming in or the woman not being able to produce enough milk or sometimes it indicates a growth spurt for the child. For many women, this is remedied in a few days or a couple of weeks when her milk supplies comes in fully. However, many women experience it longer than a couple of weeks and for some women, it is not only a physiological issue but it is both a physiological and a psychological issue. It took about 6 months for Amberlee to break that cycle and in the process, she learned so much about herself.

She learned that her child was constantly reading her energy and that he was seeking comfort through her breast. Energetically, Amberlee was processing the end of her old life. She didn’t want to surrender her old life. She thought she could still live the life that she wanted, but she couldn’t. It seemed impossible. She struggled internally. Emotionally and physically she felt off. She was also going through a trauma. (I will discuss the specific situational trauma in my new book series about childbirth around the world.) Her son picked up on her vibes energetically and the only place he felt safe from her emotions was on her breast when he was breastfeeding. Amberlee was extremely emotional with lots of high cortisol rolling through her and he was always there on her chest to be soothed, but also unconsciously, to try to get her to relax and calm down and be present with him. Amberlee felt like she had lost her identity, that she had to sacrifice everything to be a mom and that depressed her. She was putting everyone’s needs before her own. Once she started to put her needs first and focused on things that made her happy, her son stopped being a cluster feeder and it shifted all of her relationships for the better.

Amberlee thinks her son was a cluster feeder because she needed to learn to slow down and enjoy the moments. Now Amberlee always thinks about her emotional state because whether she is breastfeeding or not, she knows that her son is reading her energy.

But this was an extremely difficult experience for Amberlee. Her son was a cluster feeder for six months, requiring feeding about every 45 minutes. It was exhausting. Amberlee didn’t want to give her son formula. This was her choice. She really wanted to breastfeed. She was peer pressured and shamed by many for nursing so often and told that she had to switch to formula. Instead, Amberlee, found a way to continue breastfeeding and get her sleep (which is so important).

I think it’s so inspiring that Amberlee didn’t give up, even though, many told her to do formula. All women are unique. For some women their milk doesn’t come in fully for some specific reasons, but it comes in within two weeks, but for others like Amberlee, it wasn’t remedied with time. So for her, changing her mindset, behaviors, and emotions helped to create the outcome she desired. I think this is empowering for women to know that they may be able to create the change they desire.

In some countries, women do not have access to lactation specialists or to formula. The services are not offered. In some places, the average person cannot afford formula, only the wealthy. Many women who I interviewed for my book shared that in their community no one had access to lactation specialists or to formula. Also, it is very common for women to be taught that their body is faulty and then believe they can’t do something such as give birth or breastfeed. An idea that is thought or said again and again becomes a belief. Unfortunately when many women are diagnosed with cluster feeding, they assume that they won’t be able to do breastfeed long-term and switch to formula. For some this is a choice to switch, but many women are peer pressured from doctors, friends, and family when it goes on for a long time.

I hope women like Amberlee who experienced cluster feeding for 3, 4, 5 or 6 months and who wish to breastfeed exclusively will read her story and have hope and feel empowered that they can try to do inner work to see if it will help remedy the situation.

I hope this insight helps other mothers who have similar issues. It’s important for mothers to trust their own intuition and of course, to seek help if they feel they need it.

If you enjoyed this blog post, please leave a comment. Was your son or daughter a cluster feeder too? Did you cluster feed for a short time or a long time? How did you remedy it? Or did it remedy in time? Also if you are enjoying this blog, I hope you will join my list for updates on upcoming posts. Click here to join.