My four week old baby is having cluster feeding (I think that's what it's called) problem. She has been doing that for almost 2 weeks now. She would cry and look hungry (rooting), then suck for 5-10 min and fall asleep. I would then change her diaper, wake her up to feed her on the other breast. Many times she would refuse to eat more by holding her lips closed. Then she would wake up an hour later hungry again and the same thing happens over and over again for several hours of the day. But at times she can go almost 3 hours without eating. For the past 5 nights, she's been eating every hour from 11pm to 3am, then would sleep for 3hours from 3am until the next feeding. She does that during the day as well. I have been nursing her everytime as instructed by LC -- I feel exhausted and my nipples are sore. I'm wondering if she isn't all that hungry at times and just wants something to suck on or snack with? Because when DH gave her his finger when she looked hungry one time after eating every hour, she sucked on it until she fell asleep. But she refuses to take a pacifier repeatedly. Another time, I used Harvey Karp's 5S method (from Happiest baby on the block) she fell asleep without needing to be fed. I don't know if we are doing anything wrong. I thought maybe my milk is too thin and fed her formula last night at 11pm. She still woke up at the next hour hungry.
I have a few other BF questions. DD usually only spends 10min each breast. In a good feeding, she would nurse the most 15min each side. Many times she would stop or fall asleep after 15min on one side and refuse to feed on the other breast. Is that really enough? Should I switch her to the other breast after few minutes? Should I try to wake her up? I do know that she's gaining weigh adequately.
I really appreciate any suggestions that can help DD to feed a little less often than every hour.