quick ? for new bf'ing mum

[jasmynesmum]

hi all...  ds is nearly 3 weeks old and generally doing well with sleeping, feeding and weight gaining.  My issue is that dh goes back to work next week and ds seems to be feeding ALOT - i am going to be exhaisted!  I am wondering if this is still him getting my supply going or maybe another growth spurt.  He is wanting to eat every 2 hours at night and has been asking for this for the past 2 nights.  He did the same thing at about 8 days old and it only lasted for a couple of nights and then he resumed and 3-4 hour nightly feeding which I can totally handle!   He likes to cluster feed between about 4pm and 7pm and then after that he pretty much goes to bed and I usually don't feed again until about 10pm when I am going to bed... 

with my dd I was pumping exclusively and she would do one 5 hour stretch at night and then on a 3 hour easy for the rest of the time so I am hoping/expecting him to do the same I guess!

Can you give me some insight as to whether this is just a phase or whether he is just going to eat all the time...I am just so concerned that I will not be able to cope with this type of demand (i don't do well mentally without sleep and dd will suffer) but I am so thrilled to be breast feeding that I don't want to just through the towel in before it gets better.

If you need any ? answered post and I will try to answer them!

[~Natalie~]

I think it would be a growth spurt as there is one around 2-3 weeks, they are pretty close together in the beginning.  I was actually just looking at this link earlier and thought you might want to take a peek

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0

[jasmynesmum]

ok so it does fit into the timeline of a growth spurt so hopefully that's what it is!!!   

thanks for the link... he is awake now so I guess I'll go feed again!

[Jocasta]

Yep, Growth spurt was ringing in my head too

[Mashi]

Yes, I too am thinking growth spurt!  This 3wk spurt was about the time I gave up BFing because with my massively infected c-section wound I couldn't keep up with the feeding every 1.5 - 2 hours round the clock, so hang in there as I desperately wish I hadn't given up!!!!!

[jasmynesmum]

yes, it is so easy to think about giving up as although I have recovered from the c-section and am feeling good, I am worried about when dh goes back to work and I really don't want to fall apart iykwim...   I haven't had any baby blues yet and it is playing on my mind that they are eventually going to set in and I don't want to be taking it out on 3yo dd!   BUT if it is just a growth spurt I feel better about it! 

So is it feasible for bf babies to start sleeping through the night (obviously not this young, but in the near future) or are they always requiring feeding more often than formula fed babies?? 

[~Natalie~]

I was fully prepared to be waking for months on end and I had just thought that is how it is.  My DS decided to shock me and slept through right at 3mo, I didn't do anything, didn't extend feeds or anything, he just did it.  So it is possible, I think it is just totally dependent on your LO and their needs.  Even though he slept through at 3mo during his 4mo GS he woke again at nights for feeds.  It is just a cycle

[Jocasta]

Agree with Natalie here - DS slept through (8hrs) from birth and DD1 slept through (8hrs) from 8 weeks old - both on breast milk!  DD2 however   eight months old and one night feed is a good night for us