Growth spurt - seems to be going on too long?

[Wriggly]

Hi There,

I am a second time Mum, but BF for first time (DS, now 20 months, was given EBM for first 3 months as we couldn't get BF working, and was bottle fed, so this is all new to me). I am familiar with BW as did it with my son and worked a treat (few bumps of course), so keen to apply principles to my new daughter too.

My daughter is now 8 weeks old (born one week early). Was very sleepy first few weeks, had to wake to feed every 3 hours, and she was doing 5-7 hours between feeds at night by about 2 weeks (couldn't believe my luck). We got into a 3 hour routine during day with cluster feeds at 5 and 7, bath then bed and DF (EBM in bottle) at 10.30ish, and she'd go until 4/5am. A week and a half ago she started waking earlier for night feeds only doing 4-5 hours, and last week she started only doing 3 hours and we had a couple of mad feeding days where she wouldn't settle (last Tuesday and Saturday), so I thought it was a growth spurt a little late (7 weeks instead of 6).

I tried to respond to her hunger cues, and feed as often as she would to build supply. She generally settles when she's had enough, and settles herself well, but naps were haywire those days, and in between Tues-Sat she would only go 3 hours after the DF and then only another 2.5 hours after that (whereas she'd usually settle for another 3-4 hours easily). She's gaining weight admirably (she started off 6lbs 12oz and is now over 10lbs (3.06Kg-4.64kg). She doesn't seem to wake at exactly the same time each night, but it is close to the same time i.e. 2-3am and again 4.30-5.30am.

So I have a couple of questions. Will I get my sleepy baby back? (was doing great with that extra night sleep as can't nap much in day with DS running around). Is what I'm experiencing a growth spurt?and then how long does it take for a growth spurt to settle? Or is it that she's just bigger and needs more food?

She takes a long time to feed (usually at least an hour, but will feed quicker at night) so I'm finding this new pattern exhausting. Advice appreciated as I'm just not sure what to expect with a totally BF baby.

Wriggly

[Scate]

If she's feeding quicker at night, that may be your problem. Is she falling asleep during feeds? If so, I would wake her to finish the feed (changing nappy often helps) otherwise you are starting a bad habit of snack feeding. I know with DS we usually have a few bad nights before we settle into some longer sleeps again, so don't worry too much about that, just try to get a good solid feed in when she does wake - hard when you're really tired!

[Wriggly]

Thanks for that - I think there maybe an element of that alright as she doesn't seem to take as much at night when she wakes, and I am too tired to persist. Will try to get more into her tonight when she wakes and just cross my fingers that things iron themselves out over this week (really need those night stretches again!)

[A pair of Charlies]

Ooohh I'm not sure. My DS only did a few growth spurts and usually they didn't last longer than a few days until he hit 9 months, and that one lasted on and off a month.  Bless.

Also wondering if there is an element of coming into light sleep, waking and wanting to be fed back to sleep - or waking and thinging ''ooooh peckish...''. Sorry, I'm not being much help. 

This is the guidelines for feeding through a growth spurt: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0 and there's some ideas on upping supply here http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=150990.0 but TBH at 8 weeks I think supply / demand is too delicate for herbal supplements if possible. But skin on skin feeds, making sure that you're eating and drinking PLENTY FOR 2, switch side feeds may help your supply up a little, which in turn may identify whether it's hunger (supply catching up with demand) OR a sleep issue.

What do you think?

Charlotte

[NadeneR]

Hi Wriggly

It does sound like a growth spurt.  My DD also started with more NW's at around 7 weeks and didn't take much at a time.  She guzzled during the day, but her naps and night sleep were affected.

I bf when she woke from naps, changed her nappy and bf again to encourage a 2nd let down.  I then bf again just before I started her WD routine so that she could stock up a little.  It did wonders for my supply and she was taking in more calories over a 24hr period, so by day 2 of the growth spurt, she was back to sleeping till between 4 & 5am (following the DF at 10h30)

When she did wake at night, I tried to extend the length of time that she nursed to make sure she had enough in her tummy and wouldn't wake soon again.  I unswaddled her, rubbed her hands, even turned the night light a little brighter and tried to get her to take at least 30 - 40 mins on the breast.

It sounds like she's naturally a good sleeper and yes, you will get your sleepy baby back.  Dd has had growth spurts that last a week - 10 days, so don't become discouraged!  Hang in there and let us know how you get along.

Hugs
Nadene

[Wriggly]

Hi thanks everyone,

It seems it is a growth spurt alright, had her weighed today and she's put on 13oz since last week! I'm relieved and delighted of course. She went 5 hours last night between feeds (instead of only 3 hours like the previous few nights), and as suggested when she woke I worked really hard to get her to feed for her usual hour, and she took both breasts and lasted another 3 hours 10 minutes until the next feed (unlike the previous few days when she's only gone another 2-2.5 hours. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we've turned a corner, and I can now start to get us back onto our routine again.

It seems that her growth spurt is just longer than normal, but then she is a slow feeder too, so she might just like doing things at a more leisurely pace! Good to know others have experienced long growth spurts too, as it did have me a little concerned about my supply for a while (which is counterproductive I know). I did some searching last night and came across an old post about having a 'lull' in the middle of a growth spurt, so it seems it does happen.

I'll let you all know if it continues to improve. Not looking forward to the next growth spurt at 12 weeks - we're due to take a holiday then too!

Many thanks

Wriggly

[Wriggly]

Hi Everyone,

Of course no sooner had I spoken than we had several short nights again, but things do now seem to be back on track and she did 7 hours last night! (feel like a new woman). I think her growth spurt was on and off for 2 weeks, and that there were lulls in between. Hopefully the 12 week one won't be so long!

Many thanks for your help

Wriggly