Growth Spurt help!

[Jenybean2]

Hi Everyone
My 3 month old LO seems to be starting a growth spurt - he is usually very easy going.. but lately (past 2 days so far) has been wanting to eat earlier each feed (not typical).. and waking up more at night.

How do I get him to eat more??  Do I add a feed in during the day somewhere (not sure where)... or do I just encourage to eat more at each feed....?  He sometimes takes only one side....and he often only eats for about 20 mins.. but I do "over produce".. and have a lot of milk.. so he might just be an efficient eater.

Just need some guidance because his sleep schedule is really good and I don't want the GS to get us off track. 
Thanks!!

[lil_ginge]

Hi Jenybean,

I'm not a mod but I can share my experience ... when DD was going through a GS I would give more frequent feeds in the day to avoid NW. So - if your LO is on a 3 hour easy maybe go to 2 1/2 for the moment.

In some GS's my LO found this kept up with the pace. I continued one sided and eventually eased off and we got back on track. Other GS's like the 4 month monster - I had to feed both sides and she would still want more so I had to go back to the original breast which is a way of really telling your breasts *MAKE MOREEEE MAMA'S!* - the bubba may only suckle for a tiny while on the original breast as there's hardly anything there but all the extra sucking *if any!* helps to increase supply.

It can be a bit tough meanwhile - and frustrating if the GS affects your LO's night and nap sleep but KEEP GOING GIRL! It WILL end eventually.

(DD's last one lasted 15 days!!!!! When it stopped - normal feeds suddenly felt a breeze!)
xx

[atlantamomofthree]

I agree with the recommendations of pp. Also, do you do cluster feeding in the evening? And the DF? Unfortunately you can't necessarilly avoid all night feedings during a GS because the need is just too strong. Some babies can sleep through, but I would venture to say that most BF babies cannot.

[Jenybean2]

Hi - thanks for responding.... Here is my typical schedule.... life before GS

7:15am - Eat
8:30-10:30 - Sleep

10:30 - Eat
12-1:30 - Sleep

1:30 - Eat
3:00-4:30 - Sleep

4:30pm - Eat
6pm-Sleep

7:15/7:30pm - Eat - 5 oz breastmilk bottle
to bed by 8pm.. sometimes earlier...depending on the start of this feed

11ish - dream feed - another 5 oz breastmilk bottle feed

5am - wakes to eat (sometimes earlier or later within 30 mins).. then back to sleep usually..

 Last night was terrible though   He took his DF early.. woke up crying for it at 10:30... then he was awake to eat at 1:40am, 2:30am, 4:30am... and when he woke at 7:30 (from huge poo)... he ate for about 10 mins.. and then refused more... ... so much for increasing day time eats.

Should I feed at 7pm and 9pm... and then DF at 11pm??.. I think that is what Tracy's book says.

If I go to a 2 1/2 hr schedule... how do I move back to 3 hours..because before this GS I was thinking it was toying with a 4 hour schedule because I often have to wake him from 2-3 naps a day.

I'm glad these GS don't last forever.. because last night felt like newborn-land again... oy!

[atlantamomofthree]

Is the 6pm sleep a CN? If so, that's 30 min, right? So, you could try nursing upon him waking from it, and then give the bottle as a DF @8:30 and then do another DF @ 11ish. Wdyt? 

[Fiver]

PPs have given you some great BTDT advice already, but just wanted to add

As annoying as the night feeds are, they are essential for upping supply as that is when the milk producing hormone, prolactin, is at its peak (between midnight and 6am).  Also during a GS you may need to be more flexible with any feed timings you may use and keep a close eye out for feeding cues and follow those.

[Erin M]

Mine would always be up at night during a growth spurt, no matter what I did.  For us, I think it was unavoidable.  But most of them passed fairly quickly. 

[Jenybean2]

Hi all - so last night.. we fed LO at 7pm, 9pm(not typical but I thought cluster-feeding might help).. then at 11pm.. he was then awake to eat at 1:30, 4:20, 5:30...oy.. then he awoke for the day at 7am..with a big poo.. but wasn't really interested in eating.. it took forever and all and all he only latched for probably 10 mins.  I gave him a pumped bottle at 10:30am... (Which I usually do) and he took at least 4 oz. 

He's been either deliriously happy ... or fussy all day - swinging from one to the other.  Yesterday we only had 1 poo... way low for us.. and today only that large one at 7am... wondering if the no poo is what making him extra fussy

I can't increase his eat time no matter what I do though... He won't take the other side... and cries when I try to offer it.. (I know I over-produce.. but I wish he would take the other side too).. I am pumping after eating to increase supply.. but I feel like the night-waking for eating might be unavoidable for us to as other posts have said...

How hard is to get back on track when this is over??  I'm worried about that.. I go back to work in 4 weeks (part time).. and wanted us to be on a good schedule then of course.

oyy... growing is hard! ;o)

[Fiver]

Probably not much comfort, but there's another GS due at 4m (which is a biggy) and sleep can also go wonky then too.

Hopefully you'll get back on track with sleep between now and then.