growth spurts

[katelyn]

Well, I think we've made it through Natalie's first big growth spurt...or we might have another day of it...who knows. I've heard that they usually last 2-3 days, and this is the third day, so we'll see. We've had an exhausting couple of days though. She wants to feed almost constantly in the afternoon and evening. Thankfully she has still been doing her midnight to 6 am sleep cycle, even with the growth spurt, or we'd probably be going nuts right about now. As it is, I'm kind of sore from all the feedings.

So I've heard that she'll have growth spurts every 3 weeks or so for the next few months. Any advice on making them easier to survive?

 

[Katydid]

No, sorry, no advice, though I don't remember them being every three weeks. I specifically remember one at 2 weeks. One at 3 months, one at 6 months and one at 9 months. So that would make it about every 3 months. But, I don't remember every three weeks. OK well, in all honesty, I just suffered through them. Sorry, no advice.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less). These early ones you just kinda have to "get through" them. Your breasts are still adjusting to nursing so will be kinda sore. The later growth spurts will be easier because your body will be used to nursing and although the extra nursing can cause some soreness it won't be as bad. Growth spurts can be a little tough to get through cos the baby always wants to nurse but I think it's worth the "hassle" of a 2-3 day feeding frenzy to keep the breastfeeding relationship going.

Are your nipples just sore or are they cracked? If they are cracked you can try some Lansinoh cream or rubbing breastmilk on them after Natalie is done and letting them air dry.

 

[psychoceramic]

we handle the growth spurts... which seems to come every month or so.....or at least her need to feed all the time as compared to normal feedings.....we handle them by having an excess supply of milk for bottles.. so that me the daddy can handle some of the feeding....

we never had any problems with nipple confusion for kayleigh and the bonding between her and I is just simply amazing.... i wont give it up for anything....


I'll be praying... God bless

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

we handle the growth spurts... which seems to come every month or so.....or at least her need to feed all the time as compared to normal feedings.....we handle them by having an excess supply of milk for bottles.. so that me the daddy can handle some of the feeding....

we never had any problems with nipple confusion for kayleigh and the bonding between her and I is just simply amazing.... i wont give it up for anything....


I'll be praying... God bless

I just want to caution one thing about bottle feeding during growth spurts. The reason babies nurse all the time during growth spurts is to get the milk supply up. If you bottle feed during these times (either with breastmilk or formula) and don't nurse as often as the baby would like you are telling your body not to produce the extra milk that is needed and could run into supply problems. While having the break from the constant nursing is very appealing, it could cause more harm than good in the long run.

 

[Katydid]

Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks

See, maybe that's why I don't remember many of them. My son was constantly nursing every hour for the first 2 months.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

See, maybe that's why I don't remember many of them. My son was constantly nursing every hour for the first 2 months.

Yeah, they happen very frequently for the 6 weeks or so, so it can feel like they're just nursing constantly for the first couple of months. That's why they always say give it 6 weeks then things will get better .

 

[LynnMcG]

Wow, you ladies are good. This is one of those threads that makes me feel like I never paid enough attention when the kids were babies. I cannot honestly recall any growth spurts with any regularity. I had to read your responses to even know what you were talking about!! I can tell when my daughter is getting ready to grow a bit because her face fills out, then I know I need to buy her new jeans. But that's it. I just fed them when they were babies.

 

[andiesmama]

Wow, you ladies are good. This is one of those threads that makes me feel like I never paid enough attention when the kids were babies. I cannot honestly recall any growth spurts with any regularity. I had to read your responses to even know what you were talking about!! I can tell when my daughter is getting ready to grow a bit because her face fills out, then I know I need to buy her new jeans. But that's it. I just fed them when they were babies.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to LynnMcG again.

OK....then it's not just me! lol I pretty much was like you, fed Andie right on schedule, she never went off her feeding schedule....now I can tell because she'll tell me she's tired, she takes longer naps, that kind of stuff!!
​

 

[Katydid]

It's hard not to notice when you breastfeed. At least for me. That was actually the first thing that tipped me off that something was wrong with my daughter, she missed a growth spurt.

 

[katelyn]

My son was constantly nursing every hour for the first 2 months.

If your baby is feeding like this in the afternoon/evening consider yourself lucky, because Abby does this every single night usually from 10 in the evening straight through until 4am, and sometimes longer.. last night it was from 7:30pm until 6:30am.

Wow...I guess we did not fully realize how lucky we were/are with Natalie's normal schedule of every 3-4 hours during the day and her wonderful 6 hour sleep period at night. Knowing that her growth spurts are likely to only last 2-3 days makes them bearable. I think I would have a hard time if it was a constant thing...you ladies impress me!

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

I found out today that my nipples are so tough that she can suck in the nipple and it doesn't even phase me, she did that the first day I tried to breast feed her and I nearly hit the roof in pain, lol. Now she can practically latch herself on, which is good cause she's a nipple-chaser.. basically when she's hungry, the minute my breast is out of my bra she is coming at me with amazing neck strength for a 2-week-old baby and sucking like crazy, and if I pull back because I'm not ready yet she lurches forward after the nipple That caused some pretty bad latches the first few days and some major pain..

Now its nothing to me, heh

I've noticed she's actually learned to latch herself on correctly even when she starts from the tip of the nipple.. she sucks it in and moves her mouth around til she has a whole mouthful of breast, its pretty neat. Saves me the trouble But I don't recommend it, I think it could probably cause (if it hasn't already) bad nipple damage.. mine were cracked and bleeding for like the first few days straight, now they dont do that anymore.

~ ~

Blue, if you're already at the stage where breastfeeding doesn't hurt any more you're doing very well. If you can stick through the next month or so of what seems like constant nursing you guys will have it made . It becomes really easy after the magic six week mark and she won't need to feed as often and you'll get your sanity back . It can seem like there's no end in sight right now but it's really just around the corner, you just need to stick it out these next few weeks .

 

[Katydid]

I remember telling my husband that I felt like a milk cow that first 2 months, then, it wasn't so bad. I was still having to nurse alot, but I had gotten so comfortable with it that I was able to walk around and nurse, and sleep and nurse, etc.

 

[jesusfreak3786]

Well, I think we've made it through Natalie's first big growth spurt...or we might have another day of it...who knows. I've heard that they usually last 2-3 days, and this is the third day, so we'll see. We've had an exhausting couple of days though. She wants to feed almost constantly in the afternoon and evening. Thankfully she has still been doing her midnight to 6 am sleep cycle, even with the growth spurt, or we'd probably be going nuts right about now. As it is, I'm kind of sore from all the feedings.

So I've heard that she'll have growth spurts every 3 weeks or so for the next few months. Any advice on making them easier to survive?

LOL! I used to laugh so much when my younger daughter would go thru a growth spurt, the poor child just couldn't seem to get enough milk to each suck. She would shake her head so vigorisly that she looked kinda like a puppy playing tug of war against my body for my breast....HA HA HA HA HA just remembering it makes me grin, she would hear me laughing and look up at me like I was crazy, it seemed to calm her down though, children are so cute!
Don't worry, the worst thing about the growth spurts is that your breast go thru a growth spurt at the same time, ha ha ha sounds funny doesn't it? Kids are so much fun.

 

[asjs1206]

Let me say your baby's picture is beautiful---I remember those days (my daughter is 4). Anyway, I think I was in a daze the first year of her life from lack of sleep. It's hard, but you will make it. When I had my son (he's 8) now, but he was up every 1.5-2 hrs all night long until he was 6 months old...but when I look back on it now it was one of the best times of my life. They are so dependent on you at that age for everything and soo loving....enjoy it...

 

[Leanna]

That's crazy Blue Impulse! My son ate every 3 hours like clock work all the time, so I can't tell when his growth spurts were when he was a newborn. Now that he is older I can say he had one at 6 months because he was eating jars and jars of babyfood and formula, and now he isn't eating nearly as much and he is almost 8 months.