Growth Spurts | Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP. If there is a rule that would help moms survive growth spurts with a smile, it would have to be, “Don’t Watch The Clock!” Don’t watch the clock for how long baby has been nursing. Don’t watch the clock for how long it’s been since baby last wanted to nurse. Don’t watch the clock for how many times you’ve been awakened that night to nurse. Growth spurts happen. They happen with all nursing dyads. Some babies protest more about them and others seem to sail through them with the greatest of ease.
Signs of a Growth Spurt Baby is nursing often or almost nonstopA baby who was previously sleeping through the night is now waking to nurse several timesBaby will latch and unlatch, fussing in between These signs are all signals to the mom’s body to “MAKE MORE MILK NOW!” Often Observed After a Growth Spurt Baby sleeps extra for a day or twoMom is a bit fuller than usual for a day or soBaby calms down at the breastYou may see an increase in wettings with the increased supply baby is drinking. Growth spurts. © duron12345 - Fotolia.com Most babies go through several growth spurts (also called frequency days) during the first 12 months. What is a growth spurt? During a growth spurt, breastfed babies nurse more often than usual (sometimes as often as every hour) and often act fussier than usual. The increase in baby’s milk intake during growth spurts is temporary.
In exclusively breastfed babies, milk intake increases quickly during the first few weeks of life, then stays about the same between one and six months. As solids are gradually introduced after six months, baby’s milk intake will gradually decrease. Physical growth is not the only reason that babies may have a temporary need for increased nursing. When do babies have growth spurts? 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). How long do growth spurts last? What is the best way to handle a growth spurt? The Six Week Growth Spurt | Nurshable.
Dear Daughter, You turned six weeks old on Friday. This means many things, but the most all-consuming thing of the sixth week of life is your six-week growth spurt. I lovingly refer to this as the “growth spurt from hell” as it seems to be the most difficult one of all. In happier news, once this growth spurt has passed we move on to the second stage of breastfeeding that I like to call “SUCCESS!” First, though, we must get through this growth spurt. I know exactly what this is, and exactly how we will pass through it.
I know that how you are acting is not an indicator of my supply, nor is it a judgement of my ability to provide for you. This is communication, not indictment. None of this makes it any easier. This is not starvation. You don’t need a bottle right now. I can see why so many women give bottles, convinced that their supply is low. You may wonder why I’m telling you this. Why am I telling you this? You’re doing great. <3 Mama Like this: Like Loading...