Growth spurts and Leaps Effing suck!

jshrop

Hey ladies.... Hope you all are enjoying your squishes . I adore my cutie but I swear I'm going to lose my mind if I have another nearly sleepless night of her attached to my boob 24/7.

Any STMs have any tricks up their sleeves to help me get through these transitions? We've survived the 2 day and 3 week spurts. I do believe we've hit the 6 week one now. I know other FTMs have to feel as overwhelmed with these periods as I do, or maybe I'm just the nutcase lol!

izzetoot

You're def not a nutcase and while I have no advice, I share your pain.  Im FTM too and LO is exactly  6 weeks. Right on sched, he's going through a growth spurt.  I haven't slept longer than 2 hours for the the last 4 days.  Ive been pumping like a mad woman and when I just can't take another 45 min nipple chewing feeding frenzy I just give him a bottle. It takes 10 mins and then he passes out. 

kks4471

My LO had a growth spurt at 2 weeks and yesterday at 4 weeks. I was going absolutely crazy, ready to give up EBF. What helped me was knowing it will only last a day or so, and knowing that everyone here goes through it too! It totally sucks though, being so attached like that.

H&H2014

I feel like LO has been in a growth spurt her whole life. She latched on almost immediately after birth and hasn't left my boob. She cluster feeds every day from 2 to 10pm or sometimes later. She sleeps for good stretches at night for the most part lately. I start to get a little crazy by 7pm. We've been supplementing with a bottle of pumped milk around 8 just so I can get a little break.

otter1103

MJ hit a growth spurt at 3 weeks and has been going since :-\ She's 6 weekson the 4th which is sometimes another spurt so basically it's been the equivalent to a three week long spurt. She's still overall a "good baby" but I do miss the old laid back chill baby we used to have. She cluster feeds a couple times a day then we get a good 4-5 hour stretch of sleep. Just getting that stretch to coincide with nighttime is hit and miss though.

Rei2metse

I, too, am interested in learning some techniques for surviving growth spurts. Since LO is on the boob nonstop I haven't been able to pump and with lack of sleep have questioned EBF. I just keep telling myself this too shall pass and in a few months I'll miss these times he and I shared.

flerlgirl

Thin mints

stephpaez

flerlgirl said:

Thin mints

I wish I still had some! @flerlgirl‌

katekat8721

The moments where I feel overwhelmed, over touched and over stimulated I pump and let DH give 'em a bottle. I then have a nice beer and take a hot shower!

MrsRahl

Crazy question but how do you know they're going through a growth spurt? Eating a lot more often? How do you know they aren't using you for a paci? No snark here, I'm really trying to figure out what DD's deal is. She's not sleeping longer than 2 hours at night and takes forever to go back to sleep when she was starting to sleep so well last week! Like 4.5-5 hour stretches. I feed her then 20 minutes later she's screaming so I put her in the mamaroo with a paci and sometimes she falls asleep and sometimes we have a paci battle until I just feed her AGAIN. I HATE that I've broken down to letting her sleep in a swing but it's the only time I get more than 2 hours of sleep and this is every day from 10am to 1. Anyone else letting their LO sleep in a swing or bouncer or something similar?

jshrop

kaysa2 said:

@MrsRahl‌ what you wrote sounds exactly like a growth spurt. They can last for days. You just have to ride it out and try not to loose your mind. Feed your LO on demand and know that eventually the spurt will end.





I can tell when I am being used as a pacifier instead of dinner because DD isn't swallowing. Just watch the little neck to see if baby is actually pulling liquid, or is just sucking. You could also try pumping and bottle feeding a few times a day. Then you could determine, by how long she sleeps after, if she is growth spurting or just needs something to constantly suck.

WSS, this was going to be what I told you too. They're extremely fussy, want to nurse constantly, and you get very little sleep. It happens around specific times. Good luck and know we are right there with you!

sjn00

Ooooh man... Every hour and a half last night she was up and eating 3-4 ounces... Then wouldn't let me put her down. I hope this is a growth spurt and that it ends soon so I can get some sleep soon!

kbellizio3

Well, LO gained almost a pound this past week. Guess that explains her being attached to me for two straight days earlier this week. It must've been the one week growth spurt. It only lasted 2 days (thank god).

@kaysa2‌ two nights ago I was in full zombie mode. DH had to take her at 4am because I just couldn't function anymore. Just breathe! It'll be over soon!

ricecakes1216

SaraJoy00 said:

Ooooh man... Every hour and a half last night she was up and eating 3-4 ounces... Then wouldn't let me put her down. I hope this is a growth spurt and that it ends soon so I can get some sleep soon!

This was our night. I got the pleasure of being up with C. I love that little nugget, but momma needs sleep! I made H get up with him so I could get an hour. After listening to C scream (poor thing needed an extra oz and H couldn't figure that out) for an hour and a half I got out of bed to relieve H. I gave C his extra formula and took him to bed with me. Finally got some sleep.

This morning all C wants to do is eat and be held. I need food!