Is this a growth spurt?? help

Hi May mummies ,

first time posting here. My DS (first baby) was born May 13th 2011 and was what I called a marathon eater! (extra info: I EBF)  He used to eat non-stop during the day for weeks (I swear I used to sit for the day just feeding him!!)  but slept pretty well at night 6 hrs, wake up to eat then 4 hrs wake up to eat. Was not a good day sleeper but I counted my blessings at night.

He went through a bad patch at around 2 months old of waking up 3 or 4 times a night to feed but after him naturally stretching himself in the day to eating every 3 1/2 to 4 hours he started STTN by 3 months with a few good day naps. What I think also helped with the better sleeping is that he has properly "found his hand". I am able to put him down awake at the early signs of being tired and he sucks on his finger for a couple mins and puts himself to sleep.

The last few days though my normally sweet boy is turning into a cranky child! I know my husband and I have been very blessed with a baby who doesn't really cry so shouldn't complain but I  want to know what this is! He is still STTN but eating nonstop again during the day and taking shorter, more frequent naps. He calms down around 3/4 pm and stretches out feeds to 4 hrs till his bedtime (around 7pm) but he's eating almost every 1 1/2 hrs during the day.

If he feeds at 7am he will start crying an hour or so later out of the blue and the only thing that calms him is the boob! This continues throughout the day. I've tried other things but it doesn't work and I really don't believe that a 3 month old should be left to cry and cry..... he must need something! I don't mind the extra feeding if that's what he needs, just got accustomed to the fewer feeds.

 Does this sound familiar to anyone?? Is it a growth spurt, how long do they last? We are going on the 3rd day now. I have always BF on demand and my instinct tells me to continue, even though he's changed and feeding more.

Don't do bottle with BM yet as he has refused and geez that's depressing, to pump every day and he won't take the bottle. Hope he does by the time I go back to work when he's 5 1/2 months.

Thanks for any info/ experience that anyone can offer!