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Is increased milk supply during growth spurts temporary?

jenn43jenn43 member
in Breastfeeding
I've been breast feeding and then pumping when I'm at work, so LO (6 weeks old) gets anywhere from 1-4 bottles per day, usually 4oz per bottle.  We hit a growth spurt this week, so he's eating every 1-2 hours, and I'm trying to pump as much as I can while at work to keep up.  So here's my question:
  • Everything I've read says to nurse as much as possible (and pump extra while at work if you pump) during a growth spurt so that your milk supply increases appropriately.  I've also read that you specifically should not supplement with formula or previously expressed breast milk, because your supply will not increase to keep up.
  • BUT.... I've also read up on the amount of breast milk a baby will need if he/she is taking bottles, which apparently does not increase with age.  I.e. if LO is taking 4oz/feed at 6 weeks, he will still take around this amount at 6 months.  This is in contrast to formula-fed babies, who do eat a larger volume as they age.
Can anyone reconcile these two facts for me?  When taken together, wouldn't this imply that the increase in supply during a growth spurt is temporary?  And therefore if you do supplement with milk from your freezer stash, as long as you continue to nurse/pump as much as you did before the growth spurt started, you should be fine when it's over in terms of your supply?
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Re: Is increased milk supply during growth spurts temporary?

  • jenn43jenn43 member
    theresat858 said:
    If you have a large enough stash, it is fine to supplement from it during a growth spurt -- if it really is a growth spurt, then the increase in milk needs is temporary. However, many babies do start needing more milk during the day as they get older. The total volume/24 hours does not change much, but babies will sleep longer stretches at night, which equates to eating a bit more during the day.
    4 ounces/bottle seems on the high side for a 6 week old.

    We do paced feeding, and burp him every ounce, but he's rarely full before eating 4oz.  Guess he didn't read the book!  Good thing I've got a decent freezer stash, or I would have a very tough time pumping enough to keep up.
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