My 4 week old daughter has started feeding round the clock! She'll eat one side, then stop. I'll change her and offer the other side, then she'll eat again, then stop. VERY soon after, she'll want to eat again. So, I'll feed her again, this pattern, and many other versions has been happening for days and I'm exhausted. I know I'm producing enough because I can self express when she 'claims' she's done and there's still more milk. Is she going through a growth spurt? Is this normal at this age? Do you think my milk isn't giving her enough vitamins, nutrients, etc? Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.
Sounds like a growth spurt...it is exhausting, but just stick with it. My daughter had one at 6 weeks and I thought there was something wrong with her and was going to continue to eat like that forever...but it only lasted about 5 days.
Happy New Year!!
Champion nurser! Hang in there. Give her more time on the same side so she will get more of the hind milk which is thicker and heavier.
Do you also know how to nurse lying down? This is helpful so you can rest while she is busy nursing. Read Night Time Parenting by Dr Sears or go to AskDrSears.com. Both are helpful and know that it is normal for babies to nurse a lot! Tummies at this age are the size of a golf ball and they are very efficient at digesting mommy milk, because it is so bio-available and healthier than anything on the planet. Your milk will change with her needs. Just make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids and eating well to nourish yourself.
I would hook up with your local La Leche League, just google them and they can help you with any of your nursing goals.
Good luck and enjoy, for this is a fleeting era!
The days are long, but the years are short.
J.
Could be a growth spurt, but have you tried offering the same side again? Babies get the 'foremilk' first, it's watery and has less substance to it. Then it turns to 'hindmilk' which is rich and creamy and keeps them fuller longer. Maybe your babe is just getting the foremilk and is hungry more often?
I would try to offer her the same side after you change her. Get her to nurse it dry! Then switch to the other side at the next feeding. Your body will adjust to it, don't worry.
Hang in there Momma! You are doing a great thing for your baby!!!!!
4 weeks old is an average growth spurt age. It's exhausting, but you'll get through it. My daughter is now 6.5 weeks old and I'm just experiencing another one...but then after this the next growth spurt shouldn't be until 3 months...yeah!
You're not alone...hopefully knowing that helps! :) Congratulations on the newborn!
Trust in your body to produce the right stuff. My baby would be parked on my chest from 5-10 PM every night. People would want to hold him and I would have to take him right back to keep feeding him because he was starving. With my first baby I thought I only had to feed her every 2-3 hours and that is how my breastfeeding attempt failed. You will constantly nurse and be wearing your baby for the first few months of life. By about 4 months it gets easier as they will have a schedule and your milk supply will be established to produce what they need. Don't let anyone tell you that nursing is easy because it is not, but it is worth it! My baby just turned a year I worked for the first 8 months and I did not use formula so it can be done!
The same thing is happening to me right now. My daughter was born on Dec. 4 so she is the same age. I experienced this with my son who is 4 years old now. Stick with it and just know that there is an end to it sometime!
My daughter is now 4 months old. She still goes through growth spurts about every 2 to 3 weeks. I call them growth spurts because she will want to eat every 60 to 90 minutes for a few days. Normally she wants to eat every 2 hours. Sometimes babies want to use you as a pacifier. If she is wanting to eat more than every hour, I would try to offer her a pacifier in between. If she is truly hungry the pacifier wont work. Good luck, I know how it feels to just feel like a milk machine all day. I wouldn't trade it for the world though!
