Okay so I'm almost certain we hit the 4 week growth spurt yesterday... He nursed.... and nursed... and nursed... and was fussy and all too...
At some point last night, it's like a switch flipped and he suddenly wanted nothing to do with nursing... He actually had a screaming fit because I tried to latch him... Is this normal? So far today, he's still asleep. Will he be sleepy all day today? Am I going to need to pump to keep my supply up?
I felt so bad last night... it went from him crying at the breast when the flow slowed/stopped to him crying because I wanted to put him ON the breast...
What is up with my 1 month old??
Smalls
10-28-2010, 06:57 AM
Babies are crazy little beings aren't they??
From my experience, the growth spurt around 4-6 weeks can be exactly what you are describing. Feeding non-stop then just sleeping. DS2 would eat in the morning, sleep until noon, eat, sleep again until 4, eat then be cranky until 10. After about 3 days, he settled back into his old routine of eating every 2-3 hours, some snoozing here and there during the day.
I wouldn't be too worried. Again, your supply will automatically adjust itself. If you want milk for storage, go ahead and pump. I'm not sure your supply would be permanently affected.
mama0609
10-28-2010, 09:18 AM
Thanks mama... I guess I get nervous because I was dealing with supply issues (day 4 without supplement!!!) and so I'm trying to trust my body but being thrown into a growth spurt right out of the starting gates made me really nervous... He keeps acting like there's nothing there and I just keep saying 'he's peeing, there's milk, he's getting it...' Yesterday he had 9 wets and 1 dirty over 12 hours... Plus one heavily soaked overnight diaper... I keep putting him back to the breast, he keeps fussing and popping off so I keep putting him back... He's not going to start hating the breast is he? I mean, this is how they are?
DD was supplemented the entire duration of our BFing relationship so growth spurts were a little different for her... I'm like a FTM bfing lol!
mama0609
10-28-2010, 09:18 AM
DP
HeatherlovesCDs
10-28-2010, 10:22 AM
Just keep doing what you are doing. It sounds like you are doing awesome!! I was really nervous when I stopped all supplements with my first set of twins. It takes time to build your confidence. Trust your body and trust your knowledge. You see the wet and poopy diapers and you know there is milk. You know your stuff. You are doing fine. Force yourself to act like you have the confidence until it actually comes. :giggle: I assume you know how to tell the difference between actually drinking at the breast and just suckling, but if you don't, please ask. There are great videos on Dr. Jack Newman's site. If he isn't wanting to nurse and isn't actually drinking, I would pump. I would pump as much as you can anyway for a few more days to a week. But, that's just me. I like the security of the pump. Instead of a security blanket, I have a security pump. :roflmbo: (hence the extra milk)
Is it possible you have an over-active letdown? I went from having low supply last time to an over-supply this time. I was totally taken by surprise when I suddenly had an over-active letdown around 4-6 wks when my supply really started to go nuts. Does he choke and sputter at breast and then pop off and cry? Are you spraying when he comes off? (I don't spray by the way, but definitely have a strong letdown that choked my son. Not everyone does, but most do if they have the over-active letdown. I don't leak either even when I'm really full.) Check out kellymom for more symptoms of this and ways to combat it.
You are doing awesome!!!! Just keep going! That is what I always told myself, "no matter what just keep going. Don't stop." The power of positive thinking and self-motivation type talk is strong. You can do it and your baby will start nursing again. :hugs::hugs:
