Feeding non stop- omg how long do growth spurts last???

[Samraves]

My dd has been feeding almost continually since 6pm last night- she slept badly as kept waking to ne fed and hasn't had any daytime naps lasting more than 15mins... I am so knackered and she is showing no signs of slowing... She has not been like this before (she is 7 weeks) and I am assuming it is a growth spurt.

How long is this likely to last as I am soooo tired and can't face another night like last night. I am also worried I will run out of milk too as my boobs are now getting very soft :-( my husband is now talking about getting some formula to top her up and give me a bit of a break. I am reluctant as I want my body to be able to provide enough for her but it is so tempting...

Don't worry, you won't run out of milk as long as you keep on feeding her. Introducing formula can be detrimental to your milk supply though as BF works on a supply and demand basis- if your DD is not suckling then you won't make the milk she needs.

It is tough when they go through phases like this but it usually doesn't last very long and as long as she's having wet and dirty nappies then there's no reason to panic. There are a few reasons why she might be feeding more often, it could be a growth spurt or maybe she's feeling a bit under the weather and needs the extra comfort.

Have you had a go at feeding lying down yet? Once I cracked that it was brilliant, you can lie on your bed feeding DD and have a doze (you might want to read up on safe co-sleeping first to reassure yourself). Also learning to feed in a sling can be helpful so you can get other stuff done during the day if you want- or just lie on the sofa and get your DH to bring you cups of tea

It could be the 6ish week growth spurt. How long they lasts varies. My DS's 6 week spurt was a week and a half (but he wasn't feeding anything like as often as this so I wouldn't panic and think your DD might go on that long). 1.5 weeks was longer than most other babies I know. I know someone else whose DS's 6 week spurt meant he fed for 72 hours pretty much without stopping, then settled down again.

As EauRouge said, you won't run out of milk, and feeding down is the best bet you'll have. Soft breasts don't mean that you don't have milk - they do get softer as your DC gets older, and it probably just shows that you don't have an excess of it. Giving her formula will mean your supply doesn't match her needs.

Kellymom has some information on spurts.

Keep going - plenty of biscuits and cake - and remember it'll pass. :)

:-( I know I shouldn't run out of milk but I just tried to see if i could express a little to check and nothing came out! Normally it does... And my husband has my screaming dd- I asked him to take her and give me 15mins as my arms were aching. Don't want to admit to him that I don't seem to have any milk left! But she is crying and hungry and I can't seem to satisfy her :-( hoping a small break followed by hearing her cry will prompt a let down but not sure it will...

Don't worry about that either, a baby is much more efficient at getting milk out than a pump. Pumping is not a good way to tell if you've got milk, lots of women can't express milk but can BF just fine.

Yes, my SIL could never express a single drop but successfully bf her DS for 12 months. Expressing bears no relation to how much milk you have - and lots of people find they can express less as time goes on, as their supply settles down.

Crying and fussing isn't necessarily a sign of a lack of milk, but it is classic growth spurt behaviour. Kellymom info in this is here.

If it is a growth spurt, all her extra suckling is her putting in the order for extra milk. Until your supply 'catches up', you won't have any 'spare' to express IYSWIM.

Can you snuggle up in bed so your arms get a rbreak?

How did last night go, Samraves?

You'll have milk. As someone else said, cracking feeding lying down is a godsend.