Struggling with 10 day growth spurt - help!

[PussinJimmyChoos]

DS2 is two weeks tmw. He's been having a growth spurt since Thursday and I have been feeding constantly - have barely moved from the sofa except for toilet breaks as I know the best way to ride out a growth spurt is to keep feeding to up supply. He will cry, latch on, suck for 5 mins or so and then fall asleep, wake up, cry, latch and so on - which I've persevered with. Although he's latched on properly, I don't always hear the deep gulps that I get in the night time feed when my boobs have had a couple of hours rest and are fuller so unsure if he's actually getting much at each feed

However, its got to pitch point this evening and he was screaming with hunger even when he was on the breast. I got very distressed and gave him 3oz formula as couldn't bear to think he was hungry.

How best to deal with this? I know supplementing is not advised during a growth spurt but just could not see him rooting so frantically, crying etc

When I squeeze my boobs manually, milk does appear so there is something there, just not sure its sustaining him!

Plenty of wet/dirty nappies btw

I agree, Rita...the weight gain is just fine, Puss, yes? Your baby may well be wanting contact and closeness with you, and if you are not there, then his dad will prob do, while you sleep :)

(Breasts do not need time to refill....HV has got that bit wrong.)

I have tried to hand him over to DH - but does not always work.

He only settles with DH if he's alseep already when I pass him over (after he's fallen asleep on the boob, I unlatch him and pass over the v shaped pillow with him on it to DH) but a lot of the times he wakes up and I have to offer the breast again.

DH taking him out in the sling would not work atm

I am stressed. I really want to breastfeed long term and am worried my supply is now fked from the formula etc even though I have not given him that much in the scheme of things, especially when consider that I did over 12 hrs of feeding yesterday...

I think I am more heartless than you I would just send the baby out with his father and they'd have to cope. Everyone needs a bit of sleep.

Again - I'd agree with Rita :)

In the sling, with his dad,with dad doing a very, very bouncy walk, and singing softly into his ear and getting out of earshot of you while you sleep......and don't come back for at least an hour minimum :)

Puss - I would agree with Rita and tiktok, just send DS2 and your DH out and they will be fine - DH will just have to cope with the noise Could he take both boys out for an hour to let you get some sleep?

I sympathise - DS2 is a velcro baby and has only slept in his own bed or basket for about 20 hours in the two weeks since he was born, the rest of the time he has been asleep on either DH or I which is exhausting, especially now that DH is back at work.

This too shall pass :)

would dh need a sling?he could just take him out for a walk holding him if he's not comfortable with the idea of the sling?

Have you tried leaving him with his Dad? We found DH could settle DD better than me from quite early on, but I had to be out of sight/hearing/smell or she cried for boob. Getting DH to put her down really helped us lessen the extent of cluster feeding. I still fed her lots but it settled to cluster feeding until 10-11pm and then DH settling her to sleep, rather than cluster feeding till 2-3am.

Tried the sling yesterday and he loved it! Yipee!!

The feeding seems to have eased off a little bit - giving him the formula on Tuesday and him sleeping and getting energy back a bit seems to have righted the cycle somewhat. I didn't give him any formula for the midnight feed which I had been doing, instead he fed from me, then I gave him 3 oz ebm then he had a comfort suck, fell asleep, woke at 4am for a feed and then again at 6.50am - not bad at all

It's difficult when they get into a too tired to feed/too hungry to sleep cycle isn't it? Glad it seems to be getting better and the sling is a hit :)