how long does a growth spurt last? what is going on?

[cheapandchic]

my 22 week old is freaking out! Wants to feed every hour to every 2 hours and will barely take much. she only stays at breast for 5 min.

She cries a lot more than normal. Wants to be held all the time and is not sleeping well. Naps are now only 20/30 mins if that and she up all night wanting breast. This has been going on for 4 days now. What should I do? I am worried my breasts are not keeping up and do not know how to make her happy. I thought growth spurts were for 24 hours?
Any suggestions?

This doesn't sound like something up with your milk, or like a growth spurt.

Any chance she's teething? If you offer her a finger, will she chew on it?

Could she have a cold?

Oh: and it sounds like holding her a lot will help - do you have a sling?

oh teething...i had not thought of that. yes she likes things in her mouth but I thought babies did that all the time?

she is well otherwise.

Growth spurts can last from about 12 hours to a week and a half. It sounds like a developmental leap, but there's not one around then (unless she was a bit prem - there's a leap at 19 weeks but the fussy behaviour usually comes beforehand - for anything from a few days to a month or so).

It definitely could be teething. A sling probably will help.

My first thought was teething. Is she dribbling lots too?

she was 4 weeks premature.

she will chew my finger, but not so much drool...little bit. my nipples are very sore too.

its just seems like everything is going wrong all of the sudden. fusses at breast, and feeds shorter. fussy if put down, not sleeping well.

its so frustrating. and sling is ok, but I also have a jealous toddler to deal with who is also acting up. 2 screaming children is not fun. I just wish I knew what to do with my little one, she has been previously so easy.

Ah, could be developmental stuff as a factor then - the leap happens at approximately 19 weeks after their due date.

You can read about developmental leaps in The Wonder Weeks. This one is the fourth of many predictable leaps in brain development - and a particularly nasty one IME. It does get better!