Growth Spurt support needed!

[Ellellie]

Hi Ladies!

FTM here to a 1 month old who is the hungriest little boy at the moment! I'm guessing it's a growth spurt and I'm finding it really hard to cope. He's feeding every 1.5-2 hours, draining both sides and falling asleep at the boob so by the time he is done, I feel like I get about an hour to have a life before he wants feeding again. He'll fall asleep when he is done and I'm so scared to move him from my lap to do anything in case he wakes up, so I end up sitting with him asleep, changing him and then wondering if he'll go down, so by the time I pluck up the courage to get up (when I can't hold off going to the toilet any longer!) he's down for a little bit, then ready to feed again (I'm probably making a rod for my own back by sitting with him for so long!)

On the plus side he seems to sleep for 3-4 hours over night, so I get a little sleep on a night, but during the day I find it really difficult to find the time to catch a nap.

Please tell me this doesn't last long! I'm not looking to give up BF, I just need some moral support!

Thanks guys :-D

It sounds just like a normal day with a one month old to me.

Could you try feeding lying down during the day. That way you can have a nap together.
Have you thought about a sling. something soft and cosy would be good I loved my Close carrier but have heard really good things about Kari-me and moby or slightly cheaper but still good victoria sling lady. I found DS would cuddle up to me in the sling and I could do things like eat lunch or go to the toilet.

It does get easier, breastfeeding, being a mum, everything but it takes time.

Oh and I think cuddling a baby is just about the best thing you can do for them so no rod for your own back there.

You get an hour to have a life?! Brilliant! I know it's hard, but it does get easier. There are definitely days that you have to give over to just feeding, sitting, cuddling and at this stage you get very little back cos they're not even smiling yet. On the plus side, you can watch a lot of tv, no guilt. With ds1, I watched every episode of the Golden Girls during his first month or two. Ds3 is 3 months now, I've got Cagney & Lacey but have only managed to watch a couple of episodes. Does he sleep in the pram if you take him for a walk? It takes a fair bit of preparation, but if you get him into the pram as soon as he's fed, changed and settled you might get out for an hour or two and he'll sleep while you have a cappucino.
Incidentally, my house is a tip since i prioritise baby's needs and then mine. But I can live with that.

Thanks for the perspective ladies :-)

I've got a sling but find it hard to get around and do anything with him in it. Maybe if I tried to not do so much...

I'm scared of having a go at having a nap with him feeding or next to me in case I roll over and suffocate him or trap him between cushions etc :-(

Just need to keep telling myself it's not forever and you are right about prioritising his needs. I'm not sure if it's all sunken in yet, this parenthood malarkey :-S

Having babies messes up your body, but it messes up your head more! I know I said I prioritise baby's needs, but mine do come a pretty close second. It's so important to look after yourself, whatever that means to you. I have three boys now of 5, 3 and 3 months and I would have lost the plot a long time ago if I didn't do things for myself as well as for them.