6do growth spurt? Overfeeding? Help!!!

[Murtette]

OK, this is my second post of the day. I'd forgotten how confusing these early days were.

DC2 is 6do & ebf. I posted this morning as he has been posseting a lot and I was worried it may actually be reflux. Sod's law, since then everything has stayed down.

And what a lot he has had to keep down! Since noon, he has been pretty much permanently on the boob. He's had 2 x 20 min naps, has had a few 5 min screaming sessions in his pram but has otherwise been on the boob and properly feeding, really guzzling food rather than just comfort sucking. He's currently screaming his way around the cul-de-sac in his pram being pushed by DP. Is this usual? Could it be a growth spurt? I wasn't expecting one for at least a week yet... does the fact he was 10 days overdue make a difference?

In the past 24 hours, his feeding pattern has been:

5pm - 11pm - cluster feed with a couple of 15 min naps & one 100ml vomit
1.30am - 3.45am - cluster feed with a couple of 30 min naps & one vomit
6am - feed (one boob)
7.15am - feed (one boob)
8.00am - feed (two boobs)
9.15am - feed (one boob)
10am - feed (one boob - small vomit)
11am - feed (two boobs)
noon - 6pm - see above

Please tell me this won't continue! I've achieved nothing today which doesn't matter as GPs & DP are here but tomorrow its just me with 2.7yo DD & DS. Its going to be a struggle keeping DD entertained if I'm stranded on the sofa!

This is what my LO was like! Full on isnt it!!! As far as im aware its totally normal for some babies and may take some time to pass. Set up camp as you may be there for a while!

My first experience has ensured there wont be a second experience!

Get your GP's to cook and freeze meals whilst they're there. I hired a pt nanny for the first 3 months as i would never have coped with DD and newborn DS alone.

Maybe screaming because of wind? Perhaps a sling and a semi upright position would help calm DS; maybe you could try one which allows you to feed whilst he's in it (I've never succeeded with this, but it's worth a try). Maybe it's silent reflux and feeding makes him feel better?

My DD was/is high needs and seemed to feed around the clock in the early days- it was more about survival than anything else!

Good luck!

This is 100 per cent normal from the sound of it - he is 6 days old, and less than a week ago he was inside you, feeding round the clock, and close to your voice, cosseted and cosy....the world outside is new, and you and your breasts are familiar and comforting to him. He may well scream when he is away from this familiarity - far more likely than wind or reflux at this age.

You are 6 days postnatal. You are not meant to do anything but cuddle, feed and get to know this new little person :) It won't continue - this is newborn stuff.

If you can, enjoy the help on offer and lie back and relax. No need to stress about it :)