Growth spurt? When is it going to end???

[CuteLittleToes]

My baby is 4 weeks tomorrow. For the last 5 days or so he has been feeding every hour - hour and a half. 2 hours if I'm lucky. Day and night. He would also sometimes feed for about 10 mins, come off, and if he's not fallen asleep make start making hungry signs 15 mins later. This can last for a few hours...

I think he might be having a growth spurt, as he just seems getting bigger and heavier every day. At 3 weeks weighing he has put on 14 oz in a week. He's due to be weighed tomorrow again, but I wouldn't be too surprised for a similar result again... Having said that he has lost a bit of weight instead of gaining at 2 weeks, but has more than made up for it...

He is also very windy and as a result very grumpy... When he starts screaming his head off or just has has little unsettled cries I do wonder if I'm doing something wrong... He just doesn't seem happy...

Has anyone had similar experience? Please tell me it will pass soon... I'm drained physically and emotionally... I just want a a couple 3 hour stretches...

Cute while what you say could all be normal! it may be worth getting him checked for tongue tie, just to rule it out.

Is there a bfing support group you can get to? They may be able to suggest something

It's really, really exhausting work being a new mum isn't it. My baby cried a lot when younger and its so difficult to know what they want - especially when you've been through the list - yet more food, try to get them to sleep, tried to make sure they're not uncomfortable (nappy, too hot/cold, windy) - and they still aren't happy. Don't worry you're not doing anything wrong.

Have you tried using a dummy? I didn't plan to, but ended up running out to the local chemist in desperation, and found that it really seemed to help settle my baby (and save me from trying to feed constantly).

It does get lots easier. I found we really turned a corner at about 8 weeks, although that probably still sounds ages away.

Now my baby is a little older - 8 months - I've realised he definitely got a feisty temperament - he wants everything now. I think thats why he was such hard work when he was younger. But he's a real delight to be around - very interactive, very giggly, grabbed, rolled and crawled really early.

Thanks Jingle, there is a bfing group on Thursdays, and I'm planning to go there. I am starting to suspect it myself... I had cracked nipples at the beginning, and one of them has completely healed, so I thought everything is fine, but the other one still has a very stubborn crack... It isn't as painful as it was in the beginning, but still quite hurts when he latches on. I wonder if it's possible to have a tt on one side only?

It probably sounds horrible but I kind of hope he does have a tt... It would just mean there is some hope in feeds getting easier with a simple procedure... Although he wasn't always like this, but I guess as they grow their mouth grows too and it can change things?

Do all bfing groups have a bfing professional? They're not run just by local MW, are they? I just want some advice from someone who has been specifically trained in this...

Bevbennett, thanks for your reply too. Everyone does keep saying it will get better, and I do believe it will, it's just hard to play the waiting game for the better when you're so exhausted...

I have tried the dummy, but he doesn't take it 4 times out of 5. He either refuses to suck it or spits it out within seconds. However, the times he takes it, he seems to settle a bit. Maybe I should try to remember about it more often...

My OH kind of said the same thing - that he does have quite a temperament and "thirst for life" - that's why he's so difficult now... He did flip over from his tummy to his back a couple days ago... he has very powerful legs! So I hope all the grouchiness is a sign he's going to be a bright child...

Thanks for your replies, I'll just keep persevering... It feels like he was born yesterday but he's already 4 weeks, so I hope soon this will be a distant memory...

Not an expert on bfing groups unfortunately but no, I think our totally awful local one is run by the HVs. There's a list of groups here. I suppose you could always ring first to see what support they offer and if there will be a BFC there that day. Your local lll should be able to help too

Sounds like you could do with some RL help though, even if tt turns out not to be the problem