Exhausted (again!)...

[Ilovemyboy]

We are 3 days into (what I think is) a growth spurt.

DS (16wks) is feeding every 2-3 hours during the day and is up every 2 hrs on the dot between 7pm and 6am. I am knackered.

He had a growth spurt at 12wks which lasted a week and a hlaf and I was so tired at the end of it.

Any tips on trying to build my supply up quick so this time it doesn't last a week and a half? Should I just demand feed during the day or try and make him feed every 2 hours? I am scared that if I do that he will just snack.

I know he is getting a lot of milk from me now as I have had to change his nappies 3x in the night as he has been soaking wet and has sometimes weed through to his sleepsuit.

I'm going to see a breastfeeding counsellor tomorrow for some encouragement but any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

It is exhausting isn't it! I would demand feed - don't plan too much and don't put yourself under pressure to get things done. Are you co-sleeping? It might help you get through the nights a bit better.

Hi Tatties

We are co-sleeping which does make it easier as I can pop my boob in his mouth but I am having to get up anyway to change his nappy (and vest and sleepsuit most of the time).

Surely if he isn't get enough milk from me atm he shouldn't be peeing so much should he?

Maybe a change of nappies would help make things a bit easier. What kind are you using?

I'm using reusables and am making sure the booster pad is doubled up.

May get some Pampers or something like that until we have got through this phase.

Oh yes of course, that's a pain to be getting up for nappy changes

My ds always leaked at night with disposables, but has been mainly fine since we switched to cloth. A very good night nappy I have found is the Happy Hempy stuffed with a microfibre cloth and a folded terry nappy (used with a Motherease Airflow wrap). I also used to put a towel under him in our bed.

Are you using a fleece liner on top? Is the nappy itself saturated or is it leaking before it gets this wet? It could be that by doubling the booster pad up you are making the nappy itself too bulky and causing the wee to run off the nappy and out of the wrap before it's absorbed properly. I would suggest putting the booster in between the nappy and the wrap itself and see if that helps. Also check that the wraps are the correct size for him - if they're too small you can get leaks. Cloth nappies should work well at night - if they don't there's usually a solution to be found. OTOH at the moment the most important thing is sleep and if that means using some disposables then do it!!

Thanks for replying girls.

Am using flushable liners but have some fleece ones.

I think you might be right about the booster. Will try out what you suggested. It hasn't been a problem until this growth spurt though as most of the time before this he wouldn't need his nappy changing or the most times he would need it changing is once a night.

He has Motherease Airflows and has the right size. Is in Tots Bots Cotton nappies at the moment but they are getting small now. Just waiting for him to get to 18lb then will get him some Bamboozles as they are supposed to be ultra-absorbant.

I just neeeeeeeeeeeeed some sleep. Will try out your methods tonight and if it doesn't work I'm going disposable for the next few days.

Thanks again xxxx

I use boosted bamboozles at night too, much more absorbent than regular totsbots. Try and get to bed early as much as possible and nap with ds in the day if you can.

I always found that a microfibre booster between my unbleached tots bots and the wrap worked when DS was heavy wetting like this - Have you also tried fleece wraps at night as they allow the moisture to evaporate rather than collect in the wrap and leak?

Just some moral support, we are also hopefully towards the end of a growth spurt DS 17 weeks and the feeds are starting to stretch out again (it does feel never ending sometimes). Found best remedy for tiredness Green and Blacks chocolate and napping with him during the day....