Growth Spurt, feeding every 2 hours, would intro of formula help?

[GoldenFleece]

My dd is no 13 weeks and is going through a growth spurt (I assume)previously she was waking once in the night now it is at 11, 1am, 3am, 5am, 6 and 7. This has been ongoing for last 4 nights. At present she is 100% breast fed, if I introduce formula now will it mean she goes for longer (as I am exhausted) or should I ride it out? Suggestions welcome please.

ASAIK formula doesn't necessarily mean sleeping for longer. I'd try and stick it out personally, easier said than done I know. But if its been for 4 nights then the growth spurt should be nearly over? Is there any way your partner could give her a ebm feed at say 1 or 3 so you get a bit more sleep?

hi there - my dd was 100% bf too, and did the 2 hourly waking thing at times on and off for the first six or so months. I never did introduce formula, but had friends who did, with varying degrees of success. A couple of them found it worked, a couple found it made no difference. I guess it depends how much you want to keep breastfeeding exclusively - i personally didn't want to give dd any formula at all, so stuck with it. The only benefit I can see of trying is that your dp or dh could do some of the feeds in the night so you can get some rest, even if it doesn't stop the waking.

Thank you. I have to admit introducing formula goes against my "plan" at the moment. So I guess I will just have to stick it out. I will try and express more and then dh can do the 3am feed. Thanks for the suggestions (grin)

When my babies went through growth spurts I fed them in bed and slept at the same time. This did not lead to them staying in the bed forever. Have you tried that.

Formula will not make a difference but will interefre with your supply and disrupt the flora of the baby's bowel which can increase risk of allergies and asthma. Not worth it IMO.

it is very tempting isn't at this stage to do anything to get a bit more slepp but, as others have said, this phase won't last long - it is exhausting though.
Try and hang in there if you can and just sleep with baby for a little while until it all calms down a bit

The other thing you can try is monitoring how she is feeding during the day - is she feeding well and often enough? If not, that might mean she wakes up more during the night. I know I got a bit lazy about the daytime feeds at one point, dd would snack, and I'd be out and about all day, so wouldn't really pay attention. Once I started making an effort to feed properly every 2 or 3 hours the nights got better.

Yes a good point about daytime feeds. Try 3 hourly feeds to get her 'tanked up' before bedtime.

I found during DD's growth spurts, that she would cluster feed in the evening. I would be feeding ever hour for an hour between 5pm and 12pm but she did then sleep a big chuck before the night waking...seems to remember that was 6am.

DD naturally fell into evening cluster feeds, but maybe you could keep offering more in the day/evening whenat least the TV is alright to watch.

We did loads of early nights, DD in our bed nursing while I lay down and read...bliss.

Hang in there.

I found during DD's growth spurts, that she would cluster feed in the evening. I would be feeding ever hour for an hour between 5pm and 12pm but she did then sleep a big chuck before the night waking...seems to remember that was 6am.

DD naturally fell into evening cluster feeds, but maybe you could keep offering more in the day/evening whenat least the TV is alright to watch.

We did loads of early nights, DD in our bed nursing while I lay down and read...bliss.

Hang in there.