Demanding constant feeds

[powwow]

My DD is feeding nearly every hour at the moment and when she is not on the breast she is screaming the place down. My BF supporter says this is a growth spurt and will last a week, however I am finding it difficult to get dd to sleep for at least 3hrs.

Any comments welcome to get through this spell to avoid giving in to a bottle.

how old is your baby?

dd is 4 weeks old today

Yeah they do that - it takes about six to eight weeks to establish enough milk supply so she is just trying to up things. Also bear in mind she is going through the first growth spurt (she will every six to eight weeks for a year). Just go with it, it'll only last three days. I know you are knackered but honestly, it's entirely normal.

sounds pretty normal I'm afraid

have you a sling so you can get on with stuff while she feeds?
can you feed her lying down?
do you cosleep?

(NB no actual harm will come to dd if she sleeps in shorter blocks than 3h!)

Yes, like chocolate says it's totally normal. Absolutely knackering but completely normal. I just spent 2-3 days doing nothing but feeding and got DH to cook or get takeaway. Also drank about 3 litres of water a day. I found the first growth spurt (at about 5 weeks for my DD) the worst, the others were much easier. Hang in there if you can, it's honestly not going to last long and you'll be glad you did.

I found the one about four months the worst actually, but yes intravenouscoffee is right, you need lots of fluids and LOTS OF FOOD. Chocolate is an excellent choice. I learned to eat one handed and just fed DD constantly and eventually after 72 hours things went back to every three hours and were fine.

BTW if you can, spend as much time as you can resting. If you are relaxed and comfy you will get through it easier and I found the milk situation resolved quicker when I just took myself, a flask of tea and some chocolate to bed with trashy paperbacks (and the baby obviously).

it is very hard when you have some around you who say just give dd a bottle even the health vistor is saying to do both how ever i have i hve heard that giving a bottle makes dd lazy and that will be the end of breast feeding.

will take all of your comments on board thanks will try the taking thinks to bed ie drinks and food and try and work through it.

Powwow well done for not junping to the 'bottle solution'. You are doing the best thing for your dd by just going with what she needs - and what she's telling you she needs is lots of milk and cuddles! Good luck with the next couple of days - it honestly does get much easier after week 6 or so. Her amazinf little baby brain is telling her to feed lots to build up a nice healthy milk supply. Well done her and well done you!

thanks to all those who have replied I now feel better knowing that this is normal and I am not doing anything wrong, last thing I want to do is fall at the first hurdle.

Powwow - have had this a couple of time so far with ds, get yourself comfy on the sofa and line up lots of telly to watch and get your dp to run around getting you drinks and snacks (chocolate cake!).
Keep up the good work