6 week old and frequent feeds - growth spurt/supply issues or snacking?

[TooMuchTV]

My 6wk old ds wants to feed constantly - in the early weeks I did get some 3hr stretches during the day and one 4-5 hr stretch at night (he was 4.5kg at birth). For the last couple of weeks he has been feeding more and more frequently - I am rarely getting more than 1.5/2 hrs between feeds in the day, 2.5/3 hrs overnight and he seems to want to feed constantly in the evenings. He is generally pretty unsettled in the evenings too and it takes from about 7 to 10 to get him to sleep (a cycle of alternately feeding and carrying him in the sling until he finally drops off).

Could this be a growth spurt and how long do they normally last? How long does it take milk supply to catch up?

Could he just be snacking and not getting enough in one feeding session to keep him going? He does often fall asleep while feeding (he usually seems to continue feeding in his sleep - I can see and feel it but don't know if he is getting much).

I would love to have a chance to eat dinner with my dh and dd and actually have a bit of evening...

Hi Too much

It could be that he has gotten used to feeding to get to sleep, then falling asleep before he's had a full feed and then waking cause he is hungrey iyswim.

My DD was amazing at being put down to sleep then gradually got used to being feed to sleep, think I just took my eye off the ball during the day and it became the norm that she expecvted at night.

The way that I got her through the night, with just ne feed at that age was to change her nappy when she feel asleep to wake her up a bit then feed her again and put her down. But remember she is still very small.

During the day I would probably do the same, it just makes sure they are getting a full one before going down.

Also I found it useful to write down when having a feed and you should start to see some sort of patter.

good luck

Settle on the sofa from 7-11 and feed feed feed. Don't try getting your lo to sleep as this will just make the session longer. He needs to tank up at this time and stimulate your supply. The best thing you can do is to not fight it

It's a phase and it will pass!

Definitely a phase. At 6 weeks, I was feeding dd every 1-1/2 to 2 hours for about 4 days. I agree with Starlight to just let your ds tank up in the evening without attempting to put him to sleep. Once he's full, he'll go down. Good luck!

There are growth spurts at 6, 12, 16, 20 and 28 weeks I believe.

I seem to remember when my lo was your lo's age, toomuchtv, camping myself on the sofa on an evening watching Buffy while ds fed.

It will pass!

Thanks - today has been a little better so far. Sadly I don't get to watch what I want on TV while I am doing the non-stop feeding - dd needs cbeebies to keep her entertained. Blooming hard with two of them...