Breastfeeding Your Baby During a Growth Spurt

Growth spurts are an essential part of your baby's physical maturation, and they're developmental milestones. Also called "frequency days," growth spurts happen to every baby. Still, breastfeeding moms often worry that they have a low breast milk supply during these times. It can be very confusing when a child who has been breastfeeding and sleeping well all of a sudden becomes fussy and starts breastfeeding all day long.

But, how can you tell the difference between a growth spurt and a decrease in your breast milk supply? Before you start to worry, it's important to learn what's normal at this stage in your child's life.

During a growth spurt, your baby will suddenly begin to breastfeed more often, perhaps for longer periods of time than she had been. And, she may be very fussy. Her sleep patterns may also become very unusual and inconsistent. She may be sleeping much more or not sleeping at all.

The major growth spurts occur at approximately two, three, and six weeks, then three and six months. Of course, there will be other times where you might notice frequency days as your child grows. It will even continue into the teenage years.

Many mothers question whether their babies are breastfeeding more because they're hungry or simply because they find it comforting to breastfeed. If you feel that your newborn has had an excellent feeding (you can hear gulping, your breast is much softer after having begun with a very full breast, and your baby seems generally relaxed), here's what you can do:

• Put her back to the breast. Try to breastfeed again preferably from the same side you just breastfed from. She might have nodded off before she completely finished nursing. (Sometimes it only takes another 5 minutes of breastfeeding for a baby to be fully satisfied.)
• Take a stroll. If you feel confident that the feeding was a good one, try a walk around the block. Sometimes babies have a hard time settling in and when they start to become fussy, most mothers think they're still hungry. The best test is to see what happens when you put her in the stroller or in a sling and go outside. If she falls asleep immediately (most babies do once they get out into the fresh air), she isn't really hungry. If she screams her way around the block, she may still be.

Quite often, moms feel anxious that their babies are fussy and breastfeeding so often. They think they have a low supply of breast milk. You can tell the difference between an actual growth spurt and an issue with your breast milk supply by how long this stage lasts. Growth spurts are temporary, often ending as fast as they began. However, a low breast milk supply will stick around until you take measures to increase it.

While your baby is going through a growth spurt, follow her lead, go with her cues. Breastfeed frequently, and take care of yourself, too. Try to get some rest, eat as well as you can, and drink plenty of fluids. If your breasts feel softer and not as full as they typically do, this is normal. Soft breasts do not automatically mean you lost your breast milk. If your baby is constantly breastfeeding, he is just telling your body to make more milk. Your body will respond accordingly. But, if your supply remains low and does not seem to go up in a few days, you should take measures to increase it immediately.

Fussiness is the most noticeable problem seen in babies during a growth spurt. When a baby is fussy, a mother's gut response is to breastfeed because she knows that will have the most soothing effect. If the baby is frequently fed during this stage, the fussiness may subside. Also, if there is a disruption in the sleep pattern, the baby may be overtired, and it may be harder to get her to settle down. It may seem like an endless cycle at a certain point, but stay calm and focused on giving your baby what she needs. 

Your child may sleep a lot during the growth spurt, and this is normal. Waking a sleeping baby to breastfeed during this time is not recommended. Her little body is working very hard -- if she's sleeping, you can let her sleep for a while. But, keep in mind that newborns and small infants should breastfeed at least every 3 hours. The older your child is, the longer you can let her sleep between feedings as long as she's growing well and doesn't usually have any trouble nursing.  

Growth spurts can be frustrating and exhausting, but keep in mind that they are temporary and essential for the healthy growth and development of your child. However, if your baby doesn't settle back down into a normal breastfeeding routine in a few days, it may be something more than just a growth spurt. It's best to call the doctor and have your child examined to find out what might be going on especially if your child continues to appear hungry and irritable after feedings, or it seems like she isn't getting enough breast milk.