Growth Spurt?? - McKinney,TX

Cluster feedings...not a lot of time between to even get a bite to eat or go to the restroom.
My baby boy had one in the hospital. And has had a few since.
Also remember to eat. No dieting yet. You need the carbs and
produce to help with the production of milk. Protein can also
help with making wee ones gassy. *I do love my meats* *sigh*.
And gassy...part of his need of me is his need to toot. I am his comfort, better than pacifier *cuddling*.

6 weeks is a common time for a growth spurt.

I agree with the other posters that your son is probably going through a growth spurt, which accounts for the increased nursing sessions. It is very rare to not produce enough milk for your baby. Just make sure that you are nursing him when he wants to, and you body will do the rest :-)
Also, with my daughter (she just turned 1 and has been wanting to nurse more often the past few days due to teething), I try to keep in mind that she's not just nursing to fulfill her hunger needs - it's an emotional thing for our babies, too. He may just want more time with you right now and is comforted by you nursing him. Especially if you were with a lot of people on Thanksgiving and he's not used to that.
Hope that helps!

Oh, yeah! My baby had one at 3 weeks, at 6 weeks and at 13 weeks old! I thought I was going to pass out b/c I was so tired! No worries. Just try to make sure that you get what sleep you can.

Sounds like a growth spurt to me! 6 weeks is infamous for a rough growth spurt. Just keep feeding him. I promise you won't be disappointed the more you feed him for the first 3 months. If he is gaining weight and your boobs are "drained" after each feeding, he's getting enough. Your body will keep up, just keep yourself hydrated!

Is he eatting any kind of food? If not maybe it's time. Also, I know it is hard but what you are eatting affects your milk, when I was breastfeeding I had to eat a bland diet. No onions, garlic, broccoli, cabbage, no sprouts, beans .....basically nothing that give a lot of gas. I was anemic too after I had my daughter so too much ferrous ( iron ) caused a lot of gas. Sometimes gas on the tummy makes you feel like stomach pangs like your hungry, that could be it. As for food I started my daughter out on oatmeal mixed with applesauce, she gobbled it up!
Have a great holiday!

Hope this helps!

J.

Yep, sounds normal to me. Just let him nurse lots, and your supply will increase to meet his "demand".

Hi, E.!

Don't worry about whether or not you have enough milk. Our bodies are wired to take care of our babies and your body will provide your baby with all that he needs. If he needs more than what you're producing right now, then his additional nursing will encourage your body to produce more milk. Give it a couple of days. The Lord wired us to be able to feed our babies exclusively for the first year of life (although we don't typically do that), so just relax. You're able to provide your baby with all that he needs. If it's still a concern after a day or two, you can rent a breast pump and pump after each feeding. That should definitely send your body the message that it needs to produce more milk. I hope this helps!

S.

I think everyone worries about their milk supply. I agree with a previous post..if you're changing the appropriate amount of diapers, you're okay. I also noticed you said that your son is gassy...try cutting out dairy. He might be having an intolerance through your milk. Citrus, beans, dairy (anything gassy can pass through). I went off dairy for almost a year.

Both my girls went through this. I know it is not a supply problem. Especially if you are exclusively breast feeding. It is most likely a growth spurt. There will be a stage where it seems like they hardly eat anything all day. Then you wonder what is going on then! Most likely eating habits of babies change often... go from eating more or less depening on what is going on with their body. They could be growing which uses up more energy or teething. Sometimes they could be sick, etc. Sounds like things are pretty normal. Good luck!!

Hi E.,

When I experienced the same thing with my baby boy, it wasn't that he was really hungry, he was gassy and for some reason eating calmed him. So just a thought. I think sometimes they want to nurse because something is hurting, maybe it is just gas?

please please please do not think you have a supply problem. Total misconception. Your body makes exactly what your baby needs--just let him feed as much as he wants. This is the best way to ensure your supply, and he may very well be going through a growth spurt.
Maybe he was wanting to "feast" like everyone else that day! :)

Good luck...and what I found helpful was going to my public library and checking out some books on breastfeeding, and reading them while my baby nurses. It is reassuring.

They do go through a lot of growth spurts, but they have 5 distinct cries or sound that tell you what is wrong and only one means hungry. One means tired, wet or dirty, needs to burp and bored I think is the last one. This is in a book, tested out to be true and was on Oprah twice. I wish I knew them and could tell you, but you might could google to find it.
Be sure you are not eating any dairy such as milk, yogurt, cheese, etc. until you find if he is intollerant to milk products as most babies are. A mother's milk is the only milk intened for all of us. That is why you find thousands that are lactose intollerant and have cramps, stomachache, diareah and headaches from dairy. Also brocoli and beans.
Soy or rice milk and soy products are great. Even soy ice cream. This is temporary and you can eat them again when you wean him.
Be sure and nurse on one side the longest to get the hind milk which is where the fat is. The front milk will be thinner and sometimes look like skim milk or bluer in color. Then begin on the other breast next time. This is help from La Latche League. You can call them and they are wonderful 24/7 with any help you need.
V. B.

either way, the best way to increase your supply is to have him nurse more frequently. Probably is a growth spurt but some simple ways to increase your supply are to drink tons of water, eat oatmeal and drink some mothers milk tea by Traditional Medicinals- this has fenugreek in it.

It is normal. Baby will do so for several days to stimulate your body to make more milk. Just drink more water and other liquids to keep up and do rest and don't stress. Soon your supply will meet the demand. Enjoy this time with baby as you two get it together and have fun. The other S.

E.,
I really think he is just going through a growth spurt and him nursing all the time is telling your body to produce more breastmilk. Once your supply increases (because of his constant need to nurse) he will go back to every 3-4 hours or so. He will do this periodically as he grows. Remember, every new mom obsesses about having enough breast milk for their baby. I did that constantly with my first baby and he grew just fine. Just remember, if your baby is peeing enough than he is probably ok. Good Luck

No worries! It is his first growth spurt & is his way of increasing your milk supply to meet his needs. It will probably last a couple of days, and then he'll be back to "normal". It will also happen again at about 12 weeks. :-)

Sounds like a growth spurt to me too... just watch wet diapers to make sure he's getting enough. Stay super hydrated. It should pass within a week or two, when your body will have adjusted to the new demand with more at a feeding.

S.