yet MORE q's from me: BFing again!!

Austin is 3 weeks tomorrow (well, 2am wed morning!) and I am sure that he is going through a growth spurt.  According to my MW this is a classic time for one (Oh joy!)

Last night was a shocker, with him feeding 2-3 hourly and not settling very well between feeds.  Today he has fed roughly every 2 hours, although some feeds have been after only 1.5 hours and he has fed from both sides at every feed.  I've reached the point where I can barely remember what times the feeds have been, or when the next one is due, and I have absolutely no idea which side to feed him on each time as with him feeding from both sides (and sometimes back to the first side again), alternating has gone totally out of the window!

So my questions are firstly - does this sound normal for a GS?

Is there any way that I can help to increase my milk supply?  I feel like he isn't getting the amount he wants at each feed (or at least isn't getting it quickly enough) as he keeps pulling off mid feed and getting quite cross.  I'm having to re-latch him several times during each feed.  The initial bit (where he is suck-suck-gulp) is fine, but once he has to suck more often between gulps he is pulling off.

Umm....and how long does this last? 

Thank you - and I am so sorry for the amount of BFing q's I have.  Austin might be my 2nd baby, but the successful BFing part of this is very much new territory for me!

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Fussyness and increased feeding are typical gs behaviour.  The aim of a gs is to up yyour supply so the best thing you can do is feed as he asks and get yourself stocked up with plenty of snacks (flapjacks!) and water.  For me gs only lasted a day or two, I found it easiest to just go with it.

what H said go with the flow supply soon increases x

Erm I found that the GS up to now have only lasted 24 hours and I found that the day after i would feel very full.  AFAIK the GS are there to increase your supply so make sure your drinking plenty and get some rest I found I got really tired but it certainly sounds like gs to me.

I am so glad you and A are getting on well.

Thank you both!  Am ok with the go with the flow bit, nothing else to do during the day (although last night was horrible and i'm so tired!).

Am not a huge fan of flapjacks, but I do have loads of cereal bars in, which I take up to bed with me so that I can snack during feeds at night, as well as munching on them during the day.  Are there any other foods that are particularly good whislt BFing?

Tomorrow is going to be interesting - we have no electricity from 9am - 2pm!!  I shall be doing a lot of reading I think!

WEES - get dug in with lots of fluids, flapjack and the TV remote.

And tbh, the feeding 2-hourly thing might not just be GS related - from about 2 weeks Holly started feeding every 2 hours (bar a blissful 7 hour sleep at night until the 4 month GS) and didn't space out her feeds until weaning.

Sounds like you're doing a grand job with the BFing btw.

Thanks KMW - I haven't felt full all day, which I normally do when he is next due a feed so its been a bit odd!  I guess he is feeding so often that my boobs aren't getting a chance to get full!

How are you and Hudson getting on?

Argh!  SL don't say that!!  His feeds can take up to an hour, which means I only get an hour then before the next one starts!  I can't do that for 6 months - I might die!!

If you don't like flapjacks, what about porridge / ready brek? (It is the oats apparently)

All my GS have lasted 2-3 days each, and each time I've just felt like a zombie. Nothing to do except retire to bed with DVDs etc

Ooh Ok, not a fan of porridge, but I do love ready brek!  will start filling up on that then.

Am glad to know that i'm not alone in feeling knackered, and that its a normal thing!

WEES - drink plenty, eat well (oats are the top thing!) and it should pass. If oats really aren't your thing, fenugreek and fennel (I think?) are other things good for supply. You're doing a fab job!

Joe also fed 2 hourly for 6 months but his feeds became dramatically shorter from an hour to about 10/15 minutes after 16 week GS

I would treat your self to cake xx you deserve it x

H and I are getting on very well, he is a hefty 11lb 11oz and is getting on with bf'ing very well.  We are getting lots of smiles and some giggles and he actually has brilliant head control.

Best thing ever for breatfedding is to ditch the clock.  Feed whenever baby is hungry, ie rooting, sucking hands etc.  Makes life much simpler

Feeding 2-3hrly through the night and 2hrly through the day is pretty normal bf 3wk old behaviour, growth spurt or not.

Well cone your doing brilliantly