Posted by Cheryl Taylor, CBE
If there is a rule that would help moms survive growth spurts with a smile, it would have to be, “Don’t Watch The Clock!” Don’t watch the clock for how long baby has been nursing. Don’t watch the clock for how long it’s been since baby last wanted to nurse. Don’t watch the clock for how many times you’ve been awakened that night to nurse.
Growth spurts happen. They happen with all nursing dyads. Some babies protest more about them and others seem to sail through them with the greatest of ease. Some books will tell you they happen at so many weeks or months. They may tend to, but the truth is, they can happen anytime.
Signs of a Growth Spurt
Baby is nursing often or almost nonstop
A baby who was previously sleeping through the night is now waking to nurse several times
Baby will latch and unlatch, fussing in between
These signs are all signals to the mom’s body to “MAKE MORE MILK NOW!” Our bodies listen very well if we will merely respond to the baby’s needs. The extra suckling will stimulate your body to make more milk.
Often Observed After a Growth Spurt
Baby sleeps extra for a day or two
Mom is a bit fuller than usual for a day or so
Baby calms down at the breast
You may see an increase in wettings with the increased supply baby is drinking
Growth spurts seem to throw new moms for a loop. Just when they thought they were beginning to understand their baby’s signals, they abruptly changed. The frequent requests to nurse can be confusing as well as the frequency with which growth spurts happen within the first few months. The key is purely and simply to go with the flow (pun intended!) If you respond to your baby’s signals to nurse during a growth spurt and do not interfere with them in any manner, your body will quickly respond and increase supply. Typically it happens within 24 to 48 hours. Sometimes growth spurts seem to drag on for a week. This would be a good time to make sure you’re drinking plenty water.
Don’t allow a growth spurt to rob you of your confidence in nursing. Instead, allow it to instill confidence in your ability to read your baby’s cues. Your confidence will be further rewarded as your supply increases and your baby settles back down into a happy breastfeeding baby again, with a smart mommy who knew that sometimes baby really does know best and our job is to listen.