https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 29 May 2026 16:35:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-973325 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:19:00 +0000 mrskc 973325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aww hang in there! I remember week 3-4 being the worst week ever for me! My son was nursing non-stop during the day. He would nurse every hour and sometimes even less. It was rough! They go through a growth spurt at that age. All that nursing is signaling your body to produce more milk so it's wonderful for supply! Also, breast milk is digested much faster than formula so that's probably why she can last longer after the formula bottle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-973306 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:13:57 +0000 purrpletulips 973306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bookworm: I always used the football hold when i pumped while nursing because it kept LO's appendages out of the way. good luck </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-973277 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 15:07:19 +0000 Bookish 973277@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@septemberlove: @Mrs. High Heels: @mewtill: thank you :) I'm trying not to go bananas over BF-ing, but my goodness, there are so many things to stress about! Pumping that huge amount this morning really helped my confidence. I know DH loves to feed her, so if I can stick to that one formula feed and pump during it, I can build up my stash and give DH his bonding time!</p> <p>@purrpletulips: I haven't tried that yet..I'm very uncoordinated and I'm afraid I'll end up spilling milk everywhere, especially since LO loooves to bat at my nipple shield and kick her little lets when she latches on :p I think I'll have to wait to try that for a bit, until I really get the hang of feeding her, or maybe try a different hold. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-973227 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 14:57:24 +0000 JoyfulKiwi 973227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: sounds like growth spurt to me, but really I wanted to say you're right about cutting yourself some slack. Breastfeeding will constantly throw you curve balls, but I got some really good advice: "Breastfeeding works best when you're not thinking about it." Easier said than done, right :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-972899 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:29:35 +0000 purrpletulips 972899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried pumping one side while she nurses from the other? That can sometimes help because your body will letdown for her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-972842 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:12:08 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 972842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: 4 ounces is a lot to pump at 3 weeks postpartum. You sound like you're doing great... I have two kids and still don't have it all figured out! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-972837 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 13:10:10 +0000 lomom 972837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: hang in there! We didn't get the hang of it til roughly 10 weeks so you're light years ahead of us!!! Trust your body, it sounds like you guys are doing so well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971835 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 09:02:55 +0000 Bookish 971835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: @Mrs. High Heels: @hilsy85: thanks y'all :) judging by how much she has been sleeping lately, it does appear she's hit a growth spurt. Usually she's up all morning but she just conked out after second feed.</p> <p>I also pumped while DH fed her this morning, and got almost 4 oz!! In one go!!</p> <p>Sounds like I need to stop being hard on myself and just let her do her thing. It's hard to remember that it's only been three weeks... I keep feeling like I should have this all figured out by now :p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971743 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 08:34:52 +0000 hilsy85 971743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: this is a great article about supposedly low supply:<br /> <a href="http://theleakyboob.com/2011/10/help-my-milk-supply-is-low-or-is-it/" rel="nofollow">http://theleakyboob.com/2011/10/help-my-milk-supply-is-low-or-is-it/</a></p> <p>It sounds like your LO is acting totally normal, and that fussy behavior and wanting to nurse all the time is signaling your body to make more milk--not because you don't have enough but because LO is growing and will need more in the coming weeks. The best thing you can do is nurse nurse nurse as much as you can, and as others have said, try to pump when LO gets a bottle to keep your supply up. Hang in there!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971331 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 00:21:50 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 971331@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup - there is a growth spurt at 3 weeks and again at 4 weeks. I experienced the same marathon feedings too and constantly felt like my boobs didn't have enough. You might feel this way often until around the 6 week mark, then everything regulates a lot more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971326 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 00:15:46 +0000 shopaholic 971326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say growth spurt. The 4 week growth spurt was harder on me than the 8 week one I heard so much about. Hang in there! All those cluster-feeding sessions will help establish your milk supply. And it really does go sooo fast. At 4 1/2 months, I already kind of miss those marathon nursing nights. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971309 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 23:46:26 +0000 LaineysMom 971309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: instead of pumping in the middle of the night I would just bf.. When DD was 3 weeks I would bf her at 12AM, 4AM, then DH would feed her at 8AM, and I would get up 2 hours later at 10 AM to pump. I would always pump enough for her next day's bottle and my boobs were ready for her 12PM feed. This schedule saved my sanity those early days. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971272 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 22:34:36 +0000 coastmama 971272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO ate around the clock for about 3 days around 3 weeks. I literally kept some cheez its and water next to me on the couch and never moved. Hah. I say growth spurt! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971142 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:02:17 +0000 aprk 971142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: it's less about the amount the pump gets out, and more about the stimulation it gives your body to produce more. It definitely sucks having to pump when LO gets a bottle, but it's the only way to keep the supply cycle up! Especially during a growth spurt. So even if they are hungry they should go back to breast. Giving formula after BFing just continues the cycle of feeling like you don't have enough milk. </p> <p>Three weeks is still in the trenches. You are doing great. Take it day by day!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971138 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 21:01:08 +0000 maybebaby 971138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bookworm: Ugh, I know. It can be frustrating. Early on I would barely get 1/2 an ounce after a feed. Are you interested in any other supplements? I just started taking Brewers yeast and have been taking more milk plus and drinking mother's milk tea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971125 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:55:49 +0000 Bookish 971125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownie: @MamaMoose: I haven't been pumping when she has the bottle because I needed a break/sleep so desperately. I'll try to pump tonight when he feeds her, because DH usually keeps me awake while he's feeding her anyway. :p</p> <p>@maybebaby: thanks :) it really does feel like I never leave the couch these days. I don't mind the baby snuggles, I just hate that she's so hungry after I feed her. I hate the stupid pump, lol, I get so discouraged when I can get like an oz. :p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971113 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:49:37 +0000 maybebaby 971113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a growth spurt to me! I know the feeling of wanting a break--both emotionally and physically. We did that for the first 4 weeks and then we decided to give EBF another shot, which was what I had really wanted all along. There have been lots of days where it feels like I never left the couch--but they were worth and and we've now been 4 weeks supplement free.</p> <p>The most important thing at this point is to protect your supply, which is sounds like you're doing by only doing one bottle of formula. Your pumping output is great for primarily EBF at this stage, and remember the pump is not as effective at getting milk out as baby is, so don't be concerned based on how many oz you are getting.</p> <p>You are doing a great job--it can be so worrisome when you think LO isn't getting enough, but as long as the wet and dirty dipes are on track and the weight gain continues, you are golden! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971110 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:47:33 +0000 MamaMoose 971110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definite growth spurt time. But I agree with @brownie: that you should be pumping every time LO has a bottle. Milk supply is determined by demand. At three weeks my pedi still had me waking LO every four hours at night to eat just to be sure my supply was established. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971101 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:42:21 +0000 brownie 971101@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never felt confident with supply but gaining weight and plenty of wet diaps made more more gung go about keeping it up and doing whatever I needed to. </p> <p>Ps 3 oz is fantastic for a 3 week old they have itty bitty tummys. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971100 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:41:03 +0000 brownie 971100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>3 weeks was a growth spurt for us. Are you pumping when dad feeds her the bottle? That may be hurting some of the supply/demand cycle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/growth-spurt-cluster-feeding-or-low-supply#post-971092 Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:35:59 +0000 Bookish 971092@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had a frustrating few days. Last week, we decided that to give me a break, DH would give DD a bottle of formula for one of her nighttime feedings. She is (for the most part) only waking up twice at night (yay for that). When DH gives her the formula at night, she conks out for 3-4 hours after eating 3oz. The last couple of days, she's been BF-ing nearly non stop in the morning and the evening. I feed her for 15+ mins on a side, she gets sleepy, then wakes up STARVING 30 mins later. Just now I fed her on both sides and then had to give her formula.</p> <p>I'm starting to worry that my supply isn't keeping up with her. Pumping hasn't worked out too well so far, I had one day where I got 3oz in a session, but the usual for an ENTIRE day is about 2-3oz (usually pumping 2 times after nursing)...and that's when I can fit pumping in in between her marathon feedings.</p> <p>She has plenty of wet diapers and is gaining weight like a champ (9lbs at her appt on Sat!), so I'm not sure if she is just going through a comfort nursing phase... or just changing up her routine to cluster feed...or if it's me.</p> <p>I'm drinking oodles of water and eating oatmeal every day. </p> <p>How did you know if your supply wasn't enough?</p> <p>EDIT: LO is 3w 3days old </p>