Surviving the 3 month growth spurt

I will make it through, I just have to.

That was my saying all week this last week. We conquered and are starting to overcome the 3 month growth spurt.  We are battling the every hour to hour and a half feedings...we are winning the fussiness and erratic sleep schedules. We will survive. And we will thrive. lol.

I have done a lot, I mean a lot of research when it comes to baby growth spurts (among other things). For a breast feeding mama, it is not a walk in the park. For a formula fed baby, the baby will take more ounces at each feeding and will possibly want a bottle a few times extra each day. For a breast feeding mama, it is a glued to the sofa, no sleep, honestly feeling like a dairy cow kind of week.  And let me tell you, those little articles you find that says 2-3 days and baby may  eat more than normal and may  have changes in sleep patterns...HA! They make me laugh!  But there are steps to get through...

1. You will also be starving! I mean think about it, the baby is eating upwards of 14 times a day (in my case :), he's definitely taking every slither of nutrition from your body! Which is good for a growing boy, exhausting for mama. Make sure you eat a well balanced diet, that does not include the bag of powdered donuts I ate this week. :) Eat lots of protein, good fats, such as olive oil and real butter, and plenty of veggies. When Ty goes through a growth spurt, I literally eat us out of house and home.  One would think I am a teenage boy! ha.

2.  Stay hydrated. Drink PLENTY of water. Not only does this keep your energy levels raised, but also keeps you hydrated and helps with milk supply. I mean, you do have a screaming baby because he doesn't understand that he just drained you 30 minutes ago and now wants another full feeding! Gotta keep that supply up!

3.  Nurse. This may sound obvious. But nurse anytime baby wants to.  It may not be convenient or easy. As a matter of fact, it is tiring, it is hard, you want to just lay on the floor and not move. But you need to. Why? 1. Constant nursing  ups your milk supply for growing baby. After all that's what he needs. Let him nurse and pacify. Believe you me, it will make a difference. He will be more satisfied.  2.  If you try to "schedule" feedings rather than nurse on demand during a growth spurt (I am an advocate of nursing on demand all the time, but that's another story for another day) you will prolong the spurt. Baby needs mommy's milk to grow and flourish. And I have been guilty of saying "goodness, he JUST ate!" Well guess what, he's hungry again..:) 

4.  Rest. You will be tired from the sleepless nights and exhausting days. Rest when baby rests. I am one that can not take a nap during the day...oh how I wish I could. But resting on the couch with a good book (for what I'm reading now click HERE) can rejuvenate you like none other.

5. Finally..Pray. God knows you are weary, sweet mother. Pray that God will grant you the wisdom and strength to endure. I feel that during these sleepless nights, God is calling me closer to him. As hard as this season may be, I know that it is just a rain drop. And God pours his precious rain drops so we all may grow. Baby in his physical growth, and I in my spiritual walk. 

Luckily, the next baby growth spurt will be at 6 months! Ironically we will be starting solids around that time which will help fill his little tummy. I am researching and praying now about "baby led weaning" (not really "weaning" in the american sense :) or the all so common pureeing baby food for his first solids. 

Hoped this helped you if you are going through a growth spurt yourselves. It is a season and it will pass. :)