Hi Laurie,
I, like many, wrongly used the terms "growth spurts" and "appetite
increases" for babies' fussy periods at specific times - until I became
aware that these terms were *not* evidence=based at all.  (For reference,
see Kent J, et al, Pediatrics 2006. I don't have the volume, issue and date
in front of me.) Now the fad term is "wonder weeks".

As regards the fuzziness around 5-6 weeks, when babies want to feed like
crazy to stimulate the supply, I've been aware for a long time that this
coincides with a number of appointments for 6-week check-ups, which may be
scheduled just before this age. The obstetrical follow-up, the paediatric
follow-up. and here in Australia, often a visit to Community Child Health.
While they are out, mothers often drop by the submarket to do a big grocery
shop on the same trip. Over the years I have seen this over and over.
Existing clients would ring me, usually about 6 pm, about their babies'
constant breastfeeding since the evening before. They would be convinced
that this was how it would always be and some wondered if breastfeeding was
for them or if they should quit. Others wondered if something were wrong.

Detailed questions invariably in these cases ascertained that there was no
physical issue, but that there had been "something different" the day
before, or for a couple of days before. It was usually these appointments,
which necessitated finding parking, waiting round, and so on. Sometimes,
taking grandparents to the airport was a further factor in the busy-ness of
being out of the house. I used to call this "the day from hell" and warn
parents to anticipate it, and to be reassured that if feeds were delayed,
more frequent breastfeeding would adjust the supply - and that the baby
knew what to do.

Time after time, very consistently, the clustering of medical and other
appointments around the 6-week mark has been the "something different" that
has triggered the fussiness in hundreds and hundreds of babies in my
practice over the years. I always ask the mother to ring me back in 24
hours. Not once has a mother done so. I leave it for an hour or so, and
then call the mother. I get two responses: 1) "Oh, did I ring you
yesterday? Everything is fine now." or 2) "It's as if I have a different
baby today.".

I'm not in favour of buzz words to describe these periods, especially as
those used in the past have been found to be lacking been different in the
last day or two. (Questioning along these lines will also pick up if the
infant is unwell or if there is a new medication.)

Virginia
Dr Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA
Private Practice IBCLC (cohort of 1985)
Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Date:    Wed, 9 Sep 2015 23:03:51 -0500
From:    Laurie Wheeler <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: growth spurts

It seems in the past everyone accepted the existence of growth spurts or
frequency days which some consider to be the same things, but some consider
to be different things. Then as I recall, the existence of predictable (at
certain expected times) growth spurts was then called in to question.
What is the consensus of the Lactnet community, for my own curiosity,
regarding talking to moms at hospital discharge, about growth spurts? Or
making a f/u call prior to the first expected growth spurt.? I typically do
not mention relatively precise weeks to expect a growth spurt, but rather
that feeding patterns can and do change as baby matures, and responsive
feeding remains a good strategy. And to call when concerned about any such
changes.
Laurie Wheeler RN MN IBCLC
Louisiana and Mississippi USA

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome