Great topic. I don't think there is any evidence for growth spurts at specified, predictable times. If there was, they would show on any of the growth charts based on collected data from many, many cohorts.
I think it may be a disservice to mothers to even use the term. Instead, I talk about babies feeding unpredictably at times, and their needs increasing for a range of reasons - including the need to grow, for sure, but also including the need for comfort, emotional and social development etc etc. if we talk about growth spurts, we are looking at bf as solely a nutritional 'thing' in the solely physical sense. If mothers feed responsively, and freely, then in most cases they really don't need to consider if their baby is feeding more than he did last week.
Heather Welford Neil, UK
> On 10 Sep 2015, at 6:03 am, Laurie Wheeler <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> 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
>
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