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Infant feeding

Possibly Silly Question Regarding Milk Production....

4 replies

Creena · 25/05/2007 16:43

Hi there.

My DS is now 16 days old I have been exclusively breast feeding him so far. This might sound like a strange question but how long on average does it take for breast milk to replenish itself? The reason I'm asking is because DS is going through a right greedy phase at the moment. All day yesterday he would feed for at least half an hour on one side, emptying it completely; he still wasn't satisfied so I'd put him on the other side and he'd empty that too. He did this at almost all of his feeds. Not only am I finding it knackering and physically draining, I'm worrying whether there's enough milk getting through to both boobs in time for the next feed, which is generally three hours later. I was in tears at 1am this morning, worrying about whether I would be able to keep up with him, whether I would have to supplement his breast feeds with formula feeds (and just how big a failure that would make me feel) and whether I'm going to spend the next 6 months feeling utterly knackered and wrecked as part of my new life as a human milk machine......

Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated!

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hercules1 · 25/05/2007 16:45

No need to supplement. Breasts are never empty just less full at times. It takes about 6 weeks before you might feel vaguely human again. Just trust your body.

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belgo · 25/05/2007 16:49

three hours is plenty of time! Milk is very easy for your body to make - remember your same body can make something as complicated and amazing as a human baby - it has no problems making milk!

Feeding three hourly at this stage is perfectly normal. Feeding from both sides is also normal.

Congratulations btw on your ds, and I promise you it will get better!

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Creena · 25/05/2007 16:56

That's really comforting - thanks, both!

I'll refrain from even thinking about supplementing then and will perservere. He's gaining loads of weight so he's obviously filling up as much as he needs to.

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tiktok · 25/05/2007 17:01

Aw, Creena...,you really,. really dont need to worry about the time it takes to replenish. Here's how it works - the narrower the gaps between feeds, the more quickly milk is made. The reverse is true, too - long gaps between feeds means slower refilling.

Milk is made all the time, with faster productioon with emptier breasts....you will always have milk for your baby even if you feel 'empty'.

www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html#driver

explains ir

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