Emptying the breast? Help please!

[pinkpolkadot]

Hi, I am currently on day 7 with my newborn dd and breastfeeding. Things are going ok I think and we are both getting the hang of things a bit.

Thing I have a question about though is the whole 'emtying the breast thing'. My midwife told me that it is important to empty the breast before moving going on to the next breast to ensure that they have the calorific hind milk. She said that I will be able to tell when the breast is empty after a feed as I won't be able to express any out if I squeezed with my hand.

dd feeds for a good amount if time each feed, maybe 25-40 mins and comes off herself appearing satisfied however when I then squeeze my nipple loads of milk still comes out. Does that mean then when I come to feed again even if it is 2 hours later I should start again on that breast to empty it or not? If I do that then my other breast seems to be really engorged- help! V confused!

there is no such thing as an empty breast

and it doesn't matter how you do it as long as you alternate which breast you start off at with each feed

but no breasts don't empty

sounds like you're doing great by the way

Brilliant thanks, I'll keep doing that then, was just worried she wouldn't be getting the right stuff but mind at rest now!

Really appreciate your reply

pinkpolkadot - glad activate has explained. I think it's shocking your midwife has so misled you like this - no one needs to breastfeed with this squeezy thing going on to check when to swap breasts. Ridiculous of her to say this - she is in need of some training, I think.

Breasts get 'emptier' but they do not 'empty'.

Use your baby's behaviour as a guide to swap. Your baby will lose interest in one breast, sucks will get slower and/or fluttery, he will come off or wriggle or fall into a doze. You can swap then.

Do not worry about the type of milk. The baby and your body sort it out.

Tell your midwife how confused you have been and ask her to read this (if you are brave!):
www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/foremilk-hindmilk.html

Thanks tiktok, I'll have a read of that and I'll defo mention it to her when she comes on tues, be interesting to hear her response