Does my breast have to feel empty after a feed?

[neepsntatties]

In hospital with dd who is 2 weeks old. She is feeding regularly but only 5 mins each time. Breasts still feel full. Do I need to express until they don't or just let them be?

At this stage they will never feel empty! Once you supply has settled down they will feel empty after a big feed :-)

(I remember being in the bra shop and the lady asked me if they were at their fullest or empty so she could work out what size i needed and I was really confused what she meant because they didn't change size!)

Don't expres as then your body will produce even more. Try to feed her more, if oversupply continues there are a lot of things one can do (blockfeeding etc.) but i think it is too early for that as your milk supply won't have established yet so early on.

If dd only feeds 5min just feed her more regularly, or see if u can prolong it, for example by changing the diaper after and then offering the breast again.

Later on a breast should feel emptyish after a feed but supply won't usually regulate till week 12 or so.

Great thanks, I don't want to express. I managed to get her on a second time there after a wee doze so I will keep trying that.

OP, if you're in hospital, are there midwives or breastfeeding counsellors around you can ask for advice?

Tbh sounds like you are doing well, but it might be nice for you to get some extra reassurance.

It was a student midwife who said I needed to express to empty my breast after she feeds but I wasn't sure about that. She has started to feed a bit more now so hopefully it won't be too much of an issue.

WTF, is there no hope for our healthcare professionals!

Just give your little one plenty of contact and oppourtunities(sp?) to cuddle and feed as she requires, keep going it gets lots easier, well done so far.

:( :(

No need to express - sometimes mothers might need to do this in order to correct under-supply, but not routinely.

I knew I could rely on mumsnet for proper advice!

I know nobody wants to make a fuss when they have a 2 week old - but it might be worth mentioning the advice this student midwife gave you to someone who should know better - after all, she is going to be a qualified midwife one day and it would be good if she could get this right before she is.

Is your LO definitely getting enough? If possibly not, can you feed her more? If the answer to both is "no" then expressing is a good idea. I had to give DD top-ups after a rocky start (scbu, tube fed, ongoing feeding issues) because she got exhausted and wasn't an efficient feeder then so feeding her more wasn't an option. You do need to ensure your supply doesn't drop at that early stage - I nearly lost mine and expressing saved our bfing partnership (going strong at 9wo now).

She's having lots if wet and dirty nappies so I think so. My boobs are bursting so lots of milk! Feeds are getting longer now, she's on the mend thankfully.

My boobs have never felt empty, in fact after each feed there is loads of milk left if she wanted more. Not sure if it's normal or not but we haven't had any problems in terms of weight gain or supply.