Help - newborn feeds every half hour, low supply??

[claire196]

my 1 week old feeds constantly day and night, coming off and on and at the most going half an hour between feeds. He's been like that from day 1. I know he's getting milk - plenty of pooey nappies - but I'm worried he's having to work very hard to get it. I've never felt engorged or full breasts, no let-down reflex and I cant feel a difference as the breast empties. I think his latch is good, although nips still very sore. He also gets fussy at times just pulling off and latching back on over and over.

Is there something wrong?? What can I do?? Please help, feeling desperate and very tired!!

Nothing wrong, it sounds quite normal.
I have bf'd twice, once for 6 mths and 2nd time for 13 mths.
Its early days still and both you and LO are getting established, stick with it, things will get easier and the feeding will get further apart.
Could also be just an early growth spurt...

Newborns feed a lot to get your milk supply up.
Make yourself comfy, watch films, drink plenty and eat lots of chocolate nice things.
Congratulations :)

Chocolate milk, thats a great idea...
I'd go with that.

Have you had him weighed yet OP?
Have you had his latch checked just in case he's not transferring milk really well. Sometimes, if their mouth isn't open enough, it's a bit like drinking through a straw- you do get some milk, but it's hard work.

Not everyone feels a let down reflex either or gets engorged.

It's all probably just normal newborn behaviour though - they do need to suck a lot for comfort, for food and just to be near to you.

If he's otherwise happy and putting on weight, I second the film suggestion :-) We joined LoveFilm in the early days and I could get through am entire series of Cold Feet in a day using their online service

All sounds fine to me, you just need to ride it out. Well done you.

Agree sounds totally normal to me. When I was going through the same thing, reading up about cluster feeding was really reassuring and explained the very frequent feeding and the fussing and repeated pulling off during a feed (have a look on the KellyMom website). I felt like I was constantly empty, but I think it was just dd building my supply. Best advice I was given was just to go with it. Sounds like you're doing a great job!

My newborn is a week old too and for the first few days he was feeding almost constantly as well - short feeds, mostly latching well but sometimes just sucking for comfort (all part of initial bonding I guess, so I let him if he seemed comforted by it). My nipples were killing me but now not quite as bad. He is now doing slightly longer feeds and sleeping for longer, I guess it just takes a while to get in to a bit of a routine. Stick with it though, you sound like you're doing fine, as tiring as it is!

Catch up on some box sets, surf the web, eat loads of calories while your burning loads and generally veg out with your gorgeous new addition.
It will get easier - congratulations!

Thanks everyone, i think I just really needed that reassurance. Getting his lacth checked tomorrow but as everyone has said, I'm sure it's all normal newborn stuff!

Wish I'd seen this earlier. Keep going and do NOT introduce FF like I did, which I was told to from day 1 and 2 at the hospital. Latch and feed was never the same after that.