Is DS having enough milk at 6 weeks?

[brightongirldownunder]

I'm probably worrying about nothing but have noticed that DS has started sleeping for much longer periods of time over the past few weeks. He is 6 weeks old and up till now has stuck to the 98th percentile, as he was 10lbs when born.
My main worry is that some nights I have to wake him to feed, mainly because my breasts are so engorged. I'm producing so much milk it is spraying into his face every time he latches on and he gets really upset. It wasn't like this with DD, and I'm not sure what to do, especially at nights. He's pretty contented in general, after a tricky start and can sleep for up to 4 hours in one go during the day if he's in the sling. Should I get him out and wake him more often? Is it normal for him to sleep so much? If I express some milk to ease the engorgement, wont I just produce more?I'm so scared of getting mastitus if things don't change...
Thanks in advance!

Initially I want to say it's fine, but there are a few issues in there and I'm not an expert.

potential oversupply: although after 6 weeks supply does start regulate well

night time: I wouldn't wake

daytime : potentially feed more at 3 hourly. Is he sleeping 4 hours/going 4 hours between feeds/both.

How many feeds is he getting a day?
Is output normal? The fact he seems content is a good sign

expressing: if you do just enough to relieve yourself of discomfort it is fine supply wise.

I suggest ringing up one the helplines as I find myself wanting to ask loads of questions, so I think it's better to ring someone in RL.

Thanks penguin. Maybe he's coming down with a cold because he was really snuffly last night...
I definitely still have too much milk as it hasn't regulated itself yet, which makes me worried.

bump....am getting a bit depressed about the state of my boobs. Yet again I've saturated DS who is furious and has thown up a huge amount. I had to wake him up at 9:30 because he was still asleep. I would love to say I'm happy about that but he is too sleepy as I have to stimulate him to feed. My breasts are beginning to feel so beaten up..

Bright, your milk supply will settle but at the moment it's clearly very enthusiastic so let's see how you can manage that.

There's a really useful page here: www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html to read through which will give you lots of info. I'd be looking at block feeding, changing position and expressing just enough for comfort.

Don't worry about it not having regulated itelf yet as it will, and following these guidelines will make a big difference :)

I would second the block feeding suggestion - I had to block feed which will slightly reduce your supply to a level you and DS can cope with. I was able to soak DD's lower half whilst drowning the top half! every feed involoved a change of clothes for us both. Block feeding was definitely a help, it took about a week to settle down.

How long is he sleeping at night? It was at about this stage that DD sorted day and night so slept longer at night but fed more frequently in the day.

Will look in to block feeding as I'm desperate for a solution. The problem I have is that his feeding habits vary so much - oneday it will be every 2 hrs the next it could be every 4. The same atnights. But I think if I'd left him last night he would have slept from 10 til 7am and I would have been milky explosion. In the long term this is great but whilst my milk supply is so OTT I can't sleep because of the pain. I feel guilty moaning about a sleeping baby but I really need to sort this out.

Oh don't feel guilty about complaining! It's a most inconvenient and painful problem.

I have to ask this - have you considered expressing to donate to your local milk bank? :) Visit www.ukamb.org to find your nearest.

I know, that isn't going to solve your problem and you want your supply to settle, not to increase, but if you find it easy to express then it may be something you'd consider. If you're expressing just a little for comfort then it's a good use for it!

But going back to your problem. I think that block feeding will help fairly quickly (say a week) but given your oversupply you'll need, I expect, to express off a bit before each feed to avoid too strong a let down.