one boob or two?

[Twiga]

Hi, have got some reassurance from helenemjays thread but don't want to hijack to ask a couple of questions.

dd is 9 wks old and so far bf is going well, however mentioned to hv on tues when up getting dd's first jabs, that I'm often engorged first thing in the morning and that dd has started fussing a little during feeds - coming on and off, and finishing in about 10 mins. She has said to switch sides after five mins and to not express too much milk off first thing - often manage around 2 ozs from side that I've been feeding from then another 4/5 ozs off the other side - seems to be what I need to feel comfy and less full.

Up til now I've offered one side per feed, am bf on demand and let dd feed as long or short as she wants - fortunately dd sleeps through from around 10.30/11pm but I think that's why i wake very full come morning. Have tried swopping as hv suggested but have felt huge and a bit uncomfy for the last couple of days.

My main worries are: can you over produce as hv seemed to suggest? How can I avoid being so engorged first thing or will it sort itself out over time? Is the fact that dd's feeds are much shorter ok - hv holds that they get the main bit of feed in first five mins? Have feeling I should keep to what I was doing origenally but would appreciate some pearls of wisdom/reassurrance from experienced bfers. dd is my first and I often totally clueless about the best way to bf.

I think if you feed as you are doing then you will settle down. If you dont need to express then dont, as you will produce more milk. this is just my opinion. But the more milk you 'use' the more you will make

I've been expressing with a view to having a supply in freezer for dh to give occasional bottle if I'm out - guess I could be over doing it - I constantly back out of getting dh to give her a bottle as it makes me feel redundant and also hate leaving her for any period of time at the min. Also worry a lot when dd brings back her feed. it's prob irrational but worry that I've either over fed her or she's ill or that she'll then be hungry coz she's lost some of her fed.

I always found I was engorged in the morning. As Mandy said it will settle down with time. Wouldn't switch sides after 5 mins or your DD will not be getting much hind milk. I think the HV is incorrect in saying the first 5 mins are the most important.

I also think that sometimes they do fuss on and off especially as they get older and more aware of the world around them.

My DD only ever fed from one side and would only feed for about 10 mins. I'm sure someone more experienced will come along soon.

Sweetkitty and Greatauntmandy - thanks!

Sweetkitty, I wasn't sure about hv advice as seemed a very short time to feed from either side - good to know that the fact dd is feeding for less time is ok, she does still take a longer feed at least once in the day but it's such a contrast to the long feeds she initially took all the time.

I also think they get better at it too, the older they get the quicker they are at draining a
boob. I had some wobbles at 8 weeks but once over that it was great. Keep doing as your doing it will be fine

they def get quicker at feeding around that sort of age - if she comes off a boob you could try putting her back on that side in case she's just got distracted, but swap to the other side if she keeps coming off iyswim. I would follow your dd's cues rather than timing it though -she knows best .

The engorgement should sort itself out if you just express enough to feel comfortable - it will prob lessen anyway even if you express plenty then, assuming you keep to the same kind of routine every day. Your boobs will just learn to fill up more slowly.

Hi Twiga,
have a look at this website. www.breastfeeding.com
It is a bit American but it did help me when I was breastfeeding. As you are breastfeeding on demand, I wouldn't worry about how long your dd is feeding for. Both of you will find what works for you, just trust yourself.

Oh dear. Not another HV who is misled and misleading....where do they all spring from?

Switching sides deliberately after five minutes is crackers advice, sorry.

This is likely to end up with you becoming very engorged on one or both sides, and also risks your baby not getting what she needs.

You are doing the right thing in following what your daughter seems to want, with regard to time.

The early morning engorgement will decrease over time, as long as you don't express (so HV got that bit right). Your daughter will be on as long as she needs to be - that may be X mins, Y mins, Z mins.....if you carry on doing what you were doing, you will find things settle down. One sided feeding, if that is what your dd wants, is fine.....it's often what women with gallons of milk end up doing, because this is what the baby leads them to do.

I don't know what the fussing is - could be anything. If it goes on, then you might want to think about feeding one sided for two or three feeds on the trot (hand expressing as minimally as you can on the other side, only if you have to, though, to comfort). This has the effect of damping down the supply.

On the other hand, you don;t need to do anything, really, if you can just hang on in there

Tiktok, have switched back to one side at a time from this afternoon for the very reason that I was engorged all day yesterday/this morning following hv advice rather than just in the morning. Could you advise re: a better time in the day to express in regards to having a back up for dd if I'm not around?

HV advice on tues totally threw me in terms of being 100% sure that I ws getting it right. Was also asked at the appt if I was giving dd water yet - i said no and that my understanding was that bf babies didn't need anything else - hv said this was ok as long as dd soesn't seem to be thirsty at any point. I am right though aren't I - would be very reluctant to give water too and would rather try another feed if I thought she was thirsty?!

Your HV doesn't know what she is talking about, clearly....of course your baby doesn't need water, whether she 'seems' thirsty or not!

To be honest, while you are uncomfortable and dd seems a bit fussy, expressing is maybe not something you should do at the moment - nothing wrong with it, it's just thinking of your own comfort.

But if you do want to do it, then try to do it minimally and build up an ebm stash in small bits.

Thanks Tiktok, will may be leave the expressing for a bit then until things settle down.

don't want to hijack your thread twiga but I've just had the same advice from my mil, with regards to the baby getting everything he needs from the first 5 minutes, and the idea of swapping breasts after that amount of time. however, I couldn't help but think this went against everything I knew about fore/hind milk, etc. i guess we just have to follow our own instints when it comes to our own babies, even if it is our first and we don't feel all that confident. we are the mummies, after all!!!!

More than welcome cubby - you're right about trusting our instincts I guess though that it's easy to have your confidence knocked when it seems that you're being bombarded from all angles with advice - often conflicting too! Stick to what you've been doing I've found by swopping sides I'm uncomfy all day rather than just in the morning. My Mum and mil both said to listen politely to all advice, ignore most of it and try out what you think may help/advice from people you trust.

Congrats on your first btw, it's fab isn't it!?!