12 day old and low supply? Can't fill him up

[2boysnamedR]

I had my baby 12 days ago and am bf every 3-4 hours but sometimes even if he has been on for 30mins both sides he still crys and I have to top him up. Does this seem normal? Any ideas on how to increase my supply? I am getting so sore. Thanks

This happened with me until 2 or 3 days ago, and I topped up like you after feeding for 2 hours, and when i was completely drained on both sides. My milk supply has now caught up and I don't need to top up. I expressed to check all milk was gone each time and it was so I'm glad I topped up otherwise, I would have had a constantly hungry baby on my hands. People warn you not to top up as it effects your milk supply but so long as your breasts are stimulated and emptied each feed then it's fine

Ps my ds 12 days old too!!

Ooh mine did this! Would be in the boon from 5 in the evening til 2 in the morning - gah! Topped up in the early hours for about 3 nights but I got so panicky about supply I started taking fenugreek tablets which I found really worked and increased my supply loads.

*on the boob... Blinkin phone...

Even if your boobs feel empty they still produce milk as its being used, the full feeling you get is just the build up between feeds and for the majority of people expressing just will not get milk a baby can so its not a reliable indicator of milk supply :). On top of that you are bang on time for a growth spurt, where regulation of feeds just goes out the window! (i recall hourly 40 min feeds for half of one of 3-4 crazy days of feeding all over the place!). Go with it, your baby is getting what it needs ... You will probably feel exhausted and drained but thats totally normal (dont forget to eat and drink plenty!). My lo put on 24oz in the week and a half following her growth spurt at that age xx.

I'd feed more often. 3-4 hours between feeds is a long time for such a littl'un. DS fed every 2.5 hours until he was well established on solids at 7/8 months.

i agree with sleepy, you've maybe had some dodgy info come your way.
expressing to empty boobs is a myth, milk continues to be produced as baby feeds and the baby is more effective than a pump.

was also going to say every 3-4 hours isn't that often for a newborn.

i think it's best to feed on demand and not limit time at the breast or frequency of feeds to help feeding get established.

Thanks. He isnt waking to be fed, should I wake him? Also I never feel full or leak which I did with my first two boys. I find if I leave him for more than 40 each side at a time I get so sore.

i didn't ever leak at all and I've heard some people find it different for different babies.

I'm a bit out of my depth re waking to feed, i guess it depends how long he's sleeping for!

does he come off himself before you swap sides?

off to work now, hopefully an expert will catch this thread if it's bumped to the top though. :)

2boys, some good info already :)

• you might be helped with other positions to avoid/heal the soreness. Check out biological nurturing positions; call a helpline; see someone knowledgable about resolving soreness
• 3-4 hours not usually often enough for a new baby - he may need to feed much more often than this to build your supply
• topping up with formula will reduce your supply - if you need to top up do it this way.....
• ....offer first breast again, and second breast again, and back to first....etc if your baby wants more
• check he is gaining weight
• he should be producing several yellow poos each day
• is the midwife still supporting you?
• keeping him close to you, next to you in a wrap/sling/your arms, is best to enable you to respond to early feeding cues...this will mean feeding more often, and you will not have to wake him

I never leaked either thank goodness. Still feeding DS at 18 months :)

Hope things are better today.