breast feeding troubles, is there enough milk??

[nannyjo]

DS is 3 weeks old. He's not putting on weight fast but has gained ack 6 of his 8 oz loss since birth.

His feeding has changed over the last couple of days. He is feeding for less time but a lot more often. However this has left me feeling like i have not 'filled up' enough in time for the next feed. He then only feeds for about 5 mins (instead of what used to be 15 mins) then looks for more straight away. If i put him back on the same breast he sucks but is only swallowing about every 10 sucks. If i put him on the other breast he guzzles for another 5 mins.

It seems he is only taking milk when it is first there but not bothering to have to work harder for the rest of the milk (which is there but not 'gushing' IYSWIM/

Sorry that was long winded. I hope it makes sense as i would LOVE any advice. I'm not seeing midwife for 5 days and am worrued he'll lose weight if he isn't getting enough an i leave it that long

TIA x

nannyjo have you tried any of the helplines? really is best to get proper advice if you aren't sure, help to put your mind at rest too.

I'm pretty sure ds did the same thing at that age & I know how exhausting it is. Are you eating & drinking loads? I noticed that if I hadn't had enough to eat or drink ds wasn't satisfied with what he was getting.

hi nannyjo, for sticking with the feeding so far..I have had similar situation with dd2, i found that she was feeding every 1.5 hours (8 months old) and was really fretful when she was feeding, taking about 2-3 minutes and then she was done...
I then was feeding her from the same side 3 times in a row, i took her about 2-3 days for her to really start working for the milk, the hind milk? i think its called, and then she seemed a lot more satisfied with her feeds... I continue to feed her this way, has been 10 days now, and she is going 3-4 hours between feeds.....

I know your little one is a lot younger, but dd2 was exactly the same, and only at 8 months has she changed..... Like fishie said, try some of the b/f helplines

www.babycentre.co.uk/a-z/breastfeeding/

this site has lots of different numbers to try.,..

Sorry if this has been no use at all, but fingers crossed the helplines can help some more

O and like greeboswhiskers says, makes sure you are eating and drinking loads... I still have this problem and forget and then drinking lots of water and have a healthy snack in between meals to keep me going (and the milk!!)

Hindmilk doesn't really exist. As long as your breasts are being (reasonably) emptied (they are never really empty), reasonably often, then the baby will be getting some high fat milk.

I think changing sides more often, not less, is advised in this sort of situation.

(An eight month old is a very different situation than a three week old.)

I didn't realise there were help lines i thought it was just the HV to o to for advise. I think i'll give a helplie a call tommorrow then.

Thank you for your help everyone.

Perservere

Worrying about your supply is the pits isn't it? It's so difficult to see the evidence. He's putting on weight which is good. How are his nappies? Plenty heavily wet & dirty nappies are your evidence that there's stuff going in (so there's stuff going out!). It might well be worth getting an expert to check that your latch/positioning is as good as it could be to maximise the amount of milk he's taking in.

There's such a wide range of normal when it comes to feeding and you almost certainly have enough milk. You never actually get "empty" by the way as you're making milk as you feed so swapping back to the first breast after he's had the second would be worth doing if he'll take it. The more you feed the more your supply increases.

Kellymom is an excellent breastfeeding resource if you don't know about it.

Association of Breastfeeding Mothers

Helpline: 0870 401 7711
Offers voluntary mother-to-mother support, counselling and information for breastfeeding women. Helpline open from 9.30am to 10.30pm

NCT Breastfeeding helpline
Breastfeeding Line: 0870 444 8708
The National Childbirth Trust has trained breastfeeding counsellors who can offer individual advice and support

La Leche League

24hr Helpline: 020 7242 1278
Helpline offering advice and information on breastfeeding, plus local group meetings.

Breastfeeding Network

Helpline: 0870 9008787
Offers free, confidential telephone information on breastfeeding and one-to-one local support.

Yes it is awful when you worry about how much milk you have, if you have enough... Just remember, you are doing a great job..
And like bookthief said, the trying baby on 2nd breast after feeding from the first sounds might be some help...

I think one of the helplines is 24 hours.. Association for breastfeeding mothers i think, you should be able to get in contact with them now!!

nanny jo try not to panic. you can do this. If your baby is slowing down at the breast try breast compression (squeezing the breast to encourage a let-down) there is a good description here www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=70&Itemid=98 and a video clip.
It is very normal for a young baby to be on and off the breast very frequently. More feeds at shorter intervals produce fattier milk. Watch your baby rather than a clock - all babies are different so there is no one correct number of times or length of time to feed a baby. Babies naturally become more efficient at getting milk from the breast and your breasts will naturally become soft again even though they are producing milk. Lots of holding your baby skin to skin and lots of practice will help you both to learn what you are doing.
Phone a counsellor to discuss your worries. In a few weeks time you'll have it sussed. Good luck

thanks guys.

I've now just been constantly feeding from one breast to the other since about 8 o'clock!! he is getting milk i'm sure. He latches on brilliantly (DS 1 never did and i can tell the difference) He does lots of wet nappies so it must be going in.

He is feeding then falling asleep on the breast doing lazy feeding. He stops then as soon as yoou put him down he cries and starts rooting around as if he's starving!
AArgh! is this what i've got to come all night?

Your breast are making milk all the time and your production works on a supply and demand basis so the more suckling the more milk you make. There is a good description of how milk production works here:
www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/milkproduction.html

Bless, he is probably just looking for that warm contact with you... Your doing a great job, he might be like that during the night, but I am pretty sure he will settle down..

Try ringing counsellors in the morning just rememeber, whilst your up during the night, there are a 1000 other mums out there doing the same so your not alone

Bio...I do massage the breast while he's on (to the point where my breasts feel tender as this has gone on for so long) this makes him swallow a bit more, as soon as i stop he still sucks but swallows very little it seems so i am making the milk come but ewhen i stop massaging it slows again

I'm not stressing (i don't think ) but i'm really confused as to what is going on and what is best to do. I will call the help line tommorrow though.

It can be intense in those early weeks! Try popping him in a sling and he might settle if he's snuggled up close to you. Babies want to be held on to - you are his way of experiencing the world. Look at how other primates carry their young ...

nannyjo - enough with the massaging to the point of tenderness!! That's not what should happen.

Just let him feed often, and rejoice that he loves being close to you and is behaving so normally.

Please don't worry about eating and drinking loads - both irrelevant to producing milk, despite the myths

You are doing fine, from what you write here.

The helplines will be good to try tomorrow.

Breastfeeding is an art not a science. It will all come together with time. When he comes off of his own accord put him to the other breast. There is a good leaflet from LLL called Beginning Breastfeeding that might help

yes agree with tik tok don't hurt yourself!

another thoery is that actuallly he is struggling with wind (altogh he isn't scrunching his legs much) and thinks he wants milk when really it's just relief he wants and me feeding him is making it worse and were going round in circles?

nannyjo - is he happy when on you or next to you? Is he happy to sleep/doze on you or next to you?

Is he mostly crying when taken off or put down to sleep elsewhere?

Is he healthy and thriving?

If the answer to these questions is 'yes' then he is a normal 3 week old baby and things will settle down in time