Supply dwindling, 10 day old baby

[Puppyseahorse]

My baby is 10 days old and I feel like something’s gone wrong with the feeding already. When I left the hospital, it was going OK- my boobs were very engorged, leaking a lot, and when I first tried the breast pump I seemed to get a lot. The baby was feeding for 30 minutes or so, then seemed satisfied. Now, my boobs have ‘deflated’, are no longer leaking, I’m not getting much with the breast pump and the baby always seems to be hungry after a feed (even one lasting 90 mins +.) I don’t know what to do and I feel really guilty for letting my baby down.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? I’m doing everything (I think) I’m supposed to- feeding on demand, feeding in the night, pumping after feeds. I’m considering a lactation consultant but I’m nervous that they’ll be judgemental because I’ve been supplementing with formula when the baby still seems hungry after a feed.

Don’t be nervous about hiring a lactation consultant. They have seen everything and the situation you describe is very common.

I think everyone has one day when their milk comes in when their boobs are huge and rock solid - but they don’t stay like that. So what you describe again, is not unusual.

All the best. You are finding it difficult, because unfortunately it is difficult but it will get easier.

Are you eating and drinking enough? Breastfeeding mum needs at least 3/4 litres of water a day plus extra food. I found my supply dwindled significantly when I didn't drink enough and it took 2 days for it to be rectified when I started drinking more.

Is your baby still having plenty of wet and dirty nappies? If so then don't worry too much. You might just be one of those lucky ladies who doesn't get massively engorged! X

Also to add. A lactation consultant won't judge you. You need to do whatever is best for you and your baby. You're doing great Mamma. It's 10 days since you gave birth. Cut yourself some slack xx

Sounds normal to me. Not a sign of low supply. Babies cluster feed. Boobs don't stay engorged. I know that first month I lived on the sofa with baby attached to my boob. Just be careful supplementing with formula because baby needs to be at the breast to make more milk. Being full from formula means baby doesn't nurse and tells your boobs they are doing enough right now when they may need to go up a gear. If baby isn't doing enough wet nappies ignore me and get professional breastfeeding advice. If you are getting enough nappies then feed feed feed. Take to bed for a day or two with baby skin to skin and latch them as much as they want.

Don't panic. Babies are wired to seem hungry after a (never ending!) feed, because it stimulates and increases your supply. If nappy output is OK, you can be reassured that input is OK.

Be reassured that lack of engorgement doesn't mean your supply is dwindling, it's completely normal for your breasts to settle down at this point.

A lactation consultant won't judge, they've seen it all and are there to help (in any case, you're paying them for a service so they should be led by your preferences)!

The only other thing I'd add is that if you don't want to continue with formula top ups, it would be worth increasing skin to skin and the amount of time spent at the breast while you're decreasing the formula. It's all about supply and demand at this point (i.e. your body isn't being asked to produce those formula ml from your breasts, so you'll need to stimulate it to).

Why are you pumping?

And the amount you pump doesn't necessarily indicate the amount of milk you produce. I could never manage to pump anything beyond a few millilitres, but bf my DD for 15 months

A baby's stomach capacity increases rapidly in the first few days of its life. So when your milk came in at 3 days you were making more than your baby needed but now your baby needs more. The more your baby feeds the more you will make but in the first few weeks it will swing back and forwards between you making too much and your baby demanding more as they grow. This is completely normal, your (exhausting and FT) job just now is to feed your baby and get your OH to do everything else. Sit in the sofa with the TV remote, a stack of books or magazines, a large drink and some snacks (oatmeal is suppose to be good for producing milk so hobnobs or flapjacks are a good idea). Feed your baby whenever they squeak and the supply and demand will eventually settle down.

The one thing I'd say is that a 90 minute feed is probably them feeding slowly for comfort and drifting asleep. That is completely fine and the longer they feed the more of the richer milk they get and the more it stimulates your breasts to make more but if you need to do something else then you can stop a feed when they start slowing down their sucking.

From someone who exclusively pumped with both kids - please put the pump away OP. If you're breast feeding you do not need that pump. Particularly at this stage. Using it will make you feel anxious and shit.

Ladies who are feeding from the breast will never get as much off as those who exclusively pump. There is good reason for this. First is that baby is taking the milk from the breast and second is that non medical grade pumps do not have a large or powerful enough motor for large output pumping.

Whatever you decide to do is absolutely fine but don't try and do everything all at the same time. The only thing that will happen is that you will become overwhelmed and exhausted and that isn't good for you or baby. If you need to top up because baby isn't getting wet/dirty nappies then do. It's not forever if you don't want it to be. And if you don't want to top up then keep at the feeding and get as much support around you as you can. You're very early days. X

How are baby's nappies? If there are plenty of wet nappies then I'd not worry.

Agree with PP, make sure you're eating and drinking plenty and stop pumping for now. Also, lots of skin to skin really helps with increasing supply.