Soft breast - normal for bf moms?

[hbmummy]

I bf DD1 (9 weeks) on average every 3 hours. I let her stay on the breast as long as possible - 30 mins each side since she is a sleepy baby during feeding and need to be awaken every now and then to continue sucking.

My breast is soft most of the time, except when she sleeps on long stretch during the night time and allow time for the breasts to fill up nicely. Most of the time, am not sure if there is enough milk in the breasts.

Feeding on demand means the more the baby sucks, the more the breasts will produce milk. But is it still the case 9 weeks after? Do not want her to go hungry.

Advice plese.

I think that once your supply has become established, the horrible engorgement you had at the beginning begins to go away. If nappies are wet and baby is ok, then I would assume there is enough milk there.

I worried about this too, for 6 months! Finally convinced myself I was producing enough milk by looking at DD's weight gain and her wet/dirty nappies.

How is your DD'w weight gain?

hbmummy, this is normal, normal, normal

I am a breastfeeding counsellor and many mothers worry like you that softer breasts are a 'bad' sign.

Not at all.

This happens as a result of a number of things

• the milk supply is well-adjusted to the needs of the baby and stops 'over production'
• milk producing and storing tissue replaces the fat that's in our breasts when we are not pregnant or breastfeeding, so there is less fat in the breasts to give us a bigger shape (human mammals are unusual in having breasts when not pg or lactating, and the breasts are largely fat at this time)
• the breastmilk is removed efficiently and regularly, and there is no time for the slight extra to needs to be made

Breasts may feel full in the morning after a break, but in fact there is not a massive extra amount of milk in them - volume difference may be quite small.

Breastmilk production is driven by breastmilk removal all the way through - for as long as you breastfeed. The more you remove the milk, the more milk you make. If your baby is growing and thriving, you can be sure you have what she needs

Sigh - what a relief!

FioFio - I did the same too, trying to check if there is milk or DD1 just sucking on empty breasts.

Tiktok - thank you for the reassuring posting. I guess I do not have to delay feeding as long as possible to allow milk to 'thicken'? (if there is such thing)

Have not managed to weight DD1 as I always tend to miss the opening hours on Thursday. Will really have to make a better effort, but DD1 is growing (comments from relatives and friends visiting now and then), regular change of wet/dirty nappies!

"Tiktok - thank you for the reassuring posting. I guess I do not have to delay feeding as long as possible to allow milk to 'thicken'? (if there is such thing)"

EGAD - NO!!!! Do not delay feeding....it's delaying feeding that is the deathknell of breastfeeding!

Long gaps between feeds in the short term mean there is a little more milk, but the milk actually becomes thinner, not thicker. This is because the fat in milk is in proportion to the degree of fullness of the breast....the fuller the breast, the less fat in the milk.

The opposite is true - emptier breasts have milk which is proportionately higher in fat.

Long gaps between feeds in the longer term reduce the amount of milk made, so you get less not more.

You can read the biology behind this at www.kellymom.com and click on 'how breastfeeding works'.

And stop bothering to express to see if there is anything there, too ....the baby does it all, and the baby is the only guide!

I mean 'the opposite is also true'.

That is: 'fuller' breasts = more fat and 'emptier' breasts - less fat.

"emptier" breasts = more fat

A big thank you, Tiktok!

I reckon I do not have to worry about this other posting of mine:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/1364/456682?stamp=080114140400

But would appreciate some advice on how to get DD1 to take bottle. She takes the odd bottle now and then, but after some crying etc which did not happen earlier.

I would like her to take bottle (either formula or express milk) so that DH can spend some quiet quality time with her feeding her. DH works long hours and often travels, and doesnt get to see and bond with her as much as I do. We are thinking of just small amount 2 - 3 fl oz.

hb, glad to have helped. Seems to me you need a bit of a confidence boost - hope this thread has given it to you!

If she doesn't want to take a bottle any more, then fighting or struggling will make her dislike worse.

Try again, gently, in a few weeks and see what her response is.

You can always give ebm in a little egg cup if it's imp. to you that she takes milk from her dad....but there are lots of lovely ways dads can bond with their babies and it doesn't have to be via a feed.

Yes Tiktok! That's exactly what I need - a confidence boost and to hear from someone who knows something.

Every now and then someone will give some unsolicited advices, and am not sure how much truth there are to them.