How to you know when your breasts are empty?

[TinaFay]

After a very slow start, I'm finally managing to exclusively breastfeed my 4 week old son. He wouldn't latch on until he was about a week old, and I had to use a pump to bring my milk in. Up until this past week, he's been fed on a combination of formula and breastmilk, and has gained weight well. However, this past week (since he's been feeding off just me) he's gained hardly any weight at all. What has confused me most, is that up until recently, I could easily tell when my breasts were full as they became quite firm, and softened as he fed. However, now, they barely seem to 'firm up' at all, and don't really feel any different after a feed than before one. He doesn't pull off me in frustration, but will often only feed for 10 mins or so, and I can't work out whether this is simply because he's not hungry, has wind or has run out of milk. I usually squeeze my breast when he's done and can usually still produce milk. I guess what's really bothered me is that this morning I had to go to hospital and left DS with my mum who ended up giving him a forumla feed as I wasn't back in time to feed him - and he guzzled loads - about 150 mls. When I got home, I pumped and could only produce about 80 mls from both breasts - and quite often when he feeds from me he'll only feed off one. I don't really know what to do. Any advice?

Expressing is no indicator of supply nor after the first few weeks is fullness/softness, it simply means your body is adapting. Remember b'milk is more readily digested but relatively higher in calories so he may need more frequent feeds than on formula and his gain may not be as consistent. However in the next weke or two expect his appetite to increase for a growth spurt. His behaviour, health and frequent nappies are a good indicator oif whetrh he gets enough.

Hi TinaFay

In my experience (DD now 1yo and still bf) my breasts stopped getting firm after the first couple of months.

I only expressed from time to time, and couldn't express much (less than you!), certainly never anything like a bottle full.

I was so worried the first few months because DD only ever fed for 7 minutes (and I timed it every time!); friends kept telling me of babies feeding for half an hour and I thought she must be really underfed.

But actually DD was fine. Some weeks she put on quite bit of weight, others not so much. With the benefit of hindsight babies will tell you if they're hungry. Some just eat faster than others.

So my (non-medical!) advice would be not to worry too much, as long as your DS seems happy and is producing wet nappies.

Hopefully someone with more expertise will be along soon to give you more authoritative advice, but well done you for bf!! And try not to worry, hard as it is

Tina, it would be well worthwhile having a chat with a breastfeeding counsellor about this.

But first - the object of breastfeeding is to ensure the baby has an effective feed, not to empty the breasts of milk The amount in the breasts at any one time, the amount you can give to the pump - it's all irrelevant. When breastfeeding is going well and the baby is thriving, the breasts will never be empty. Effectively feeding babies will leave variable amounts in the breast - that's normal.

However, there's not enough info in your post to be sure all is well. The change in the feel of your breasts could be normal - this is an expected change, after all, but it doesn't usually happen as early as 4 weeks. The change in your breasts could be because your supply is not that great - but this can be turned round.

You need to feed often - including at night. You need to feed on both breasts at every feed, and even twice on each breast if your baby will take it. Offer the breast long before he 'asks' - any time he looks semi-alert, offer the breast. Keep him close to you as much of the time as you can, so you can max your feeding opportunities. The shorter the gaps between feeds, the better.

Hope this helps.