Breast feeding. Help! Engorged then empty.

[kd1992]

Hope someone can help

Been breastfeeding for 11 weeks and all has been great. But now I'm waking up at 4am for feed very engorged, same at 8am.

But throughout the day feeling almost empty, leading to a lot of frustration when trying to latch. I've been trying to feed every 2-3 hours in the day but still no luck at supply increasing. Feel like I'm one extreme to another. Too full or too empty.

How full your boobs are is absolutely no indication of supply. Is your little one starting to go longer between feeds overnight? Your boobs learn how much to make and when so if they’re expecting more feeds than they’re getting then they’ll fill up in anticipation… hence the engorgement. During the day your supply is probably just matching exactly what baby needs. How’s weight gain? Frequency of wet and dirty nappies? Are you supplementing with formula at all? Describe this latch frustration a bit more… what does that look like? Has it always been like that?

Ive only been breastfeeding for 6 months, It's my understanding that you produce more milk overnight. I always feel fuller overnight and pretty much empty during the day.

Last feed is around 7-8 pm. Waking up at 3-4am for next feed, then back to sleep. Waking for feed at 8-9am. Engorged for all of those feeds.
Then throughout the day, feeding 2-3 hours my boobs feel as if not full at all. Leading to frustration, which is new over past few days, when I've noticed what feels a decrease in supply (day time).

Frustration is alot of 'Popping'/forcing head back, lots of attaching and sucking but not fully latching and very quickly getting upset and mad. Then too upset to latch again.
Soothing and swapping breast to try again.

Honestly, I'm unsure my anxiety is fuelling this. As getting lots of wet/poo nappies and weight has been fine.

I had to swap between each Breast quite a few times tonight with lots of tears/upset between as it seemed was not getting milk fast enough.
No supplementing with formula, only feeding from the breast.
I have tried pumping after feeds but hardly get a thing.
Thank you for the replies.

I have days where I question my supply when my baby is particularly fussy, in my experience fussiness normally coincides with him learning a new skill.

I wouldn't worry about not getting much when you pump, it's not a reflection on your supply.

I try to just go with the flow and try to take the fussy periods as they come (winging it basically).

@kd1992
I've had an awful time with breastfeeding due to my Lo having awful reflux & cmpa - which then affected my supply.
It's a lot of work but I pump after every feed & though, it can feel frustrating not getting much output during each pumping session, please know the more you pump, the more your body will increase supply the next day. Keep at it - you will get there! Also please remember, baby is much more efficient at emptying your breasts than a pump is.

See if you can contact your HV about getting baby weighed. And then schedule a follow up weigh in. If you’ve been feeding on demand for 11 weeks and nappy output has been fine and weight gain appears to be good, then your supply has been meeting your babies needs. The scales can prove this to you and it may help your anxiety.

Your HV can likely signpost you to BF support to look at your latch. If your baby is only fussy when feeding and not looking for more food constantly too then I doubt it’s a supply issue as they’d be hungry, but they should be able to help you find the cause. Could be a developmental thing as PP says, could be teething, could be reflux, could be wind. I was crap at burping most of my babies so they’d wiggle about in pain from that.

Two of mine have CMPA too which affected some feeds (although not all).