Low milk supply? 10 days PP

[LisaJones31]

Hi everyone,

I am a first time mum so would really love advice on whether I have a low milk supply. I believe I do but the midwives and health visitor are very encouraging of me to keep breastfeeding and not top up with formula. I would like to trust my body but the idea of my son going hungry breaks my heart.

The reasons why I think I have low milk supply are:

1. Since my milk came in around day 3, my breasts feel drained and no longer heavy/engorged. I don't know if this is because I am feeding regularly or if it's because I don't have much milk. I am still only 10 days PP so was expecting to feel like I have large heavy boobs.

1. I am no longer leaking.

1. My baby cluster feeds in the night and is very upset after literal back to back feeds. My boobs feel empty when doing this. I have given in and provided kendamil ready to drink on 3 nights which is less than 1 feed per day.

1. At 10 days PP my baby isnt back at birth weight. He originally lost 7.8% and is now at 2.5% at 10 days PP.

1. My mum had a low milk supply.

1. We are getting wet and dirty nappies and I am trying to keep track of them on an app but I keep wondering what counts as a heavy wet nappy and a large poo.

1. My baby often falls asleep at the breast and I need to tickle him awake. His sucks also feel quite gentle. Is this normal? What does successful breastfeeding of a 10 day old baby feel like? My nipples are fine and I feel like I am getting him latched on as best as I can.

1. I have a basic manual Medela pump and get very little milk on the few occasions I have tried (I basically feel sucked dry so I am not pumping regularly).

I really want to exclusively breast feed my son but losing confidence already and it's making me really sad. I am feeding on demand and never letting him go longer than 4 hours without a feed but I just wonder whether my son is actually getting what he needs each time I feed him...TIA ❤️

Wet and dirty nappies is good.
After the engorgement comes a settling, they aren't meant to feel like melons all the time, they should feel full in the mornings tho, or at least mine did but they were drained quickly.
10 days old is still really tiny so them crying when away from breast is normal, it's comfort not just nutrition.
I would suggest that when they latch, tickle the end of their nose, this should encourage them to open their mouth as wide as they can.
Sadness post partum should be watched, especially if you have previous mental health niggles.
I think you're doing grand, seek out some real life breastfeeding support.
In all honesty, I spent hours of the day nursing, snuggling, and basically being topless with the baby feeding on and off. Remember, they're newborns and don't recognise themselves as separate from you yet.
Also, don't supplement as every feed you drop will make your breasts produce less milk. If baby nurses, the milk will be produced.

Also, babies sleep. And sleep. And sleep some more. Tickle to wake but also, enjoy the peace in the meantime!

Everything sounds normal to me. My baby cluster fed loads so I didn't get engorged at all. I also never leak. Not everyone does.

also 4 hours is LONG between feeds at that age, unless you mean that's just overnight. I was feeding pretty much constantly in the daytime at that age and the bonus was she fed less at night.

This sounds really normal. If you don't feel confident can you get a la leche volunteer or local breastfeeding support person to come to the house?

You need proper specialist support- look for an IBCLC in your area. Can you stretch to a private appointment? About £70 where i am.

Google exaggerated latch - holding boob in a U shape with thumb parallel to baby's top lip. Maintain this hold throughout the feed.

Hold you baby supporting their neck and shoulders and ALL your fingers below their ears. Even just one finger on the back of their head stops them tipping it back!

Tuck them in really tightly at their bottom, so their whole body is more at a diagonal to you, and tug them back to the opposite side so their nose starts level with your nipple.

When baby opens their mouth wide, very, very quickly bring them to the breast (don't push your boob into their mouth! Baby to you!). You want to aim their lower lip/tongue/lower jaw to cover as much as possible, with the top lip just over the nipple. Your nipple is not the bullseye, don't aim in to the centre of their mouth!

You should see baby's chin pushed into your breast and a nice gap between nose and breast.

Amazing post. I'm just remembering being told to stop leaning forward and bring baby to me. Oh and to 'biff' baby's nose with the nipple so their mouth opened in response. A

Everything you are describing sounds completely normal.

Midwives and health visitor is happy. 👍

Baby is returning towards birth weight. 👍

Wet and dirty nappies 👍

Cluster feeding is his baby builds up supply and seeks comfort 👍

Your breasts will only be engorged now if you miss a feed.

What does good breastfeeding look like at 10 days? You and baby. 👍

You are doing a great job. Carry on doing exactly what you are doing.

Another one here who says that sounds totally normal.

Encourage as much active feeding time at the breast. You are still establishing your supply so any supplementation will impact that at this point.

I could never get much from expressIng, but I definitely had supply. It’s actually quite common. Ditch the pump and just get baby feeding as much as possible,

look up breast compression to ensure baby is getting the hindmilk and emptying breast efficiently (remember they are still learning to feed themselves!)

Thank you 😊

I've been a BF peer supporter for 11 years and counting.

I agree that this does not sound like low milk supply at the moment. Feed frequently, particularly at night and I wouldn't worry for a moment if you are not producing much by pumping. Worry about that in time.Put your baby to the breast , as above as often as they seem interested . It is really frequent at this stage and can feel rather constant and exhausting but it is part of the process of building supply. If your baby has wet and dirty nappies and , particularly, if they settle at times press on. Get some real life support if you can. Drink plenty of water, take your baby out for walks.FWIW it would be very unusual for such a small baby to go 4 hours , 2-2 1/2 would be more typical , and of course each feed can take ages.

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