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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Breastfeeding confusion

9 replies

Thefaceofboe · 30/08/2024 17:34

I feel so stressed over my BF journey already. My daughter is 3 weeks, and has fed relatively well until now, gaining weight okay and was back at her birth weight by 2 weeks old. She’s now started being ridiculous fussy at the breast, thrashing around and unlatching in frustration. This can go on for hours, usually in the evening so I end up giving her a bottle of expressed milk which she takes fine and falls asleep.

This week I’ve noticed that my breast don’t feel engorged when she’s due a feed or in the night like they used to. Now they are soft and feel empty (I know that’s not how it works) but DD doesn’t seem to like a soft breast.

Im worried I have a supply issue but how do I know? I also think I have a fast let down. I can’t work out what the problem is to be able to fix it. She’s been feeding ok all day until 5pm and the fussiness has started, I feel so frustrated Sad

Has anyone got any advice?

OP posts:
PollyDactyl · 30/08/2024 17:42

Evening fussiness can be normal, bobbing on and off all evening. Have you tried a rugby ball hold, you stuff her in your armpit almost, instead of cross body.

Theleaveswillbefalling · 30/08/2024 17:45

Sounds like cluster feeding. At 3 weeks old she will be try to feed past how much milk you have not because she is hungry but because she needs you to make more milk tomorrow for when she does need more milk.

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 30/08/2024 17:48

PollyDactyl · 30/08/2024 17:42

Evening fussiness can be normal, bobbing on and off all evening. Have you tried a rugby ball hold, you stuff her in your armpit almost, instead of cross body.

Yes that is our usual position but nothing seems to settle her. Is it normal that she will take expressed milk and settle? That’s the main thing that’s worrying me

OP posts:
Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 30/08/2024 17:49

Theleaveswillbefalling · 30/08/2024 17:45

Sounds like cluster feeding. At 3 weeks old she will be try to feed past how much milk you have not because she is hungry but because she needs you to make more milk tomorrow for when she does need more milk.

I did think cluster feeding but she doesn’t really feed as such, she just chews on my nipple and gets annoyed. Or is that normal?

OP posts:
MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 30/08/2024 18:13

This week I’ve noticed that my breast don’t feel engorged when she’s due a feed or in the night like they used to. Now they are soft and feel empty

This is completely normal once breast feeding is established.

In fact now they will only become uncomfortable and engorged if you miss a feed.

Once baby latches on you will produce the perfect amount of milk for her.

As long as baby continues to have wet and dirty nappies and put in weight then you are fine. The

JDob · 30/08/2024 18:26

Can get colicky in the evening, plus mine would feed more in the evening.

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 30/08/2024 19:04

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 30/08/2024 18:13

This week I’ve noticed that my breast don’t feel engorged when she’s due a feed or in the night like they used to. Now they are soft and feel empty

This is completely normal once breast feeding is established.

In fact now they will only become uncomfortable and engorged if you miss a feed.

Once baby latches on you will produce the perfect amount of milk for her.

As long as baby continues to have wet and dirty nappies and put in weight then you are fine. The

That’s reassuring. I seemed to think this happened at around the 6 week mark, I remember feeling so engorged for ages with my first child.

OP posts:
barrister489 · 01/09/2024 23:48

Mine did exactly the same thing. It’s all helping to establish your supply. Keep feeding in the evenings, make sure you have burped so it isn’t gas, and it will pass. People have different opinions and I am not an expert, but my midwife and HV both advised against expressing before bf is established (ie before approx 6 weeks). I followed that advice. Apparently the sucking etc at the boob (even if it’s not active feeding) is all helping to stimulate supply.

Original poster
Thefaceofboe · 02/09/2024 08:10

barrister489 · 01/09/2024 23:48

Mine did exactly the same thing. It’s all helping to establish your supply. Keep feeding in the evenings, make sure you have burped so it isn’t gas, and it will pass. People have different opinions and I am not an expert, but my midwife and HV both advised against expressing before bf is established (ie before approx 6 weeks). I followed that advice. Apparently the sucking etc at the boob (even if it’s not active feeding) is all helping to stimulate supply.

Thanks for replying! I have been expressing but only by using the haaka to catch my let down each time. I went to a BF cafe on Saturday and someone suggested nipple shields to see if it could be due to fast let down. I tried them yesterday and she’s fed lovely during the evenings. Has anyone any experience with using them? I don’t use them apart from that small period where she is fussy

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