help my breastmilk is stopping? !

[Kayshields]

Ok so yesterday when I woke up my breasts felt really soft and empty and every time I fed my baby (3 hourly) she would only latch on for 15 minutes then stop and start crying so I checked my breast and it was literally deflated.. no milk would come so I switched her to the other breast and the same thing happened after 5 mins :s this is still happening now and im really worried shes not getting enough as she's constantly crying and suckling, I keep putting her to my breasts to try and encourage the milk, what is happening? She's only 8 days old.

Why are you feeding her every three hours? Feed on demand - might be every hour, might be more. Don't use a routine. And no formula.

Best thing is to spend a day at home with her just feeding when she wants. Same for nights.

How is she?

see a real life lactation consultant to check latch and watch a feed. do you have a local breast feeding support group? la leche league has a helpline you can call as does nct. rl person will be able to check your lo for tongue tie etc.

I agree with above though. feed on demand. take to bed if you can tops off plenty skin to skin and allow to suckle at will to stimulate. do you have any support? can you get someone to help so you can get some sleep and eat proper food and lots of water?

it gets easier!! x

When a baby is feeding a lot, your breasts will feel very empty and deflated. Your body makes milk as you're feeding the baby, so she'll still be getting milk. At 8 days your supply will not be settled yet and it's important to feed your baby as much as she wants, so that your body knows to make more milk. I agree with other poster that once every 3 hours doesn't seem often enough. Every baby is different but my DS2 at that age would usually go 1-2 hours between feeds on average.

Sometimes a baby will come off the breast even when they're still hungry but something else is preventing them from feeding. I tend to feed, then nappy change when he comes off, then offer breast again. Usually he will take it and finish the feed. Also sit her up and burp her often as that might prevent her from being comfortable as well.

Also, sometimes in anticipation of a growth spurt a baby will do lots of suckling one day, so that your body makes more milk the next day. It's a question of demand & supply (not the other way around), the more the baby demands, the more your body will supply in return.

These early days are tough, but it will get easier, I promise! You're doing the right thing by just keep offering the breast.

I feed her three hourly because she doesn't wake up for feeds often enough, I fear if I left her to feed on demand she wouldn't get enough as she sleeps alot, my breasts seem to be better now and she has fed alot today :) thanks