Engorged, I can't make her nurse more frequent, what next?

[CradleCrapNap]

My baby is a week old tomorrow. We are BFing. I seem to be producing lots, but baby happily goes 4 hours between feeds, and I am so full that she can't latch on. I have been using my pump to soften pre feed which helps but can't keep doing that forever can I? I read on kellymom that in the early days they should feed 2 hourly and if engorged to wake them but my baby is either too sleepy or just cries until the next feed would have been due anyway!! Any advice? Currently pumping, 2 hours after her last feed to mimick the 2 hourly feeds advised by kellymom, but only 10 mins on each side. I want to be able to leave the house at some point!!

If she is only feeding every 4 hours that is not enough. How about trying her every hour during the day. Is she filling her nappies?

She takes a lot when she does feed and has a wet nappy at every feed and dirty ones 3/4 a day. She lost just 4% of birth weight so don't think she's not getting enough. Some of her day time feeds are closer, 3 hourly. The occasional one has been 2.5, usually after she's been a little bit sick so assuming she needs topping up sooner.

Also, midwife came and was happy with frequency of feeds. Just wondering how to move away from having to pump between if she won't feed more frequently. Thanks for replying btw.

It's normal to be engorged at a week. Just put her to the breast as much as possible, every time she stirs or makes a noise.

Your supply will settle down to match demand, don't worry. Just takes a bit of time.

Keep offering regularly and try not to pump too much in between. Your body is working out it's supply and demand balance at the moment. So offer a feed more regularly, don't be worried if she doesn't feed every time. In between if you become painfully enforced and full I found gently hand expressing a little bit until I was comfortable was enough, but try not to drain the breast as otherwise your body can't learn to regulate

Sounds like you're doing a super job. Keep asking if you have questions and try Kellymom.com a great source of BF advice xx

And 3-4 hourly feeds can be normal. My second was like that and she was a real fatty.

How many times in a 24 hour period is she feeding? Think of it that way rather than how often. If she's feeding 8-12 times in a 24 hour period, having plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is gaining weight/not lost more than 7% then she is feeding enough.

The more you feed her/express, the more milk you will produce.

Pumping will increase your milk supply, hand express for comfort and everything will sort itself out in the next couple of weeks as your body regulates. Sounds like you are doing a fab job and congratulations on your new baby

It's only been a week. Your supply needs to work itself out which it will. Congrats on your baby

Thank you. I might try keeping track of how many feeds a day. She fed on and off between 10-12 last night, I woke her at 3 but she cried and didn't latch until 4, then she stirred just after 7, tries her but again she was fussy and didn't feed until 8. She is currently sleeping.

The first few weeks can be hard going. What are you doing during the day? Have you got a comfy chair of place to feed, few box sets to watch, drinks to hand?

It does sound as if she is struggling a bit to latch, might be the engorgement, might be her tiny mouth. Midwives aren't always as expert as they could be, with breastfeeding support. Try some different positions? I don't suppose the crying is her not wanting to feed, probably a general wailing that she is hungry but can't work it out.

Hang in there, it will improve soon, hopefully

In the early days, I had to hand pump a couple of squirts to soften my breasts and the had to lean right by to try and reduce the force of the flow.
Good luck!

Feeding in the bath might be nice. Mine used to love that. You need someone to hand her in and take her away to get dry afterwards.

kellymom.com/hot-topics/newborn-nursing/

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drowned thanks, That was the article I read saying to feed 2 hourly! I do think she is struggling to latch because she's small and my boobs are so big. She seems better on the right and that one seems to be softening quicker than the left. So am keeping pumping the left as she is refusing it. Not sure if that's right. She just drained the right and fed on the right at 11. I keep offering left first but she refuses, even after I'd pumped a little first. In hospital it was the left that she preferred!

cradle sounds like she is doing okay if she lost just 4% of birthweight. Though I have heard of HVs having strong views on 3 hourly feeds I'd agree with those saying 4 is fine if they are doing wet and dirty nappies, gaining weight etc. The suggestion to hand express a little to help with latch is good. If you are pumping a lot then unless you are building up a useful freezer supply you are only serving to maintain an oversupply. My DD (12wks) had initial troubles latching one side when I was engorged so a quick hand express helped - as did a wipe of boob and baby mouth with muslin when dribbles of milk made things to slippy fir a good latch.