Breastfeeding advice please?

[Cupcakejamlover]

I’ve had baby around 2 weeks ago. Since then my breastfeeding journey has been very rough, i suffered from over supply and nearly had mastitis, am now on antibiotics just to avoid them because of how engorged my breasts were. (I had to pump in the first week because baby was away from me for health reasons, and i think pumping is what messed everything up). anyway i am now at a more comfortable stage with my supply, hoping that its regulating by demand. I find that by 2.5 hours after feeding, both breasts get full, and need to be ‘emptied’ otherwise they will be very sore and become very engorged again... i have therefore been feeding from both breasts in one feed, switching sides at around 10 minutes in(even if he is still sucking on one side) since he eats for around 20 minutes total.. Baby seems happy after feeding , has good amount of wet/ dirty diapers and i feel very comfortable after feeding.. i have now just read about foremilk and hindmilk and am now second guessing my technique, worried that i’m not doing the right thing? Am I supposed to only feed from one side until he comes off by himself, given the chance that he will not eat from the other side and it could become very sore and engorged by the time he has his next feed, leading to a more difficult latch? Seems like an endless loophole.. thanks for any advice

I wouldn't worry about foremilk/hindmilk if your baby is feeding happily and you are comfortable. Trying to change things and engineer some other feeding pattern doesn't seem necessary.

Congratulations on your new baby!

I’m sorry that you’ve been experiencing some problems. What you have read is a bit out dated. The first part of a feed is more of a watery thirst quenching drink, then the fattier milk starts to come through the more the baby feeds. Generally it is recommended to wait to swap breasts until baby comes off of the breast naturally themselves do they get the fattier milk, or if they don’t seem satisfied after feeding on the first breast that would be the time to swap to the other side.

However, as long as baby is putting on weight, is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies, is thriving and is settled after a feed what you are doing is absolutely fine.

If baby is not putting on weight etc I’d offer the same side for 15 minutes before swapping.

To help with the engorged pain, you can hand express/pump or use a warm compress to help with the engorged feeling or use cabbage leaves, but only express to for a few minutes to take the pain away as the more you express the more milk you produce. Your breast will then adjust, as they produce milk to baby’s demand.

Eldest two always fed until they came off by themselves, which weirdly happened to be exactly 20 minutes. Burp and nappy change, then 20 mins on the other side- I'd start on the same side I last finished on. I'd class that as a "full" feed and would always encourage if I could this cos I'd get a longer sleep in between! Both gained weight really well so worked for us.

My youngest was entirely different though and would have fed all day long if only I could have had nothing else to do- turned out she had tongue tie and this wasn't picked up until she was 12 weeks.

At only 2 weeks a sleeping baby is very difficult to wake, if nappy changing and taking off clothing doesn't work and he seems happy otherwise and gaining weight, just go with it- your supply should settle down. Has your health visitor given any breastfeeding advice, any online groups/support where you are?

• meant to add, the advice about plenty of water and dirty nappies, to feed on demand, breaststroke feeling empty after a feed and "don't worry all babies cry" really did not help with my third- nothing was investigated because we ticked all these other boxes.

@De88

- meant to add, the advice about plenty of water and dirty nappies, to feed on demand, breaststroke feeling empty after a feed and "don't worry all babies cry" really did not help with my third- nothing was investigated because we ticked all these other boxes.

*wet! Not water