Is my newborn feeding enough?

[Shahhhh]

Hi guys! FTM here 🤓 my gorgeous little boy is 6 days old and is mainly breastfed. We had some issues with his blood sugars when he was born via emergency c section but he quickly adjusted and is perfect now.

I’m the usual protective mama and want to make sure he’s eating enough. I’m going to call the midwives today for advice but thought I’d ask in here too!

last night he only woke up 4 times: 11:30pm, 2:10am, 5:15am and then 6. He breastfed for about 20 mins at 9:30 before I put him down then he fed for anything from 5 mins-20 mins each time he woke.

He had fed through the day yesterday but I’d say no longer than 20 mins each feed, some feeds only like 5-10 minutes but he always stops feeding himself and won’t take anymore. When he woke up at 5:15 I gave him a ready made formula bottle because I was worried he hadn’t had enough and he drank just under 45ml!!! So that tells me he was hungry but doesn’t seem to be on the breast for long.

has anyone experienced this? I have LOADS of milk and am going to be pumping today cause my boobs are sore so I’ll bottle it for him. When I’m breastfeeding, he started off so well with latching but now it seems he shakes his head and spits my nipple out a lot, like he’s struggling to latch on but he has really easily before!

thanks in advance mamas x

My baby never fed for longer than 5-10 minutes, even as a newborn, and she gained weight well. She usually woke about three times a night. Is he having at least 6-8 wet nappies every day? I think that’s the best indicator that they're feeding enough.

I’ve heard that breastfed babies will often take quite a lot of formula when they’re tiny because the rest goes further back than a human nipple and stimulates the sucking reflex better. So taking that formula isn’t necessarily an indicator he was starving, but a reflex reaction. But do check this with a breastfeeding counsellor/lactation consultant.

Congrats on your lovely little boy!

Completely agree with Abracadabra!

My DC2 only ever fed for 5 mins. DC1 had Tongue tie and fed for hours so it was quite a shock to have one that was over on 5 mins.

It sounds as though you don’t need to worry about pumping or offering too-ups unless your MW has told you to due to high weight loss.

This article from Kellymom suggest ways on how to tell if your LO is getting enough milk]]

Thank you all! He was weighed yesterday on day 5 and had only lost 3% of his body weight so the midwife was overjoyed especially with his blood sugar issues on the first day of his little life. I’m definitely going to call my midwife today to just check with her also, but I really appreciate the reassurance that 5-10 mins isn’t as uncommon as I thought!!

Breatfed babies are all different, they will feed for different lengths of time. The most important factor is to see if they are having plenty of wet nappies also should be pooing everyday at lest at this age. After a few weeks they may go days between poos and you just need to look at wet nappies.

20 minutes is a normal length of feed as long as baby comes of the breast themselves and doesn't want anymore then that's good. Also feeding shouldn't be causing any damage to your nipples either, if your having problems see if you can see a lactation consultant or find a local breastfeeding support group as they can check your latch.

My 2nd was like this also. Other breast feeding mums were gutted that they need to do feeds for up to an hour!
But as others have said, so long as there are wet nappies and he is putting on weight then there's no issue. You've got a super efficient baby!

Bless you all, thank you. The encouragement is lovely. Being a new mama is overwhelming sometimes but literally the best feeling I the world! Just want to make sure I’m looking after this little love the best I can. Thanks ladies xxx

Only losing 3% is exceptional! You definitely don’t need to worry about pumping, which I found a huge faff, or giving formula top-ups.

Congratulations on your new arrival! It sounds like he's doing really well. Offer both breasts at each feed but if he's come off himself then I wouldn't bother with a top up. Like someone else said it can be a sucking reflex when he takes the bottle and he's not actually hungry.

Your milk supply also needs to regulate so I wouldn't pump vast amounts otherwise you might end up with an oversupply. Just express enough off to be comfortable if you're really engorged, and only after you've offered baby a feed.

Ask the midwives if there is a local breastfeeding group. I found these were best for support.

Hmm if you pump because you are producing lots/feeling full and sore do be aware that the more you pump the more you will produce. So, go easy on the pumping or you'll find more will keep coming. Our bodies are amazing! If you feed AND pump then your body assumes the baby is requiring that amount, so it will keep up with baby's requirements. I found that rather than pumping I had to put up with being a bit full/sore for a bit and then my body 'realised' it didn't need to produce that much.

Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy.

Don't pump! Your body needs to learn to adjust which can take a while. Pumping will tell it you need it to produce more!

Hand express off a tiny amount to soften your breast and let it be comfortable but that's all you need to do.

It all sounds great, honestly, "only" 4 times overnight is PLENTY and it does not sound like you need formula. His tummy right now is only around 20ml so if you have lots of milk he will fill up quickly.

Please find a local breastfeeding support group where you can get your latch checked and get your questions answered but it all sounds great.

I can see a couple of MNers have given you good advice on going to your local BFing group. This is great advice. You don’t have to wait until there’s a problem before you go, you can just go along and have a cuppa and meet sone local BFing Mums or Mums-to-Be.

You might be able to find your local ones here

If they are feeding efficiently then that’s absolutely fine, the key is to feed on demand and that they have plenty of wet nappies. My second dc was just like your child, ebf and did brilliantly (we won’t talk about her nightmare sister )

I had a generous supply too and an efficient baby who slept well (to begin with anyway 😀). It felt really strange and a bit worrying after a much more difficult experience with my first non-sleeping, fussy baby. I agree with the advice you’ve already had - don’t pump, do look out for wet nappies and weight gain and enjoy the sleep!

Also, the latching on/off behaviour can be due to cluster feeding but also if your milk is in and you're feeling very full it can make it harder for baby to get a deep latch hence why they pop on and off when in the first few days they were latching better.

Google reverse pressure softening to help make the nipple easier to latch on to.

In a few days you'll feel less full and it will gradually settle down.

I agree, your supply is good and he’s doing well. It may be the speed of the let down he’s struggling with to latch. A quick hand express before starting the feed could help. If you want to maintain bottles then pump but I agree, that won’t reduce your supply so you’ll still feel full next feed. If over supply is an issue you can always look at donating. I know somebody who ended up feeding the equivalent of two babies in hospital whilst also feeding her own baby!

I used to have to use a Hakka as my letdown was too much and he wound choke! All calmed down after a few weeks and baby got used to it

At that age my daughter fed for 3-5 minutes and didn't do 10-20 minutes feeds until 7 months.
3% loss is amazing my daughter had 5% and the midwives counted that as good.

Feed on demand and look for dirty and wet nappies. If they pee frequently it’s the best indicator that they are eating well, some breastfed babies don’t poo very often and apparently it’s normal (never experienced this myself).

I have a 5 day old myself (not my first) and she just feeds away, sometimes for 5 minutes sometimes for much longer. It helps to feed with skin to skin contact - they magically latch and feed better and it also gets your oxytocin flowing so helps with milk production.

Milk is produced on demand so if you pump and feed you will get an oversupply.

You say you have a lot of milk so you're going to pump - this is going to create more demand and further increase your supply. Oversupply and/or a fast letdown can also be a reason for baby to pull away or fuss while feeding. The overnight feeds sound perfectly normal to me!

If baby is gaining weight and having dirty/wet nappies, they're getting enough.

I agree that pumping and offering formula are both likely to mess with your supply.

i would just watch for feeding cues and feed when they want it for now, eat and drink plenty and try and relax into it. Maybe find a couple of series you want to watch.

Maybe have a look at different feeding postitions and work out which ones suit you and LO best.

Your DH’s job for now is to make sure you have food and drink, do some nappies and maybe take LO out for a walk or two after they’ve had a feed

Thank you all of you lovely people! 💛