Seeking advice- breastfeeding a 2 day old babe

[adoremybabe]

DS was born on Sunday, my breasts started getting harder and more full yesterday afternoon. Today my milk is in. It's much sooner then I anticipated but this is my third child and I've only been off of nursing for about 4 months.

This time around, instead of letting things get painful from engorgement, I thought that I'd pump the extras and save them for DS if ever needed. So I got my trusty electric pump out and all I get are a few drips.

Is this because my milk may not be fully in? My breasts are engorged, hard, and slightly pained. Are my milk ducts just getting revved up and not really that full yet? If this is the case, is my DS getting enough to eat?

[mamazee]

My breasts would give tons of milk with a pump last time, but with the new babe, no matter how full they feel (and they don't usually feel nearly as full), no milk comes out with the pump. They just don't respond to the pump. But, my babe was pooping and peeing fine right from the start, and is now a chubby and healthy 7-month-old. So all seems to be working. Anyway, I'd look for output rather than input when judging whether your babe is getting enough milk.

[adoremybabe]

DS has already had 4 messy and wet diapers today so I suppose that I can safely assume that he is definately getting enough.

[Red Pajama]

It could be the pump. If it's really your "trusty " pump, I assume that means you've used it with a different baby. Mine still worked for my second time around, but I don't think it worked as well, and my milk output was considerably less.

[Madawyh]

Depending on the type of pump you are using it may need to have the membranes replaced. Both Medela and Ameda pumps have little membranes (medela's is the white flap on the yellow cap and Ameda's is the little white, rubber ring). Any time pumps lose suction my first recommendation is to replace those membranes because they do wear out with use.


Also remember that pumps are never as effective or appealing as a baby at the breast is! The amount of milk you gain by pumping is NOT an indication of how much milk is actually in the breast.

Engorgement is a combination of copious milk production, increased blood flow to the breasts and increased fluid retention (especially if you received IV fluids in the hospital). Frequent breastfeeds are the best solution for engorgement and for helping prevent it in the first place.

Keep nursing that baby any time it shows signs of being ready to feed and you'll get through this phase quickly. Cold compresses (you can take a disp. diaper and add 1 cup of water and freeze it and they make great cold nests for engorged breasts!). Just remember that you shouldn't use heat on your breasts unless there is milk dripping or flowing (during engorgement). Heat when the milk isn't flowing can actually cause inflammation and restrict milk flow.

Hope that helps

Anne, CLEC, LLLL