Newborn feeding questions

[Youngfrankenstein]

You'd think with my 4th I'd be an expert!?

My daughter is 8 days old and is getting plenty of milk and doing well. She would nurse every 2 hours as my milk came in so I'm really just facing engorgement yesterday and today. I am worried about plugged ducts and mastitis.

Now that I'm fuller, she has a bit more trouble latching on and it takes a few tries; at night, sometimes 7 or 8 tries. She will eat and go strong for 8-10 mins on the first side. Now getting her to take the second takes 20-30 mins. It makes for a very long feeding time, especially at night. Now she is also just starting to sleep a bit longer at night; 3 hours vs. 1.5. This, of course, makes me way full.

I am not super, rock-hard engorged but that "second side" breast always hurts slightly. She does her best to take the second side but really I think is out of room.

I know my last baby only ended up taking one side per feeding but my sil, an LC, said it's too early to "allow" that because I need to get my supply set up in the first 3 weeks.

I really, really don't want to pump at all but I do try to express a little after she's done with the second side.

Will doing this get me comfortable in the next few days or what? I just need some reassurance.

I am wondering if 2 hour feeds will just keep making me fuller and fuller and she eats less volume. If I do 3 hours, she eats a bit more but I am fuller.



ARG! Any advice?

[Angelorum]

My MIL (LC also) also advised me to offer both sides at a feeding, but in the beginning ds was always asleep after one. And at night, so was I! After a couple weeks he would doze for 15 min or so between sides. He'll take both in one sitting during the day now, but we still fall asleep in between at night. I've never had any supply problems or pumped.

We had trouble getting a latch when I was engorged in the beginning, but he got better and my milk supply settled after not too long. If she's taking 20 or 30 minutes to latch on the second side because she's uninterested, I'd just wait a little if it's not too painful.

[PatioGardener]

You might find reverse pressure softening useful to help baby latch:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/...cotterman.html

(scroll down for pictures)

[Youngfrankenstein]

I did try the reverse pressure and it helps. She is doing much better with the latch.

I woke up with one side very painful. She just can't take two sides without a lot of time and spitting up. I sent my mom out to get a basic pump. I just don't know how to resolve the engorgement/meeting the baby's needs.

After one side she is happy and full. Should I just pump on the other? By minutes or ounces. I really don't want to get plugged ducts. And how does it all resolve?

[PatioGardener]

Do you know if your DD is back to her birthweight yet? Pees and poops are good? If that's all good then if baby is fine with just one side, I'd just pump the other (or hand express) to comfort rather than trying to 'empty' it. I know you are setting your milk supply right now, but you want to set it for baby, not for twins, right? If you pump the other side fully I'd be worried that your body may start to make milk for twins.

Hopefully some BTDT Mamas will correct me if I'm wrong!

And Congratulations on the birth of your daughter!

[lifeguard]

I NEVER offered ds both sides. If I was really engorged on the non-used side I would pump a little or hand express a little. As a newborn he bf'd pretty much every 1.5-2 hours (sometimes more) so each side was stimulated plenty.

[Youngfrankenstein]

Thanks for the advice. It's hard when it feels like you can't trust you instincts. My mw said no pumping for two weeks. My LC said pump a little to comfort.

What if she goes 3 hours at night? Then one side would only get stimulated in 6 hours..

[OperaDiva]

I never fed both sides, and my son will have doubled his birth weight in about 10 more ounces, at only 3 months old! I also pumped on occassion, and my supply is excellent. I do still get engorged a bit at night, but I'm pumping and donating so I don't mind. I think we have those instincts for a reason, because it is right for YOUR baby, whether it is right for anyone else's baby or not. It sounds like you're doing great, enjoy that tiny baby while she's still little!

As far as nighttime goes, I would just pump the second side to comfort while the baby is nursing, that way you can sleep comfortably.

[SFam]

i've had the same issue with both babies. in the beginning you have so much milk and their little tummies are too small to take it all in. with the first i tried not to pump because i read it will increase milk supply and that is counterproductive if your baby already doesn't want both sides. i pumped only if i was extremely uncomfortable. i ended up with an infection in one side! with my second (now three months) i decided to pump to comfort and freeze the milk. so what if it takes longer to settle down your milk supply? you get to save some milk for later (even if you never bottle feed, you can use it for mixing with baby food later) and feel more comfortable. with both of my babies it took about three months for my supply to seem to fit their needs. still now at almost 15 weeks, my babe will often only nurse on one side. if she's happy and content, i dont' worry about my supply or stimulating both sides every two hours or whatever. your body knows what to do. sometimes one side goes a while without nursing, but so far no periods and my baby is growing like a weed. i think every mother-baby pair is different, but you don't have to be uncomfortable for the sake of trying to manipulate your milk supply.