supply at 3 months

[skfmama]

Hi Mamas,

I'm a first time mom and need some reassurance. I'm nursing my son...he's 3 months tomorrow. I only nurse him on demand...I don't really pump and he doesn't take a bottle regularly. I'm always with him.

I have a few questions on what's "normal".

He usually sleeps pretty well. I get a 7ish hour stretch most nights, with occasionally an 8 or 9 hour stretch. Him sleeping so well isn't going to hurt my supply in the long run, is it?

He usually nurses about every 2-3 hours. Both sides are capable of 2 let downs each (I watch his swallowing and can sometimes feel them). He usually nurses through 2 on the first side and 1-2 on the second.

The last few days, it seems like he's been stretching out his nursing intervals and not eating as much (as far as I can tell). He'll nurse through a let down, then mess around/fall asleep and then do the same on the other side. Should I be pushing him to eat more or as he gets more effecient at nursing, will each let down contain more milk? I'm confused as to the mechanics of that.

I have sore nipples from awkward positioning lately...we're away from home for a month for work, so I'm nursing wherever and sometimes it's just not comfortable. I don't know if that would affect anything. He's also not napping well most days - just catnaps here and there, so whenever he nurses he gets sleepy really easily.

So is all this normal or I should I be more proactive about anything? I'd love to nurse as long as possible!

Thanks!

[sarahdavida]

It´s definitely possible that his suctioning is becoming more effecient and your supply/flow is more effeciently matching his needs since you are nursing on demand...and/or that he´s actually stretching it out by falling asleep on one side - and then repeating the routine on the other side...so really more of a change of rhythm...

I would imagine if he seems fine in his waking hours, he´s probably o.k. and if he were hungry, he wouldn´t hesitate to let you know :-)

More importantly, you should be as comfortable as possible...really do what you can do wherever you are (with pillows, etc.) to get yourself in a good position for you - and make sure he still has a good latch to try to avoid any further discomfort.