Why is my bks old today. aby still hungry after breastfeeding?

[Flowers1978]

My baby is two weeks old today. I'm curious why my baby is still hungry after breastfeeding. Shouldn't I be producing enough on my own? For example, today she breastfed for 20-30 minutes on each side and then afterwards she still put her hands to her mouth to try and suck. I then gave her supplement and she took 2oz (looks like she would have taken more too).

I'm confused about all this...I pump regularly, drink Mother's Milk, eat right, drink enough fluids...I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do so I don't know why she is still hungry.

Help.

Thanks

Flowers1978

[Bokonon]

It is very normal for a newborn to nurse pretty much all the time. It's a way for them to build your milk supply, plus the sucking is comforting for them. Every time you supplement, it signals to your body that it doesn't need to make that much more milk.

Why are you pumping? The best thing for establishing supply is to let baby nurse on cue.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/frequent-nursing.html

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Bokonon

It is very normal for a newborn to nurse pretty much all the time. It's a way for them to build your milk supply, plus the sucking is comforting for them. Every time you supplement, it signals to your body that it doesn't need to make that much more milk.

Why are you pumping? The best thing for establishing supply is to let baby nurse on cue.

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/frequent-nursing.html

and mine had a growth spurt at 2 weeks. just keep nursing - that's how it works

nak

[Flowers1978]

I pump to build up my milk supply. Another example of her feeding just came. She nursed both sides for roughly 25 minutes. When she is done nursing she just pulls away from the nipple and won't reattach. However, within a minute she is crying and putting her hands to her mouth as though she is still hungry..so then I supplement her. I'm not sure what to do. I am not getting any rest, my nipples are starting to getting sore from all the constant nursing and pumping, and I'm becoming frustrated to the point of tears. It upsets me so much that she will feed for an hour on me and still not consider that enough....

Flowers1978

[mambera]

Sorry for the rough start mama. Are you tracking the baby's weight gain? It's difficult to know whether she is getting enough milk without this information.

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by Flowers1978

I pump to build up my milk supply. Another example of her feeding just came. She nursed both sides for roughly 25 minutes. When she is done nursing she just pulls away from the nipple and won't reattach. However, within a minute she is crying and putting her hands to her mouth as though she is still hungry..so then I supplement her. I'm not sure what to do. I am not getting any rest, my nipples are starting to getting sore from all the constant nursing and pumping, and I'm becoming frustrated to the point of tears. It upsets me so much that she will feed for an hour on me and still not consider that enough....

Flowers1978

Did you have supply problems? Maybe if there aren't supply problems then you need to put the pump down and let baby do the work - it's the baby that stimulates the breast to produce the milk that is required. As PatioGardener says that's just how it works and the first few months are hard that way - post again if you think that there are supply issues, nappy output etc.

If you are feeling tied down to the sofa, then there are things that you can do to ease the 'tied down' feeling, get ready with the telephone, tv control, healthy snacks, water - preferrably a bottle than just a glass, a good book, some knitting even if you want - just give yourself the tools to not feel as if you are constantly nursing also get yourself a good sling or wrap which will let you breastfeed handsfree or at least one hand free and you can at least go out for a short walk and get some fresh air and still nurse at the same time, I often post this but in the first few weeks of dd being born my dh would come home and I would sstill be planted on the sofa nursing dd and hadn't even showered or dressed - he really didn't get it.

Check the latch if you're feeling sore and be quite rigid about getting the position correct - either check out the biological nurturing position www.biologicalnuruturing.com - run by Susan Colson LLL Leader and IBCLC or the more traditional position ear, shoulder and hip in a striaght line and pull baby in tight tummy to tummy; so that you don't damage the nipples.

Have confidence in yourself, your body and your baby and all will be well.

[Flowers1978]

I have done several weight checks and every time the data showed that she was getting 1oz from each breast after ten minutes of feeding. So that's what confuses me. If she's feeding for 25-30 minutes, and not just ten, then how in the world is her little belly not full? Aren't infants belly's so small that they only hold a few ounces? How can she nurse for an hour and still take 2oz of supplement? None of this makes sense to me.

[blessedwithboys]

stop pumping and stop using bottles. find a LC or LLL ASAP. 2 wk old babies can nurse every minute they are awake and half of their sleeping time too. its good that they do that. if she wasnt getting enough milk from your breast, she wouldnt be content to nurse for 25 mins.

it is possible that you havent gotten all her cues figured out yet. maybe what you are reading as hunger is just the need to suck for comfort. try offering a pinky finger, nail side down. (clip your nail short and dont wear lotion or polish. give the nail area a good scrub with a brush once a day)

using a bottle at 2 wks is risking disaster. if a LC says she needs supp, you can use a device called a Lact-aid, or Supp Nursing System to get her extra milk.

honestly though, you sound like every other new mom learning to nurse. bf on demand, as often as baby will suck and it isnt hurting too much, let her nurse. you'll do fine!

[PatioGardener]

how many pees is she having in 24 h? how many poops?

is she back to her birth weight?

did you see a health care provider who told you to pump?

have you ever had breast surgery?

has someone looked at your latch and milk transfer?

nak

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

My lo's have all been the same, i remember going to a local mums group that lasted 2 hrs and feeding caden 6 times during this time , it is normal for a newborn to bf very often it's not alway hunger sometimes thirst, sometimes comfort.
you'll get through it

[Flowers1978]

She has plenty of wet diapers. She had a rough start on having dirty diapers but now has at least two a day. She is doingg great on weight..it took a bit of work but she is now past birth weight. My LC suggested we use bottles to supplement because she wasn't sucking right. It doesn't seem to have caused nipple confusion as she will still latch on to me.

[haydn'smommy]

I think you need to put away the pump and bottles and nurse your baby. You are heading down a slippery slope and things may get out of hand quickly. Babies that age do nurse frequently. I joked that mine nursed 20hrs/day at that age, but in some respects it was true. This is necessary, not just for your milk supply, but for your baby's health and development.
I read an amazing article that really spoke to me about this newborn stage. Let me share what it said: Your baby has spent the past 9 mos held by you 24hrs/day 7 days/wk, rocked by your movements, hearing your heartbeat, hearing the blood rushing through your veins, smelling your smell, hearing your voice. YOU are home to her. This big new place that she's come out into is scary with all its lights and noises and people, and all she wants to do is go home. And the closest place to home that she can get is at your breast. She needs to be nursed frequently to make her feel secure, to feel calm. Nursing is as much about this psychological development as it is about nutrition.
Follow your baby's lead. Let her nurse just as much as she wants. Trust your body to do this.

[karika]

If you continue to use the pump and bottles you will not be breastfeeding at all in a short time IMO. Stop them and only breastfeed on demand, which for a 2 wk old will be most of the time. Your breasts are for the baby. That is their function. Just stop doing anything other than staying topless, skin to skin with the baby. As long as you are getting the right amount of wets and dirties, baby is just fine. This site has most of the good info http://www.kellymom.com/bf/normal/newborn-nursing.html

We share our bodies to nurture our young properly. It takes more than 9 months. It takes years. It does get easier though, the longer you do it, and the more you learn about natural parenting.

I would suggest not seeing an LC that advised pumping or supplementing in a baby that is doing well. Stop seeing them or get another one if you feel more comfortable doing that. There are numerous videos on youtube demonstrating latches and holds for nursing (though the other info they have is not altogether accurate)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wj9tLgYn-bA


Also, get into a natural mothering group in your area. LLL is a good one, and holistic moms. Read old threads on MDC too.

http://www.lllusa.org/
http://www.holisticmoms.org/

we have a local group I found through word of mouth here that is called mindful mamas. You can go to your tribe area on MDC and find out if anyone is meeting in real life.

[PatioGardener]

Jack Newman's videos may be useful: http://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=...id=6&Itemid=13

[rachelsmama]

Originally Posted by Flowers1978

She nursed both sides for roughly 25 minutes. When she is done nursing she just pulls away from the nipple and won't reattach. However, within a minute she is crying and putting her hands to her mouth as though she is still hungry..so then I supplement her.

Are you certain she didn't just pop off because she needed to burp, wanted to pee, or wanted the first side again? When she started giving hunger cues again did you offer the breast first before you supplemented?

[Mom2M]

It is definitely a challenge in the beginning!

My DD always pops off and fusses a little when she needs to burp. DD1 never burped so it took me a while to understand what DD2 wanted. She'll stiffen up a bit too. I would try burping her.

I agree with the getting rid of the bottles. DD1 was a slow gainer and sleepy nurser, I had to pump and give her a bottle after she nursed. At 7-8 weeks, she had gained enough weight and was nursing better and then came the very hard task of getting her off the bottle completely!
It wasn't pretty and we had to go cold turkey for 2 days of crying and then it was fine.

Good luck! Don't worry too much, it usually gets better soon!

[staceychev]

Not only should you stop pumping and bottle-feeding, but stop thinking in ounces! Just nurse her when she seems hungry. At this point, it's very normal for her to be nursing around the clock.

[ewe+lamb]

Originally Posted by Flowers1978

None of this makes sense to me.

Have you read 'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' it's an LLL publication and really is something I would encourage you to get a hold of.

As regards the onces of milk that your little one is consuming, don't worry, she'll take exactly what she needs, this is where having confidence in your body comes in, you need to know that she is getting enough and be proud that YOU are giving her that - her weight gain is showing that she is gaining, so bask in the glory of your body and baby knowing that the only reason she is doing so well is because you are giving her exactly what she needs.

You are doing a great job, try and get the book - it really is a lifesaver, and take the time to enjoy your baby - time passes all too quickly!!

[AislinCarys]

As a mamma who spent 6 months getting my low-weight baby to gain, and battling low-supply:

I might be misunderstanding, but it seems from your posts like you have been told it takes 10 min of breastfeeding for a newborn to fill his tummy/empty the breast. This is one of the most annoying breastfeeding myths!!! Truth is, it differs from mama/baby pair to mama/baby pair. You see, every baby feeds differently. Some are guzzlers and will feed very quickly, others feed very slowly. It also varies during a feed, it often goes faster at the beginning and slower later on. It also varies different time of day. As a mother it also varies if you have fast or slow flow, heavy letdown or not etc.

Point is, there isn't a particular time limit for it. My DD needed an hour, very often. My friend's baby fed for 2 hours straight, and then she'd sleep 3-4 hours (big baby, mama with big supply).

And weighing before and after feeds is not very accurate, and should only ever be done as an assessment, if it is absolutely necessary.

My DD would come off halfway through because she needed a burp and to wee.

So if your baby still is hungry, give her the breast again! Every bottle you give sends a message to your breasts to produce less milk. And you have to work harder with the pump, which can't do as good a job as your baby anyway.

I know how worrying it can be when you are concerned about if your baby is getting enough. But in your shoes, I'd cut out the bottles. For a week I'd just try to breastfeed more to push your supply up - every moment at the breast tells your breasts to produce more milk for your baby!

And don't worry, over the next few months the time you spend breastfeeding will get down, slowly, but markedly. But this is the time you need to build your supply!

If, however, when you weigh your baby in a weeks time, she hasn't gained properly, it would be a good idea to supplement - preferably with a lactaid or sns (they are a bit of a hassle, but truly, the most hassle was always preparing it - same as for a bottle).

[AislinCarys]

Is she sleepy, btw? Does she feed actively, that is, can you hear or feel her swallow most of the time? A problem with my little one was that sucked while half-asleep and didn't swallow. In that case you have to work on keeping up the active sucking.

So as long as your baby feeds actively, just feed more.

I recommend Dr Jack Newman's site, anyway. It is great, and can answer most of your concerns!