hr never "finishes" but they keep filling up

[thebarkingbird]

i have a 2 week old baby. he was born at 8lbs 14.8 oz. he was VERY sleepy that first day and hardly ate at all in the hospital though they let us go without verifying that he was eating. he only dropped a bit of weight and as of 1 1/2 weeks of age had regained his birth weight and then some. he's now about 9.5 lbs and change. he's visibly gaining and growing little fat rolls.

here's the thing. he never seems to "finish" either breast and will almost never eat from both sides in one sitting unless he's doing a 4 hour marathon like yesterday. my breasts keep filling up though. so i know my supply is good but could this lead to problems later? last night they didn't fill up when he was ready and after 30 mins of fussy baby i gave him an oz of EBM and then comfort nursed him to sleep.

[Mrs-Mama]

My LC told me that nursing from just one side is sufficient for a "meal". If they take the other, it's like dessert. It's different for every baby. My DS usually only nursed from one side per feeding. As far as your breasts filling up without him emptying them all the way, I think that should be perceived as a good thing! No worries about low-supply for you I've read/heard that your breasts are pre-programmed to over-supply at first to make sure the babe has enough to eat. Your supply will level out over time, but I think two weeks is too early for that.

Also, there is always some milk in your breasts, so you should be able to nurse your babe whenever. You don't have to wait for that engorged feeling...no need for the supplemental bottles.

HTH!

[onesofar]

ds also only nursed on one side right from birth. my mom is an lc, and said this was fine, so we have continued this trend. i have always been amazed at how my breasts didn't 'feel' full, but he could still be heard swallowing, so he was obviously getting something! i think as long as you are nursing consistently on both sides, even though not at the same feeding, your supply should stay plentiful and your lo will have enough to eat straight from the source! Good luck!

[foreverinbluejeans]

One of the problems with having bottles in the house is the temption to use them. Especially in the middle of the night. I am assuming you fed the expressed milk by bottle.

GET THE BOTTLES, PUMPS, FORMULA, ECT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE. To get your milk supply established you do not need them. They cause problems.

Breasts are not containers. They are modified sweat glands. They produce milk because of the feedback mechanism of the suckle of the baby. As your breasts get better at producing milk they will not feel as engorged or full as they did when your baby was born. They may even seem to shrink but be able to make enough milk for two babies.

A fat baby does not mean a healthy baby. A breastfed baby should double birthweight at 6 months and triple birthweight at 12 months. However, some breastfed babies double birth weight at 2 or 3 months and the mom to think it is great. These babies are being overfed and may be at risk of future weight problems. You mention fat rolls as being a good sign. Moms can over feed wanting their babies to be "big and healthy."

[JANmom13]

Wow, mine was born the same way- sleepy, and almost same weight. Honestly,if I had been in your situation (with extra left over) I would have pumped and saved some to help with work. When I returned to work I had extra and it was MUCH less stressful knowing that if I didn't pump enough (I always have to up my supply so the daycare's bottle feeding fills him up- he drinks more from the bottle) he'd been hungry and crying. I went back to work at 6 weeks. Anyway, one side isn't always enough, in contrast to what other people have said. At first I was feeding from one side only, and mine was still not gaining so I was told by my LC he "needed" the 2nd side (which I had had to pump because of a latch problem that created sore nipples), and once I started using a shield to be able to use that 2nd side he started doing much better. But if yours is gaining well on one side, you probably have enough for him.

I would kind of worry about supply problems later if he continues not to finish for a while longer- beyond the initial period where you usually do have extra. I only say this because I had this problem with one of my other children. It sounds like him being fussy means he wasn't getting enough of what he wanted, and so pumping the extra may help you keep up production, or make it easier for you when he goes through a growth spurt- you'll have some extra there for him already. The thing is, if you bottle feed when he is fussy, he is getting that milk right away, but he may expect it to be there the next day, and if you again give in and give him extra bottled milk eventually you'll make less and he'll still want the same or more. In cases like that, I always try to pump whatever I can at the time of feeding. If I can't match what my baby has from the bottle oz. for oz., then I just pump whatever there is, and try to up my water, oatmeal, and B vitamins (plus my prenatal). Usually that ups the milk later on.

If he had a marathon session, maybe he is going through a growth spurt- I would just try to feed him as much as possible and try to keep him nursing so in case he is trying to increase your supply. You are so lucky to have so much extra!

[Woodland]

Originally Posted by A fat baby does not mean a healthy baby. A breastfed baby should double birthweight at 6 months and triple birthweight at 12 months. However, some breastfed babies double birth weight at 2 or 3 months and the mom to think it is great. These babies are being overfed and [I

may [/I]be at risk of future weight problems. You mention fat rolls as being a good sign. Moms can over feed wanting their babies to be "big and healthy."

I am confused by this. what are you advising her to do?

[mama_lola]

Originally Posted by mellybelly

I am confused by this. what are you advising her to do?

I am confused as well. I was told you cannot "over feed" a breastfed baby. Anything that is too much to fit in their little bellies will be spit up. Correct?

[~Katie~]

My DS does the same, rarely nursed on both sides and in the first couple of weeks he didn't seem to empty the breast. Now at one month my supply has pretty much leveled out and they're not full feeling, he will nurse on both sides more often now as well. I second the pp who said that you don't have to wait to feel engorged, you continue to make milk while he's nursing. I also thought you couldn't over-feed breast milk, but can overfeed formula? I guess I'm in trouble since ds has put on 4 pounds since birth

[attachedmamaof3]

Originally Posted by thebarkingbird

here's the thing. he never seems to "finish" either breast and will almost never eat from both sides in one sitting unless he's doing a 4 hour marathon like yesterday. my breasts keep filling up though. so i know my supply is good but could this lead to problems later? last night they didn't fill up when he was ready and after 30 mins of fussy baby i gave him an oz of EBM and then comfort nursed him to sleep.

This is completely normal. Most babies will not regulate supply until well after 6 wks. Also, your breasts ALWAYS have milk or are making milk. What you didn't feel was the "letdown" which is that tingling/sharp pain/shooting sensation. Fussiness is stressful, though isn't it!! Especially with our first when we freak out!!

The nice thing about breastfeeding is:

As long as you are feeding the baby when the baby wants to be fed, for as long as the baby wants to eat and are maintaining your own nutrition, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE ENOUGH MILK!!!!

You don't have to stress or second guess. Let your baby and your body work together in their normal symbiotic relationship of supply/demand and you'll be fine!!

www.kellymom.com

THE best breastfeeding site online, IMO!!

[alegna]

I agree on no bottles. And also agree that you can not overfeed a breastfed baby.

Some follow the pattern (double at 6 months, triple at a year) some don't

Oh and dd ALWAYS just did one side per feeding.

-Angela

[attachedmamaof3]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

A fat baby does not mean a healthy baby. A breastfed baby should double birthweight at 6 months and triple birthweight at 12 months. However, some breastfed babies double birth weight at 2 or 3 months and the mom to think it is great. These babies are being overfed and may be at risk of future weight problems. You mention fat rolls as being a good sign. Moms can over feed wanting their babies to be "big and healthy."

Are you kidding me?

This is absolutely a myth. I cannot be more forceful and adamant that you ignore this type of "advice". It is disaster for a nursing relationship.

Supply and demand. ABSOLUTELY nurse your baby WHENEVER it wants AS LONG as it wants. This demand creates appropriate supply to feed your baby through growth spurts. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MANIPULATE OR MANAGE YOUR EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED BABY'S EATING!!!!!!

[klg47]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

However, some breastfed babies double birth weight at 2 or 3 months and the mom to think it is great. These babies are being overfed and may be at risk of future weight problems. You mention fat rolls as being a good sign. Moms can over feed wanting their babies to be "big and healthy."

So what would you suggest as an alternative? Pacifiers? Crying it out?

I appreciate attachedmamaof3's comment

[lemon]

I am nursing my second child and have no idea what it might feel like to "empty" a breast. And that super-fullness of engorgement only happens in the very beginning of infancy for many of us. So I wouldn't pay too much attention to full or empty unless it is uncomfortable for you. i.e. engorged, leaking milk, feeling tired of nursing a particular breast, etc. If you want to switch breasts, you can try just unlatching the babe and offering the other breast instead. But if you want to stay on one side per feeding that's okay too.

I'm sort of unclear what you are worried about. That the baby's not getting enough food? As long as he's nursing regularly (whatever regularly means for your babe) and seems healthy, active, etc., you have nothing to worry about. Are you sure he was fussy due to hunger? With a baby that young there are so many mystery factors...everything's changing day to day, week to week.

[Parker'smommy]

Just chiming in to say to just nurse nurse nurse. It IS a good sign that your baby is gaining weight and is looking healthy and chubby. That means he is getting lots of your wonderful milk!!

And also, not ALL babies double their birthweight at 6 months and triple it by a year and that is okay too. Mine NEVER did...a 30 pound one year old is pretty big which is what my 10 pound baby boy would be if he followed "the rules" ( although fine too...but still...big!)

[foreverinbluejeans]

There are several ways a breastfed baby can be overfed. This is not a new idea.

1. Breastfeeding whenever baby fusses. Babies fuss for reasons other than needing to be breastfed. Some mothers just pop the baby on the breast at the fist sign on any fussiness without looking for other causes or other ways to calm her baby.

2. Most women can make enough milk for 2 or 3 babies. Usually a woman's supply will adjust to the right amount for her baby. However, many things can influence her supply. Mom may be making enough milk for 2 babies and her one baby eats all or almost all the milk that 2 babies would be eating. The mom keeps making enough milk for 2 babies.

3. We wear clothes, drive cars, go out in public where it is less convient to breastfeed, work, ect. The life of today's woman is very different from how mothers have breastfed their babies in the past. We are not holding our babies 24/7 with unlimited access to the breast. We are 21st Century women with timeless babies. Our lifestyle affects access to feeding and breastfeeding. Putting off feeding affects supply.

4. The baby may be getting an imbalance of lower fat and higher fat milk.

5. We feed when it is a good time for us. We try to get babies on schedules or routines. We think it is a good thing that babies sleep through the night. We go to work, school, church, or to the spa without our babies. We think it is good for fathers to feed babies bottles of expressed milk to be part of the feeding experience. Scheduled feedings, missed feedings, supplimental feedings can affect supply and weight gain

6. If the mom and baby were together 24/7, the mom had little demands on her time or energy other than caring for herself and the baby, the mom minimizes her time away from home and she takes the baby with her, the baby is not allowed to sleep through the night, the baby sleeps with or very close to the mother, the mother has normal hormones, the mother has an adequate diet, the mother has normal breasts, the baby has a normal mouth, the baby has a normal suck, the baby is healthy, the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, the mother does not pump or express milk from her breasts, the baby does not use pacifiers. The baby would be near mother at all times and the mom would be in a location where she could breastfeed without delay. Then you could make the claim that it is impossibe for mothers living this lifestyle to over-feed a breastfed baby.

However, VERY few moms in the US choose to have this kind of hormonal symbiotic relationship with their baby.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

6. If the mom and baby were together 24/7, the mom had little demands on her time or energy other than caring for herself and the baby, the mom minimizes her time away from home and she takes the baby with her, the baby is not allowed to sleep through the night, the baby sleeps with or very close to the mother, the mother has normal hormones, the mother has an adequate diet, the mother has normal breasts, the baby has a normal mouth, the baby has a normal suck, the baby is healthy, the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, the mother does not pump or express milk from her breasts, the baby does not use pacifiers. The baby would be near mother at all times and the mom would be in a location where she could breastfeed without delay. Then you could make the claim that it is impossibe for mothers living this lifestyle to over-feed a breastfed baby.

However, VERY few moms in the US choose to have this kind of hormonal symbiotic relationship with their baby.

Well all of those things are ideal (and exactly what I did FWIW) and I maintain that some variation away from that is just fine and it is still not really possible to overfeed a breastfed baby.

If you have links saying otherwise, please post them (note, I am talking about feeding at the breast, not with bottles.)

-Angela

[2crazykids]

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

One of the problems with having bottles in the house is the temption to use them. Especially in the middle of the night. I am assuming you fed the expressed milk by bottle.

GET THE BOTTLES, PUMPS, FORMULA, ECT OUT OF YOUR HOUSE. To get your milk supply established you do not need them. They cause problems.

Breasts are not containers. They are modified sweat glands. They produce milk because of the feedback mechanism of the suckle of the baby. As your breasts get better at producing milk they will not feel as engorged or full as they did when your baby was born. They may even seem to shrink but be able to make enough milk for two babies.

A fat baby does not mean a healthy baby. A breastfed baby should double birthweight at 6 months and triple birthweight at 12 months. However, some breastfed babies double birth weight at 2 or 3 months and the mom to think it is great. These babies are being overfed and may be at risk of future weight problems. You mention fat rolls as being a good sign. Moms can over feed wanting their babies to be "big and healthy."

This is a very worrisome post.

OP: Yes, get rid of bottles and pacis for at least 10-12 weeks. If you feel that you need to supplement use a dropper or finger feeding technique (you can find how to do this on the Dr. Sears website. or pm me for explicit directions), but NO BOTTLES!!!!!!! Not at least for a while.

As for the second part of the above post....Sounds like a bunch of crap to me. Sorry...: There is no such thing as an overfed breastfed baby... NO SUCH THING. You can have an overfed formula fed baby, but breast fed babies will not over eat. Just not possible and not anything to be remotely worried about at this stage of the game.

If you are worried about weight gain keep meticulous track of pees and poos, nurse as much as babe wants with no bottles. Nurse at least every 1.5-2hours or MORE if necessary My DD nursed every hour for the first 10 weeks. Fine by me as long as things are working...then she spaced it out more and more.

[2crazykids]

Most women can make enough milk for 2 or 3 babies. Usually a woman's supply will adjust to the right amount for her baby. However, many things can influence her supply. Mom may be making enough milk for 2 babies and her one baby eats all or almost all the milk that 2 babies would be eating. The mom keeps making enough milk for 2 babies.

WTF? :

Where on earth did you find this information?

I barely made enough for 1 baby, staying home with babe, nursing on demand, etc. Barely. I'm actually really offended by this claim. Makes me feel even more abnormal.: Thanks.

[attachedmamaof3]

There are several ways a breastfed baby can be overfed. This is not a new idea

Having a "old idea" doesn't make it right. It's not a "new" idea to circumcise either.

1. Breastfeeding whenever baby fusses. Babies fuss for reasons other than needing to be breastfed. Some mothers just pop the baby on the breast at the fist sign on any fussiness without looking for other causes or other ways to calm her baby

It's called comfort nursing. I'm sure all of us that do it look for the reason why our baby is fussing. For some reason though our kids really like to nurse....gosh, why could that be? :

2. Most women can make enough milk for 2 or 3 babies. Usually a woman's supply will adjust to the right amount for her baby. However, many things can influence her supply. Mom may be making enough milk for 2 babies and her one baby eats all or almost all the milk that 2 babies would be eating. The mom keeps making enough milk for 2 babies

Interesting idea. I'd love to know where you come up with this! However, if supply is regulated by demand, and mom is making a large amount of milk, I'd say SHE'S MAKING THE RIGHT AMOUNT!! I think anyone who's ever nursed knows you can't FORCE a baby to nurse if baby doesn't want to. Besides, how would you or anyone else know how much 1, 2 or 3 babies needs? And how would you know how much milk I do or do not produce? Or how much my child is actually ingesting??

3. We wear clothes, drive cars, go out in public where it is less convient to breastfeed, work, ect. The life of today's woman is very different from how mothers have breastfed their babies in the past. We are not holding our babies 24/7 with unlimited access to the breast. We are 21st Century women with timeless babies. Our lifestyle affects access to feeding and breastfeeding. Putting off feeding affects supply

Hmmm...have you ever visited the Lactivist area here? "21st Century" womens' breasts still work, you know. Putting off feeding MAY affect supply, but to lessen it....how does that result in overfeeding breastfed babies??

Wearing clothes, driving cars and going out in public has yet to affect my (or any other nursing mother that I've met) breastfeeding relationships.

4. The baby may be getting an imbalance of lower fat and higher fat milk.

You mean the foremilk/hindmilk imbalance?? How exactly does that result in an overfed baby?? Most women only have this issue for a short period of time and then it resolves itself. If not, block feeding resolves the issue.

Do you read/research on this AT ALL or do you pretty much just spout misinformation??

5. We feed when it is a good time for us. We try to get babies on schedules or routines. We think it is a good thing that babies sleep through the night. We go to work, school, church, or to the spa without our babies. We think it is good for fathers to feed babies bottles of expressed milk to be part of the feeding experience. Scheduled feedings, missed feedings, supplimental feedings can affect supply and weight gain

No "we" don't. Who is "we" anyway? Not any nursing mother I know.

Mothers who work can pump at work at the times their baby would usually nurse and maintain supply in that manner....it's not to hard to figure out. It's not like moms who work don't feed their kids breastmilk. Not to mention, STILL Not seeing the link to OVERFEEDING BREASTFED BABIES!!!

6. If the mom and baby were together 24/7, the mom had little demands on her time or energy other than caring for herself and the baby, the mom minimizes her time away from home and she takes the baby with her, the baby is not allowed to sleep through the night, the baby sleeps with or very close to the mother, the mother has normal hormones, the mother has an adequate diet, the mother has normal breasts, the baby has a normal mouth, the baby has a normal suck, the baby is healthy, the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, the mother does not pump or express milk from her breasts, the baby does not use pacifiers. The baby would be near mother at all times and the mom would be in a location where she could breastfeed without delay. Then you could make the claim that it is impossibe for mothers living this lifestyle to over-feed a breastfed baby.

First of all....what is "normal"? Are you saying that a baby with slight tied tongue can be "overfed" but a baby without can't? This just gets worse and worse.

I'm not even going to get into "personal revelations" to back up my statements because it doesn't matter what my personal experience is/was. The FACTS are the FACTS.

If you are feeding your breastfed baby WHEN it wants, as LONG as it wants and as MUCH as it wants, you CANNOT OVERFEED YOUR BREASTFED BABY!

Attempting to schedule, manipulate or manage your breastfed baby's eating can result in severe issues with supply and can sabotage your breastfeeding relationship.

[crazyangel06]

wow

Originally Posted by foreverinbluejeans

There are several ways a breastfed baby can be overfed. This is not a new idea.

1. Breastfeeding whenever baby fusses. Babies fuss for reasons other than needing to be breastfed. Some mothers just pop the baby on the breast at the fist sign on any fussiness without looking for other causes or other ways to calm her baby.

2. Most women can make enough milk for 2 or 3 babies. Usually a woman's supply will adjust to the right amount for her baby. However, many things can influence her supply. Mom may be making enough milk for 2 babies and her one baby eats all or almost all the milk that 2 babies would be eating. The mom keeps making enough milk for 2 babies.

3. We wear clothes, drive cars, go out in public where it is less convient to breastfeed, work, ect. The life of today's woman is very different from how mothers have breastfed their babies in the past. We are not holding our babies 24/7 with unlimited access to the breast. We are 21st Century women with timeless babies. Our lifestyle affects access to feeding and breastfeeding. Putting off feeding affects supply.

4. The baby may be getting an imbalance of lower fat and higher fat milk.

5. We feed when it is a good time for us. We try to get babies on schedules or routines. We think it is a good thing that babies sleep through the night. We go to work, school, church, or to the spa without our babies. We think it is good for fathers to feed babies bottles of expressed milk to be part of the feeding experience. Scheduled feedings, missed feedings, supplimental feedings can affect supply and weight gain

6. If the mom and baby were together 24/7, the mom had little demands on her time or energy other than caring for herself and the baby, the mom minimizes her time away from home and she takes the baby with her, the baby is not allowed to sleep through the night, the baby sleeps with or very close to the mother, the mother has normal hormones, the mother has an adequate diet, the mother has normal breasts, the baby has a normal mouth, the baby has a normal suck, the baby is healthy, the baby is exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, the mother does not pump or express milk from her breasts, the baby does not use pacifiers. The baby would be near mother at all times and the mom would be in a location where she could breastfeed without delay. Then you could make the claim that it is impossibe for mothers living this lifestyle to over-feed a breastfed baby.

However, VERY few moms in the US choose to have this kind of hormonal symbiotic relationship with their baby.

::Puke Sounds like something EZZO would say