Is my baby getting enough?

[little_O]

As I suspected would happen with round 2 of mastitis my milk "appears" to be dwindling.
Positive signs it's NOT are:
-still plenty of wet nappies and poos (pretty much each feed)
-shes a good colour

Reasons I am worried:
-she now feeds for an hour and half and isn't as sleepy as normal after ( she was normally "drunk")
-she is more difficult to settle and seems to just want more milk

I am feeding her as long as she wants to, hoping this will encourage let down too, but it doesn't seem to be working. My breasts feel pretty empty all the time now
This has been only the last 24 hours but now I am severely sleep deprived and don't know what to do.
Is it normal? Should I be worried? What can I do??

X

[Barb Glare]

Hi, Little O,

it sounds like you are having a tough time. The first 6 weeks with a new baby can be really rough going - they are for most people. but we get through it.
Things are going better than you realise. Your baby and breasts are working fine.

The fact that she is pooing at every nappy change tells you that you are getting enough. And your letdown is working - even if you don't feel it. It is still working just fine.
Have you had your little one weighed yet? I bet she is growing.
Babies LOVE to suck - and they love to be with their mum. It doesn't mean that she isn't getting enough milk - just that she wants to hang out with her mum!
Some mothers find it is helpful if they feed one side for 20 mins or so, and then gently detach your baby (yes she will make a desperate grab for it as though to say "hey, you, I'm not finished yet" but take her off anyway. Give her a burp and a nappy change and give her the other side. After 20 mins or so take her off and cuddle her until she is well asleep (then try to gently put her down!)
Babies feed at least 8-12 or more times in 24 hours - all normal, and will help to prevent you from getting mastitis.
Are you a member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association yet? The support you get is just invaluable.

[MantaRay]

It sounds like you are having a difficult time. Mastitis can really make it so much harder to get through those early weeks. I hope that is clearing up now

Mastitis doesn't dry up milk supply so that's some good news. It can make it harder for the milk to flow which might be part of what is going on. Also though, I notice your bub is 3 weeks now - congratulations, it will start to get easier soon - and often things do change around this time anyway. Many mums find their babies have a wonder week around this time which could explain the extra feeding. Also, as you have noticed, babies can start to become more alert and therefore sleep a bit less.

Don't worry about your breasts feeling empty - that is actually "normal" when breastfeeding. In the first weeks when you feel full between feeds, that is a sign that you have too much milk and when it settles back down to the right level for your baby, this stops and you only feel full if you miss a feed (and after a while maybe not even then). The very best sign that your DD is getting enough milk are her nappies. If there are 5 or more wet nappies and 2 or more dirty nappies which it sounds like there easily are, then she is getting enough. If she wasn't getting enough you would not only notice that there were very few nappies, but also she'd be either lethargic and sleepy or screaming - if she is happily sucking then it seems that she is getting just what she needs.

Babies usually get the majority of their milk in the first 20 - 30 minutes, so she might be sucking for longer to ease some discomfort or just to be close to you (again, very normal). If you don't mind her feeding so much, then it's fine to keep doing what you are doing. If it is too much for you though, you could try pulling her off after 30 minutes or so, changing the nappy, popping her on the other side for the same time and then try to end the feed. It is likely she will try to reattach herself but you might be able to settle her with cuddles, movement, bath etc rather than feeding more. If it doesn't work then you can put her back on to feed until she's finished.

The first few weeks really are the hardest. You are doing so well and are just around the corner from things getting a little easier. Well done.

[little_O]

Hi barb!

You have no idea how happy I am when you reply! Thanks!
It has been a tough 3 weeks, just can't wait for it to sort itself so I can feed with the joy I know I should be!
Thanks for the advice. I will try that next. Such a relief!

Thanks again,

[little_O]

Thanks manta ray, must have posted same time.
It's reassuring to hear I'm obviously not the only one. I'll try that out, and remember to trust the nappies.

Thanks!

[boomba]

Big hugs Hun. Can you spend 2 days with just skin to skin and resting with bub to relax yourself and up your supply? You are doing an amazing job xxxx

[BellyBelly]

Is My Baby Hungry? Do I Have Enough Milk?

[little_O]

Big hugs Hun. Can you spend 2 days with just skin to skin and resting with bub to relax yourself and up your supply? You are doing an amazing job xxxx

Will the skin to skin help stimulate? During the day I try to keep her next to me if I rest, but that's still clothed. Night she sleeps in her bassinet

[boomba]

Yup allowing her to be free of clothes and free to find your breast can help lots.

The Undervalued Therapeutic Power of Rest | Gloria Lemay

This blog post is great!

[little_O]

Yup allowing her to be free of clothes and free to find your breast can help lots.

The Undervalued Therapeutic Power of Rest | Gloria Lemay

This blog post is great!

Wow thanks. I didn't realize my bleeding was wrong now either... Rest looks to be the major factor here.

[LuluHB]

Climb into bed together tomorrow - nappy on her, knickers on you - and spend the day resting and cuddling your girl. Will do wonders for both of you.

ETA: Oops. Just read Boomba's link. I knew it was a good idea

[OceanPrincess]

Yep, what Lu said. You are on the right track hun. Hang in there.

[MantaRay]

How are you going today hun?

[little_O]

The milk seems to be picking up again and I have been just taking her off like was recommended when she looks like she is done, but definitely after 30 min. She settles fairly easy if I just cuddle her to sleep so you were right she must be getting enough . I will get her weighed again Monday so we will see for sure I guess.
Need to find a day to do the skin on skin method, just hard when you have in laws regularly dropping in! DH says to pick a day and he will say no one can come!

If she comes off after 5 minutes on the second side, does that mean she has had enough? Or should I keep trying to get her back on?

Thanks so much!

[MantaRay]

That's great new hun. You are doing so well.

Often babies won't take the second side at all, or if they do, not for long. It means she's had enough so there's no need to keep trying. It's so great that this is falling into place for you and hopefully you will be more relaxed about it in no time

[little_O]

Hi again!

Feeling like an obsessive mum here but dd seems to be very lethargic this afternoon. She was due for a feed around 11, but had been awake and "playing" for a couple of hours, was getting tired so 10.30 I rocked her to sleep, then she slept to 12.30, tried to feed her but she fell asleep again after 5 min.
I changed her nappy, stripped her down but she wasn't coming out of her sleep much. Finally got her to take some more, maybe another 5 min and she's gone back to sleep again.
Her poos are a dark yellow/orange colour.

She is never this sleepy, always really alert and active for her feeds.
Could it be after a growth spurt or could her blood sugar be low?

Sigh! She is just so little and I wish I knew more!

*ive posted this as its own thread now*

[Ambersky]

Oh love, they do love to confuse us! Just remember she is growing, today will be different to yesterday, and tomorrow something else will crop up. Have a read of the "wonder weeks' info that can be really reasuring of these phases they go through.. all normal and good. A growth spurt often follows the pattern of feed feed feed to take in as much as they can and help tell your body of their growing needs, then lots of sleeping to get the growing done.