Breastfeeding mommy help!!
My milk came in late 2 nights ago and ever since then my breast are huge!! I have been take hot rags and showers before feeding her or she won't eat. My question for you mommies is she is only eating for 7-10 mins max on one side then I switch her and she eats for just a couple on the other side. She eats every 3 hours. I am just scared she's not eating enough. She is pooping and peeing often after almost every feed. I am just a worrying mommy. Who wants to make sure my baby is getting enough. She goes to the Pedi tomorrow and gets weighted. How often did your baby eat at first? How long did they feed for?
Thanks
Jessica
Thanks
Jessica
Is she falling asleep quickly when you are feeding her? This is the problem I have had with my daughter. Get her down to her diaper and feed her on one side so she isn't so warm and comfy - she may feed longer. Then change her diaper to wake her up more and switch to the other side.
If she is is having pooping and peeing regularly, then I wouldn't worry too much. When she gets weighed tomorrow, you'll know for show if she's been getting enough.
Melanie
One more thing - I know you are taking a warm shower to help with engorgement, but it can actually stimulate more production. A trick a nurse taught me when I was engorged was to make a "v" with your fingers and press around your nipple. This sort of softens the area so that your baby can latch on easier. This is my third child and I've used this trick with each one. I have also found that laying on your side and nursing can help with this.
If she is is having pooping and peeing regularly, then I wouldn't worry too much. When she gets weighed tomorrow, you'll know for show if she's been getting enough.
Melanie
One more thing - I know you are taking a warm shower to help with engorgement, but it can actually stimulate more production. A trick a nurse taught me when I was engorged was to make a "v" with your fingers and press around your nipple. This sort of softens the area so that your baby can latch on easier. This is my third child and I've used this trick with each one. I have also found that laying on your side and nursing can help with this.
My daughter did the same thing. Would nurse 10 minutes on one side. I was worried at first too. But she had plenty of wet diapers and was gaining weight. I would try to nurse her every 2 hours if you are worried.
It's good that she is going to the dr tomorrow so you can see how she's doing!
take care,
Bambi
Oh, if she's just nursing on the second side for a few minutes I would try keeping her on one breast and then pump the other side...and make sure you switch sides each time she nurses.
That way you are emptying both breasts and she's getting the rich milk.
It's good that she is going to the dr tomorrow so you can see how she's doing!
take care,
Bambi
Oh, if she's just nursing on the second side for a few minutes I would try keeping her on one breast and then pump the other side...and make sure you switch sides each time she nurses.
That way you are emptying both breasts and she's getting the rich milk.
Jessica,
Congrats! If your baby is pooping and peeing regularly then more than likely she is getting enough from you. My only concern from what you posted is that she is are you completely emptying your breasts? Here are a few reasons why..
1) If they aren't empty, you're going to be uncomfortable.
2) Breastfeeding is a supply vs. demand kinda business. So eventually you're going to need the rest of that milk that she isn't getting.
3) The higher calorie, more nourishing milk is at the end. It is called hind milk.
Babies often get so content on the breast that they will easily fall asleep. They become a sleepy/lazy nurser. My son, Sam, as a lazy nurser. He would get on the boob and nurse for about 2 mins and pass out. He was my first kid, so I was scared that he wasn't getting enough. I automatically turned to supplementing. So for 6 months I nursed and supplemented. In all actuality, he wouldn't have needed any supplementation if I had been more aggressive in keeping him awake. I tried some techniques... but not diligently. You can completely get her naked down to the diaper and nurse her skin-to-skin. Perhaps give a diaper change before feedings to get her more alert. During a feeding if she starts to nod off, tickle her feet a little... or maybe use a warm wet rag to awaken her.
If you can't get her to empty one side, I would highly recommend pumping (with a good pump) You don't want that milk to go to waste and you want to keep your supply coming. So if your breasts get emptied, then it signals to your body that you need to keep producing that amount. Save it in the freezer for the times in which you are away from baby and dad, or someone else needs to feed baby.
Also, your let down could be slowing down after that initial milk drops down. Then she gets frustrated that the milk isn't coming as quickly and wants the other side where it will come out easy again. It is important that you relax while nursing. Do some gentle breathing excercises, sit in a dimly lit room, have a drink handy, get nice and comfy... even put some soft music on if it helps. It sometimes helped me to visualize my milk coming down. I would then feel a slight tickle or tingle as milk started to really flow. If you're tense, baby will be too.
There are lots of resources available to nursing moms.
www.kellymom.com
www.llli.org
www.breastfeeding.com
Hope this helps.
B
Congrats! If your baby is pooping and peeing regularly then more than likely she is getting enough from you. My only concern from what you posted is that she is are you completely emptying your breasts? Here are a few reasons why..
1) If they aren't empty, you're going to be uncomfortable.
2) Breastfeeding is a supply vs. demand kinda business. So eventually you're going to need the rest of that milk that she isn't getting.
3) The higher calorie, more nourishing milk is at the end. It is called hind milk.
Babies often get so content on the breast that they will easily fall asleep. They become a sleepy/lazy nurser. My son, Sam, as a lazy nurser. He would get on the boob and nurse for about 2 mins and pass out. He was my first kid, so I was scared that he wasn't getting enough. I automatically turned to supplementing. So for 6 months I nursed and supplemented. In all actuality, he wouldn't have needed any supplementation if I had been more aggressive in keeping him awake. I tried some techniques... but not diligently. You can completely get her naked down to the diaper and nurse her skin-to-skin. Perhaps give a diaper change before feedings to get her more alert. During a feeding if she starts to nod off, tickle her feet a little... or maybe use a warm wet rag to awaken her.
If you can't get her to empty one side, I would highly recommend pumping (with a good pump) You don't want that milk to go to waste and you want to keep your supply coming. So if your breasts get emptied, then it signals to your body that you need to keep producing that amount. Save it in the freezer for the times in which you are away from baby and dad, or someone else needs to feed baby.
Also, your let down could be slowing down after that initial milk drops down. Then she gets frustrated that the milk isn't coming as quickly and wants the other side where it will come out easy again. It is important that you relax while nursing. Do some gentle breathing excercises, sit in a dimly lit room, have a drink handy, get nice and comfy... even put some soft music on if it helps. It sometimes helped me to visualize my milk coming down. I would then feel a slight tickle or tingle as milk started to really flow. If you're tense, baby will be too.
There are lots of resources available to nursing moms.
www.kellymom.com
www.llli.org
www.breastfeeding.com
Hope this helps.
B
I had the same concerns when my baby was first born. I did use the tickling and warm rag on bare skin to keep him awake. One thing that you can do at your appointment tomorrow is have the nurse weigh the baby naked, then breast feed and weigh again. I did this with Micah because I wanted to see how many ounces he was getting during a feed. They can do this at a lactation nurse office as well...if she isn't gaining they may recommend this. Hang in there okay, you got some good advice. Shari
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Micah 18 months, Emma 3 /IMG_4469.JPG)
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