Advice needed please....
Well I have been trying to breast feed for 8 days now. I am just trying to get a gage of whats normal. Rebecca seems to be wanting to feed around every 45 mins and is now getting to the stage when she is still hungry afterwards but there is nothing left. Has anyone experienced this? I have not yet had any milk leak is this normal? I am wondering if maybe my body is not producing enough milk. Thanks Lisa

I can't remember how often she should be feeding at this stage, maybe some of the newer mothers will be able to help. However a couple of questions - when was she last weighed - was the midwife happy with the amount she had lost/gained. How often are her nappies wet if its still several times a day she should be ok. Go with your instinct though, if you think she is not getting enough contact the midwife and ask for another home visit and that she is weighed again

My milk did not start to come in until day 7 or 8 and it was quite hard going at the beginning. The more she feeds now the more milk your body will start to produce. If she is starting to gain weight then I would not worry yourself. I have never been much of a leaker and upto this day have not gone thru a whole packet of pads. 1 question, is it 45 mins from the end of a feed or 45mins from the beginning of 1 to the beginning of the next? Rubyru

Hi I can't remember whether Rebecca was a bigger baby when she was born (they often want more food, more often) but if she was average then usually every 2 hours or so is the norm for a newborn but if they sleep through for 3 /4 hours at night then it's fine to leave them as long as the weight and nappy issues are ok. As the others have said, check she's gaining weight and that her nappies are wet (usually every 2/3 hours with Jessica, they are soaking). As Rubyru said, you should count from the start of each feed, not the length of time inbetween? Also, I am still experiencing the no "milk left feeling" after some feeds (usually in the early evening) if she's feeding often then that is usual, however, if she's still hungry then I would give it another week or so to let things get established and if it's still the same then check with your midwife. I find at the moment (jess is 6 weeks) every couple of days, my boobs feel different, sometimes full up, sometimes drained. HTH Jo

Hi Lisa, I've had a bit of a similar problem- Aimee sometimes feeds every 15mins for only 5mins which is a bit demanding - this usually happens early evening from about 5-10pm sometimes and the health visitor told me it was cluster feeding which is maybe what Rebecca is doing too. My boobs often feel empty and the other night she was wanting to be fed all the time and there was just nothing left in me and she got really grizly and upset about it! Apparently the more you feed them the more you stimulate the milk supply to come in so its best to just feed them whenever they want it as long as they aren't just comfort feeding and using you as a dummy which is what Aimee does quite often and can make things quite painful! Hope that helps a bit! xx

Hey Lisa i agree with the things that have been said by others have you got a good latch? the better it is the more they can get, but to be honest in the first few weeks we were feeding so often they often merged into one another. It does get easier! Please don't worry that you don't have enough milk, this is one of the most common fears when people are establishing breastfeeding, boobs don't have to feel full, the milk is not stored inside the breast waiting to be taken. Congratulations!! try to feel positive - you have not been trying to feed for 8 days YOU HAVE BEEN feeding for 8 days, I guess she hasn't had anything else therefore you are giving her what she needs. as time goes on and she stimulates your milk more you may or may not leak but either way - the only indication that you need is if she has wet nappies and is pooing and over time she will gain weight. I think the thing that encourages people to use formula is being able to KNOW how much milk your baby has had... it is such a difficult thing to not know if you are producing enough. If it helps - Benjamin didn't latch on until he was 10 days old. it was a nightmare but we fed until he was 10-11 months old once we got the hang of it. My midwife assured me not to worry and to just keep trying and in the end it worked. enough waffle from me. You are doing so well! Jen x

Hi Lisa One thing you may want to try is expressing. I did this from very early on and I believe it helped up my milk supply. Like everyone else has said as long as she is gaining weight and your MW is happy then it could just be that she is going through a growth spurt. Also are you giving her both boobs at each feed?? To give you extra re-assurrance ask your MW to arrange for a breastfeeding specialist to come and visit it you tomorrow and you can talk it through with her. She can also check the latching on too. Sorry I can't be of any more help. Good Luck. xXx

One more thing Mrs LJ, when I bf'd Matthew, he fed ALL the time, that's all I did virtually for 6 months! However, I always offered him both breasts and after having Jessica, I am not sure whether I was feeding him long enough so he got the richer milk from behind which comes at the very end of a feed. I often just feed Jessica from one side and I can feel her slowing down and taking longer sucks and bigger gulps (if that makes sense) and I know that she's taking the hindmilk which will make her more satisfied. With Matthew, I'm sure that he didn't always take this and hence why he was feeding more, experience helps I guess. Hope that makes sense jo

All I can add to the above is to make sure that you are looking after yourself well too. I always feel thirsty so have no problem drinking plenty, but am not often hungry so have to remember to eat lots. It is important for you to eat and drink plenty and also to rest enough (not easy I know) otherwise your milk will suffer. But as has been said if you perservere with feeding, and look after yourself then it is very unlikely that you will not produce enough milk. Well done for getting this far, and good luck for the next few days. Josephine xxx

Thankyou all for your replies. Sharon D she was weighed 3 days after her birth and her weight was ok, think she is getting weighed again today. Rubyru it can be both So I suppose half an hour and 45 mins. She has even on the trot feed from my left side, right side and then had to go back to the left side. She gets to the point where she will be refusing my nipple as I think there is nothing left for her to have. Jo C Rebecca was a bit over 9ibs when born. I have been feeding lots throughtout the night as well. Jeni the midwifes at the hospital seem to think the latch was fine. Although have been suffering from really bad cracked nipples so maybe I the latch isnt that great. Whitey yes have been offering both breasts (only when she has totally finished though and come of the breast) she sometimes has been going from left right back to left. Josephine I know exactly what you mean I have been having to make myself eat as well my appitite which is usually very healthy hasnt felt right! Annalice yes I have read that as well regarding milk supply really hope I start producing more soon! Thanks again Lisa

Just to say I'm the same regarding appetite - I usually love my food but now I can't be bothered / don't have time to eat and I really have to force myself!! I also used to eat really healthy but now I just grab whatever I can as we never seem to have anything in the cupboards! I guess things will settle down once we get more used to being mummies! Mrs LJ can we see pics of Rebecca? Did you see pics of Aimee in the photo section? xx

I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling like I am not eating particularly well at the moment. I think it is probably a good enough diet, but nowhere near as good as I was before. Unfortuantly I don't see this excess weight shifting anytime soon :( MrsLJ - are you assuming that she has drunk all your milk because she comes off or do you check if there is any there? There were a couple of times that I was worried I didn't have anymore milk but I could always hand express some (ie squeeze and some comes out!) so I knew she had just had enough or wanted a little break rather than having eaten it all. Josephine xxx

I had a mini panic at around 9 days, thinking I had no milk, and was making formula up in tears, and then decided to wait until the HV was at work, called her up, she came round and reassured me it was my body adjusting to the increased demand. Great advice already given. I think the main piece I was given, try and feed from one side at each feed rather than both, that way she will be getting the hind milk which is the most nutritious! Sounds like you are doing agreat job honey! Hang in there, its tough in the early days, but it gets so much easier! xxxx