Supply Issue? When to switch breasts? Need advice!

[mhofener]

I am hoping some experienced mommies can help!

Here is my issue: I've had a very difficult time Bfing my baby boy - he was very jaundice and we had to supplement in wk 1. He never really latched on well. Then, after weeks of frustration, I started exclusively pumping - which worked well but was a lot of work! I decided to give BFing another shot.

He is now 10 wks and latches on well! We have been back to the breast for a week and a half or two. Started out well, but he seems fussy at the breast... I am not sure why. If its my supply? If I need to switch breasts? If he's gassy/needs to burp? etc... I was hoping you could help!

I've read that you need to empty the first breast first - the problem is, I cant really tell when its empty... My mom said she could tell - how do you tell? My breast feels less full but that happens with in minutes and seems to feel the same to me throughout the feeding - whether its 5 mins or 15... Sometimes he comes off the breast quickly - certainly I couldnt be empty in just a few minutes - could I? So I assume he needs to burp, but often times he wont burp... Any thoughts? He seems fussy while he is doing this, coming off the breast, sometimes pulling on my nipple, sometimes throwing his head from side to side...

Another note is that after a few days of returning to nursing he seemed to be doing fine and sleeping well - usually 4-6 hrs at a time (same as when I was EPing) and even slept thru the night 1x (8hrs). However, for the past few days, he wont even make it more than 2-4 hrs at night!!! He hasnt slept this badly for like a month...and its wearing me out to say the least... One other note, is that a day or two after going back to breast-only, I got a plugges milk duct, which led me to believe he was not emptying me all the way and maybe that afftected my supply? Another thought I had was a potential allergy as he as been really gassy (but he really always is it seems...) - however, he doesnt have other signs of an allergy like green poop, diaper rash, etc...

Any thoughts or advice?

Sorry this is so long! I appreciate your help!

Maggie

[ChristineLynne]

Congratulations on getting back to the breast! What an achievement!

First and foremost, the way to make sure that he's getting enough milk into him and out of you is to watch his diapers. How many wet and poopy diapers does he have each day?

And sorry to say, but at his age it is normal to have lots of night waking - many babies are very sleepy as newborns, but they get over it and start getting you up at night! Similarly, gassiness is very common and normal.

Once we get some info on his diapers, we can go further in figuring out if everything's OK.

[Nipple_nectar]

Just throwing this in the mix~ some babies will start teething as early as 12 weeks. If your baby is an early teether, it would be best to read up on that so you are prepared to address teething relief.

I completely agree that if you are seeing the minimum of six wet diapers in a 24 hour period, you are doing fine!

You can read The happiest baby on the block by Dr. Harvey Karp for a greater understanding of infant communication. The fussing is very normal.

Congrats for getting baby back to the breast, that can be hard work! Are you using bottles/artificial nipples or pacifiers at all?

Trying to figure out when your breasts are empty? They are never empty, you can nurse on the first, move to the second and then go back to the first for more nursing, it is virtually endless!

Now my babies had a sloppy latch, so I gave them extra time at the breast to make sure they were getting the hindmilk. My babies needed twenty minutes per side to get full. So, I'm a clock watcher but most will tell you not to watch the clock~ watch the baby: when baby falls off the breast himself/herself, you can take that as a sign of being done with that side.

This does not apply to brand new sleepy newborns who fall asleep the moment they start nursing;-)

[mhofener]

Thx for the replies!

As far as diapers go - he is still having at least 6 wet ones and several dirty diapers per day, so I guess he is getting enough! He is just eating so often and seems so frustrated that I was wondering if he really was getting full or not... Maybe its a growth spurt? Plus, I was really getting used to those longer nights and am not so sure I can go back to these sleepless ones...

We'll see! Thanks for you help!

[ziggysmom]

I am no bf expert. But I have had a imilar situation and wondered if you may have the same problem I think I have. My baby is 6 weeks old. In the beginning I fed him bottled breastmilk that I pumped because he had a piranna latch and my nipples couldnt take it. So after pumping my brains out I wanted to try strictly bf again. The latch was better not as painful but now he screams and pulls at the breast. I have decided its because I have too much milk and too fast of a flow. when I was pumping I could easily get 50z per breast every 2-3 hours 24 7. So now I figure he is only gettinh hindmilk mostly. I have tried onl one breast perfeeding and even block feeding. Its a catch 22 becuase then I get engorged and need to pump and I am trying to avoid that like the plaque. I am hoping my breasts start regulating only how much he needs but this is so sad and frustrating watching him struggle and scream at my breast almost every 2-3 hours. So I dont really know what to do but I think its the pumps fault. I belive it mde me make way to much milk and now we are both paying for it. I just wonder if this may be your prolem too?

[ChristineLynne]

ziggysmom, are there indications that the flow is too fast, other than his fussing? If he comes off mid-feed, are you spraying milk? Is he hanging at the end of the nipple to keep from drowning, or letting milk run out of his mouth? Because I wonder if you don't have these indications, if it's the opposite problem (and this may be an issue for you as well, Maggie). Babies used to drinking from bottles can get extremely frustrated when they breastfeed and don't get immediate strong flow. They aren't used to waiting for a let down, and they get MAD!

I know my daughter got used to my strong, fast letdown, and now at 5 months when it has slowed up a lot, she gets impatient, and yanks on my nipple because it makes the milk let down quicker. It's really frustrating to have a hungry baby, but have them coming off (or taking them off to save your nipples!).

[PeacefulMom]

To the OP:

My DS needed to burp a lot and I could never seem to get those things out as well as my DH! He has bigger hands and would just pound with the perfect pressure and get the hugest burps out every time very quickly. So just because you aren't getting one out doesn't mean there isn't one in there. Keep trying, vary things like place and pressure and see if it helps to coax out some burps.

Also, babies sleep patterns change all the time. Just because a baby is sleeping through the night at 4 weeks old doesn't mean it will continue to do so indefinitely. Teething causes most sleep issues but it could also be gas. Which comes back to your burping issue.

I remember that most often when my DS was tiny and fussy at the breast it was a burp that needed to get out.

Are you cosleeping? If you can learn to nurse laying down on your side, bringing your baby to your bed can mean more sleep for everyone.