Milk just came in...Question?

Question

Hi everyone, I had my baby on Saturday and I have a couple breastfeeding questions...Ok so 1st one is my milk just came in and my daughter's feedings have gone from 25-45 minutes (one or both b*****s) to 15 minutes on only 1 breast (after milk came in) ...Is this normal? I try to get her to feed more and from the other breast but she just won't. She is wetting and pooping fine, but I am just a little nervous because I had to supplement with formula the past two days because she lost more than 10% of her body weight and she has jaundice. They said I could stop supplementing once my milk came in (Thank God, she started being lazy with her latch...lol) So I just want to know what the average feed should last (She is only a couple days old)....

Also, my other question is, now that there is milk present, feedings have become alot more messy! She wants to delatch more now during the feed and milk just goes everywhere...Any advice on this?

Thanks!

Answer 1

It's possible the duration of your daughter's feedings have decreased since you finally have milk, and it's easier for her to get it out now.  If she eats 15 minutes on one side, then that's fine.  Just let her establish her own feeding pattern.  Some babies like to eat on the other side, but my daughter still typically eats from just one side at a time, and she's 98th percentile for height and weight, so obviously your daughter will be fine.  About the jaundice, that is very common and will soon go away.  Also, it's simply an estimation that breastfed babies lose 10% of their body weight; they might lose a little more or a little less.  I don't blame you for being concerned though, especially if this is your first time breastfeeding, because I supplemented a little when my daughter had a little jaundice because I was worried about the same thing.  It turned out I really didn't need to supplement though, but I can't tell you what to do.  :)  

By all means, you shouldn't supplement now that your milk is in, because your body will produce just what your daughter needs.  Be prepared for her to eat A LOT, and don't get discouraged about it or think you're not making enough, because trust me, you ARE.  There were days my daughter ate every half hour; growth spurts, a lot of them, are normal!

Finally, if your daughter has enough wet and/or poopy diapers, and she seems satisifed after eating, you have nothing to worry about.  Accept her feeding pattern for what it is, because forcing more will only frustrate both of you, and babies are programmed to stop eating when they're full (that's the beauty of breastfeeding!).

Regarding the spraying, well, there's not much you can do about it...keep burp cloths handy!

Good luck!  It sounds like you're doing great so far.

Answer 2

Totally normal. Now she's filling up on milk instead of just colostrum. If she only eats from one breast and seems satisfied, it most likely just means that you have really good milk production. Both of my babies would only eat from one breast during a feeding. As for the messy feeding problem, keep a burp towel or nursing pad handy to cover yourself with and soak up the milk when she lets go. You probably have a "forceful letdown" which means that your milk is just coming out a bit too fast for her, so she lets go to catch her breath and rest for a moment. It's often hard for newborns to keep up with the flow of the milk. As she gets older and more experienced she will get used to the flow and feedings will be easier for her.  

Answer 3

it is normal that she decreases in feeding because before the milk comes in she is just feeding on colostrum. but now that your milk is in she is actually eating and getting full faster.  and as for the mess, she may just need a break from feeding lie we couldnt drink for 30 minutes straight.  so delatch her every so often try burping her and then let her feed some more.  

Answer 4

http://mother-2-mother.com/normal.htm#br...

Some mothers become concerned if baby begins to nurse in very short sessions. Most breastfeeding experts advise that if the baby continues to have plenty of wet diapers, regular bowel movements, is gaining weight well and meeting developmental milestones, then baby is getting enough breastmilk. Even sessions as short as five minutes can be normal, as long as baby continues to grow and do well.

http://www.kellymom.com/newman/11some_bf...

4. A baby should be on the breast 20 (10, 15, 7.6) minutes on each side.

Not true! However, a distinction needs to be made between "being on the breast" and "breastfeeding". If a baby is actually drinking for most of 15-20 minutes on the first side, he may not want to take the second side at all. If he drinks only a minute on the first side, and then nibbles or sleeps, and does the same on the other, no amount of time will be enough. The baby will breastfeed better and longer if he is latched on properly. He can also be helped to breastfeed longer if the mother compresses the breast to keep the flow of milk going, once he no longer swallows on his own (Handout #15 Breast Compression). Thus it is obvious that the rule of thumb that "the baby gets 90% of the milk in the breast in the first 10 minutes" is equally hopelessly wrong. To see how to know a baby is getting milk see the videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html