Trying to nurse my 3 day old son. I don't think he is getting enough to satisfy him?

Question

He is sucking well and accepts the breast but he cries as if he is hungry and frustrated as if he is not getting enough. I know it is the colostrum(sp) right now. How long before milk comes in enough to satisfy him and is it okay to supplement with formula until then?

Answer 1

I had a C-section so my milk did not come in immediately. I live in the Bay Area and had my son in Berkeley (the hippie capital of the US). He was 9 lbs 4 oz, and I had 3 lactation experts insisting that he was getting enough, even though I knew he wasn't. He was screaming all night the second night in the hospital. I had to fight with them to give me formula to supplement. The minute he got the extra formula at the hospital he stopped screaming, and I knew i had been right.

They even gave me an electric pump to take home with me for the first week to help my milk come in. I heard horror stories about switching from bottle to nipple, and was told my son wouldn't breast feed properly if I gave him a bottle too, and that he was getting enough from breast feeding, even though I was never to the point where I even leaked, so i knew he wasn't getting enough.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS!!!!!

I breast and bottle feed for 6 weeks (until I went back to work), and had no issues. My son would latch on no matter what. I continued to breast feed for several weeks after I went back to work, but did not pump, so eventually my milk dried up. Trust your instinct as a mother, you were born with them, and don't let other peoples ideas, experiences or beliefs effect your parenting choices especially when it comes to things like feeding, as mothers we know....

Answer 2

If you feel that your baby is not getting enough milk than by all means please supplement. But do keep in mind that your body will produce exactly what your baby needs. Make sure to increase your water intake. Also beware at this point from switching from the nipple to bottle and back. The breast makes a baby work for the milk. Babies have to actively suck to get the milk wearas the bottle is a lot easier.. You don't want the baby the not want the breast because its too hard.. My Dr Recommended waiting a couple of weeks before giving my daughter the bottle..I only used the bottle if I was unable to breast feed her ..ie driving in the car .

If you want you can always press on your breast in time with the babies sucking to express more milk with during feeding it does work . But just be patient.. your milk will come in.. More than you know what to do with.

Answer 3

i breast-fed my son for the first 6 weeks because i thought it was the best thing for my baby. The first 2 weeks went well, but the next month was pure hell! He would only eat for a few minutes and then go to sleep, followed by waking up in an hour to feed again for 5 more minutes. He was also cranky and seemed miserable. For a month, he would wake up at midnite and scream till the sun came up, The docs called it colic. Finally, i was so sleep deprived and depressed over the situation that my husband convinced me to try supplementing with formula. That first bottle, he drank until i thought he would bust, then he slept through the night for the first time. He seemed so satisfied and happy! That was it for me - he became a formula baby after that. And the "colic" disappeared immediately. That was my experience - I hope yours is better! Good luck!

Answer 4

I had this same problem and kept trying for two weeks with no improvement. It turned out that I just don't produce anything. Even with nursing and pumping every two hours for two weeks I could only produce about 3 oz. a day. My baby was losing weight so fast they had me start supplementing and eventually I had to just switch to formula. I would talk to a lactation consultant ASAP to see what you can do about it, if anything, and yes by all means supplement so that your baby gets the nutrition he needs.

If this continues and you think he isn't getting enough be sure to call the pediatrician also, my daughter lost over a pound in two days b/c of this. The Dr. can also show you ways to feed the baby by tube so it doesn't cause nipple confusion. I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck.

Answer 5

Just keep feeding him. Feed at least every 2 hours, even if you have to wake him. I just had my first baby, and it took me a couple of months to realize that her frustrated cries were cries of pain from gas, poor baby. She's doing a lot better now. I slept with my daughter too, which made night feedings and sleeping a lot easier. She's now 4 and 1/2 months old & sleeps in her own crib at night.

Also don't buy a cheap breast pumping machine. Go for one of the double pumping hospital grades. They pump much more efficiently time wise and milk quality. Pumping will increase your milk supply, and it's really nice for dad to be able to feed the baby.

I almost forgot. Drink lots of water, at least a gallon. And it would be good to take DHA supplements along with your prenatals.

Congratulations on your baby!

Answer 6

Please don't supplement. The more often you put him to the breast, the faster your milk will come in.

Make sure he's got a LARGE part of the dark part of your nipple in his mouth and not just the tip. Make your fingers into a "V" and flatten the whole dark part of the nipple out to help him to latch on with a large portion in his mouth so he's in the correct position on the breast.

As long as he's putting out plenty of wet diapers and his urine is not dark, he's doing fine and you don't need to supplement.

Ask a close friend who has breastfed to watch him latch on to make sure he's on there good and getting enough...

If you have no one, call the hospital where he was born and ask to speak with a lactation consultant and to be home-visited by one because of your concern. Also you might try calling the LaLeche League in your area or go here for more help: http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb.html?m=0,0,0

Good luck to you and Congratulations on your new addition!

Answer 7

Do not worry...any moment you will have a super full breast...it will literally hurt like heck...even under your arms....it will almost spray out for him....currently the milk is a smidge thicker, less, but super nutritious and healthy, when the milk comes in, it comes in abundantly...then it takes a week or two to adjust to his drinking needs. Again, exactly for him, correct.
So hang in there, do NOT give him a bottle, simply allow him to breastfeed as often as every three hours....
also watch what you EAT and DRINK....Babies can taste what you had, and some things baby will not like. WHat causes an upset stomach for you can uposet baby too, what causes gas, can cause gas for the baby too!

Also....rinse out a clean washcloth in some warm water, wipe and clean the breast and nipple well- be sure there is no dried-on milk slowing the milk flow, roll the nipple between your fingertips as well, and wipe again.

Congratulations to your new baby!!!

Answer 8

Yes it is ok to supplement with formula if you feel he's not getting enough of your colostrum. Normally milk comes in at 4-5 days post partum (mine came in at 4 days with both kids). Once it comes in he'll eat better and get full.
If your supply is low you can try an herb called Fenugreek, you can find it at GNC (100 pills for $5.99). My supply sucks and I take 3pills a day and its doubled my supply...my daughter eats like a little piggy and I'm able to keep her belly full and pump/freeze milk for when we go out.

Answer 9

Your milk comes in 3-7 days after you give birth. You shouldnt give him formula if your trying to breast feed becuase it confuses them, becuase the nipples are so different. Its normal for them to be frustrated their new to this too. Im sure hes getting enough as long as hes gaining weight and not crying for hours and hours on end.

Answer 10

Keep at it! Your milk may come in within the next couple of days...your body needs to get used to the fact that it needs to nourish a little one...also if you introduce a bottle right now, your little boy may get nipple confused. Breast fed babies are expected to lose weight at first...up to 10% of birth weight. You are doing the best thing for him by nursing. Don't get discouraged.