Is my 3 week old getting enough breast milk?

Question

My baby was 3 weeks old last sunday, he eats every 1-3 hours and when he is finished he falls asleep most of the time. My biggest concern is his weight gain. Dr says thats it's slow and i should take him in once a week to make sure he is still gaining good. i really dont want to suppliment with formula if i dont have too.
I am pumping after each feeding to make sure my breasts are empty. he lost 10oz in the hospital and was only back up to birth weight last friday's check up.

Answer 1

Hi there. The most important thing I can add to the good answers that you have received is "Do Not Use Formula!" that is the beginning of the end. I have seen so many mothers get discouraged and reach for that awful artificial concoction and that is the end of breastfeeding. It is so easy for the baby to drink out of a bottle, all he has to do is open his mouth and that stuff just pours in. With nursing he actually has to work at it, he has to want it. I always advise mothers not to even bring home the free samples that they give you in the hospital. You do not need formula! Pretend that it does not exist! There is no situation where a healthy mother can not feed her baby! You can do this. You are just getting off to a rather slow start. Take all the advice of the wonderful mothers who wrote in to you. (with the exception of the one that said formula was ok!).
I would like to reiterate one thing that has been said a few times. It is very important for YOU to drink plenty of fluids! I can not stress that enough! Every time the baby is drinking make sure YOU are drinking. Get used to walking around with a glass of ice water or whatever you like to drink. It takes a lot of fluid to make milk. Also "eat when the baby eats". Even if it is just half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, when the baby eats, you have a snack. Don't worry, you will NOT get fat! You will burn up around 1000 calories each day totally nursing a baby. It takes a lot of calories to make milk.
Do contact the La Leche League, they have a web site and can tell you how to reach someone where you live. They are awesome women and wow, do they ever know their stuff! Listen to them and you cannot go wrong.
It will get easy, believe me. There is nothing more natural and nothing easier than being part of a nursing couple. Please do not get discouraged, as all these other mothers have said, you are doing fine, don't give up!
Imagine that there is just no such thing as formula. What would you do? You would just keep on doing what you are doing and listen to the advice of other women. That is the best thing to do!
Good luck and Blessings to you and your precious, lucky little baby.
p.s. as far as the possibility of your baby being skinny, all my babies were off the growth charts both ways! My boys are all over 6 ft tall and my girls are beautiful. No danger there!
Take care and keep up the good work!
Lady Trinity~

Answer 2

I was there a couple months ago when I first had my daughter. At a week after having your daughter, your milk is production just now in the process of stabilizing. There will be times when your breasts will be so engorged that they hurt, and then they might not seem to be making enough the next minute. It's normal for your baby to be eating very frequently. My daughter seemed to get tired easily at first and wouldn't stay on the nipple long enough to get a complete meal. This happens most often when the mother has larger breasts that are engorged. The baby's mouth is so tiny they have trouble latching on and have to take breaks. Just count the number of wet diapers if you're concerned. Six wet diapers and three poopy diapers a day or more means everything's probably fine. If you're really worried, invest in a good breast pump and feed her with a slow flow bottle. Try to avoid that, however, if she seems to be wetting her diapers regularly. You don't want nipple confusion. Oh, and make sure you drink enough fluids. I noticed my milk production would go down if I didn't eat enough or get enough water to drink.

Answer 3

What kind of doctor do you have? It is NORMAL for babies to lose weight after leaving the hospital... Your doctor should have told you this.... Also, it is normal for the doc to see the baby once a week for the first month or so anyway. I breast feed my daughter until 14 1/2 months... I refused to supplement with formula, and she is/was fine. If you want, feed the baby what you pumped. Stick it out! You can do it. I know formula may seem like the easy answer, but you have made it this far, you and your son will be fine.

Just remember, it is NORMAL that the weight dropped, and NORMAL for the doc to see the baby once a week. You are doing the best thing for your child... keep it up. Good luck.

Answer 4

Typically, as long as your baby is back to their birth weight by their 4 week check-up, there shouldn't be too much cause for concern. All babies grow differently, and it's possible that when your baby eats, he gets a "lazy latch" after a few minutes and isn't getting as much milk as another baby might. I know this was the case for my daughter initially.
Try to make sure you eat right as well. Your body burns an additional 500 calories per day while breastfeeding; and if you don't eat and drink enough for yourself, your milk may suffer in result. Eat veggies, proteins and lots of fluids!
Breastfed babies go through a growth spurt at 3 weeks, and again at 6. Usually they eat more and sleep more during this time, but also burn more of the milk they DO take. You might expect a little less gain during those two growth periods.
Don't reach for the formula just yet. Wait it out! If your baby were not getting enough to eat, you would likely be able to tell both by his temperment (crying, fussiness etc) and lack of wet/poopy diapers each day (you should have 8-10 wet/dirty diapers per day when your baby is still this small).
Wait it out a bit longer. It's a possibility that your baby might just be slowly creeping up on their weight gain. Just keep an eye on things, and keep a journal of WHEN your baby eats, for how long, as well as how many diapers you change during the day. Nurse often!

Good luck!

Answer 5

I've been there. I know it causes so much anxiety playing the waiting game to find out if he's getting enough. You can randomly use the pump before his next feeding to see how you are pumping out. He won't starve. Don't feel guilty, your breastmilk is the most important thing so try to stick with it. (You do have to watch for dehydration, which is a scary thought, but I'm sure you pediatrician went over this with you. If he seems like he is getting dehydrated give water or you may have to bring him in for an emergency weigh in.) In the mean time just keep trying to get your supply going. Continue to drink a gallon a day or more of water, get some tea for increasing milk supply, get lots of rest (its key. )Once your supply is up to par its much easier. I wish I had had some good advice when I was trying. What you do now is going to determine wether you are going to breastfeed or give formula. They don't remember when they are so little. You will figure it out. Last thing, do not give him any formual in a moment of desperation, once you do there is a domino effect and it only gets harder to increase your supply. If you are really frantic, go buy a baby scale (its worth it if it means you will have peice of mind. anxiety works against you and actually decreases your supply) and make sure he is gaining 2oz or so a day.

Answer 6

Each baby grows at different weights, so long as he is gaining weight it doesnt always signify a failure to thrive.

So long as he is eating on demand until he falls asleep or refuses the breast then he is full at each feeding.

Some babies simply exhuast themselves with the effort of nursing. It might help to try to encourage him to stay awake while eating, even when he gets to the point that he's zonking out. Atleast try to get that extra few seconds of sucking before he finally has to fall asleep.

Generally, if he's fed on demand, and he eats until he stops himself, then he's getting enough milk.

You should make sure you're taking your prenatals still, (he could have a lack of iron, and so could you since most postnatal moms do) and drinking pleanty of water or sweet fluids. Things like coffee and tea sour your milk, and remove even more water from your system.

Your doctor will have a better feel for whats going on with him at the next visit, and the one following. Your baby will not starve, its not natural, and your doctor certainly wont let it get to that point.

Some babies just take a while to recover from birth. Remember, just part of your body was directly effected by the process, but his entire little body was squished by the contracting uterus, and the pressure of fitting through the birth canal. Its exhausting... Especially for a baby who likes to sleep. lol.

I'd also pump more often. In between feedings, so you can increase your production, and have stores on hand. That way if you have to supplement with formula, you can even add some breast milk for the extra antibodies and goodness. Your milk can live in the deep freeze for quite a few months.

Answer 7

It's very common for newborns to lose weight before they leave the hospital. Keep following your doctor's recommendations and have him weighed. Check into local La Leche League meetings in your area--they offer great advice. Try some fenugreek tabulets (2 or 3 tablets 2-3 times per day). They help boost your supply. Keep pumping after every feeding, this will help too. Make sure you have an electric hospital grade pump--you can usually rent them if you can't afford one. Also, keep in mind that about every 3 weeks babies go through a growth spurt and start drinking more milk. I thought I was going to die because my daughter would not let go of me. If you just keep breast feeding, your supply will catch up (usually). This is the hardest part of it--hang in there.

If nothing works, there is nothing wrong with having to supplement.

Answer 8

Nervous mommy!! Give it some time. I have a 13 week old and everything in the beginning concerened me. All babies are different some lose weight and some gain. Like said you should give it a little time before you begin to worry. My son is the complete opposite he is growing very fast. He's 15 pounds and 26 inches long. Once your baby gets out of his 'newborn' stage, meaning transitioning from the womb to the world, and realizes that mmm this is food and it tastes good and I want more... then things will get better. Good luck.

Answer 9

How long is he nursing at each feeding? It takes time for the richest, fattest milk to flow behind the thinner starting milk. Be sure that your baby is getting the thick nutrient dense milk. Also look at your diet because that has an impact on your milk. If your not allergic snack on things like nuts and avocado (good fats), so that your milk is dense and rich for your baby. You can also contact a lactation specialist (through you OB or the hospital you delivered). It is hard... but try to stick with the nursing if that is what you want.

Answer 10

Being back to birth weight is good.

I would suggest that you start working with a Lactation Consultant or a La Leche League Leader. (LLL will help for FREE and may be able to visit you at home.) Have them check your positioning and latch to make sure baby is transferring milk well.

Assuming you mean every 1-3 hours around the clock?

You could try breast compressions while he nurses to help make sure he is getting plenty of hindmilk.

Is he having plenty of wet and dirty diapers? Output lets you know what the input is like. :-)