breastfeeding?

Question

i had my baby on saturday and im breastfeeding, but im worried she's not getting enough because when i feed her she falls aleep quick but the thing is as long as i stay holding her she'll stay sleeping but as soon as i put her down she's awake within 5 min and wanting the breast a gagain and then the same thing happens she goes right to sleep even if she's been feeding for 30 min i would aprechiate any opinions please do you thing she's still hungry or wanting to be there for comfort. thankyou

Answer 1

OK your baby is approximatly 5 days old by now she should be having about 6 wet diapers a day and pooping 2-5 times a day at least. That is the easiest way to see if she is getting enough milk.

Right now is a critical time in your breastfeeding relationship. You should nurse as often as possible.

Frequent nursing encourages good milk supply and reduces engorgement. Aim for nursing at least 10 - 12 times per day (24 hours). You CAN'T nurse too often--you CAN nurse too little.

Nurse at the first signs of hunger (stirring, rooting, hands in mouth)--don't wait until baby is crying. Allow baby unlimited time at the breast when sucking actively, then offer the second breast.
Some newborns are excessively sleepy at first--wake baby to nurse if 2 hours (during the day) or 4 hours (at night) have passed without nursing.
If your baby is sleepy here are some suggestions to help keep the baby awake and interested:

make sure your free hand is supporting your breast so the weight of the breast isn't on the baby's chin

switch breasts as soon as the baby begins to lose interest in active nursing, this *may* need to be done every 30 to 60 seconds at first (the first few times you do it). You should begin to see a difference within a couple days of doing this.

Burp and change diaper. Burping should be done with the baby sitting supported upright on mom's knee or lap rather than over the shoulder because it's also less sleep-inducing.

nurse in clutch or "football" hold as opposed to cradle hold - it's a little less "cuddly" and sleep-inducing.

massage the baby's head (crown) in a circular motion while nursing. Also using a wet cold washcloth and wiping back against the grain of the hair growth can help

Place baby on your lap with legs near your tummy and head on your knees. Gently supporting baby, raise in sitting position, like doing a "sit- up". Do this two or three times, then do "side to side" a couple times.

You can also try breast compression.
Breast Compression— How to do it

Hold the baby with one arm.
Hold the breast with the other, thumb on one side of the breast (thumb on the upper side of the breast is easiest), your other fingers on the other, fairly far back from the nipple.
Watch for the baby's drinking (see videos at www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html), though there is no need to be obsessive about catching every suck. The baby gets substantial amounts of milk when he is drinking with an “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck.
When the baby is nibbling at the breast and no longer drinking with the “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck, compress the breast. Do not roll your fingers along the breast toward the baby, just squeeze. Not so hard that it hurts and try not to change the shape of the areola (the part of the breast near the baby’s mouth). With the compression, the baby should start drinking again with the “open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck. Use compression while the baby is sucking but not drinking!
Keep the pressure up until the baby no longer drinks even with the compression, and then release the pressure. Often the baby will stop sucking altogether when the pressure is released, but will start again shortly as milk starts to flow again. If the baby does not stop sucking with the release of pressure, wait a short time before compressing again.
The reason for releasing the pressure is to allow your hand to rest, and to allow milk to start flowing to the baby again. The baby, if he stops sucking when you release the pressure, will start again when he starts to taste milk.
When the baby starts sucking again, he may drink (“open mouth wide—pause—then close mouth” type of suck). If not, compress again as above.
Continue on the first side until the baby does not drink even with the compression. You should allow the baby to stay on the side for a short time longer, as you may occasionally get another letdown reflex (milk ejection reflex) and the baby will start drinking again, on his own. If the baby no longer drinks, however, allow him to come off or take him off the breast.
If the baby wants more, offer the other side and repeat the process.
You may wish, unless you have sore nipples, to switch sides back and forth in this way several times.
Work on improving the baby’s latch.
Remember, compress as the baby sucks but does not drink.

Answer 2

I had the same problem and it is so hard to see how much they are getting when you breastfeed. there may not even be a problem, she may just want comfort (probably is) but when I had first baby he was nursing all the time and many people told me it was normal (sometimes it is) but a few days later I had him weighed and he had lost a few oz's and that is not good. Please do not get discouraged with breastfeeding.Has she been weighed since you came home from the hospital? If not, can you go to your pediatrician or to the hospital just to pop in and weigh her?
If she has gained weight or stayed the same shes probably just wanting the comfort. Ask the Dr if your not sure if she is gaining enough. If she has lost any I would talk to the lactation consultant ASAP at the hospital to help you and she may suggest pumping or she may be able to help you get the baby latched on if there is a problem
good luck and congratulations

Answer 3

Congratulations on your new baby! It's probably for comfort; this is pretty normal for a newborn. Your baby is smart; she knows she wants to be with mom, who loves her and knows how to take care of her. Both my kids were like this at first. The best thing to build up your supply is frequent nursing at first, even if it's only for a few minutes at a time. If she's wetting diapers regularly, she's probably doing fine. I know it can be tiring to deal with this, but it doesn't last forever. You'll settle in soon. You already have a sense of what she needs, and it will get easier with time. Hang in there! You're a great mom. A good resource to start with for all kinds of breastfeeding info. is KellyMom.com. If you're still concerned, consider contacting a lactation consultant (LC). But please, don't start giving formula just because your baby won't stay asleep -- at least not until you contact a LC. It's a slippery slope that can interfere with your intent to breastfeed. For more resources, you can check:
kaboodle.com/wendyqzx/breastfeeding-resources

Best wishes,
- Wendy

Answer 4

Thats perfectly normal and how breastfed babies work. She is getting enough but when put down the shock of not being embraced wakes her up and she needs another feed.
The best thing to do is just hold her and feed her. Once she has been asleep for 30min then try and put her down. Try and keep her next to you or as close as possible until she is actually down. Then whisper softly or make shhhing noises and gently pat her back or rub it and then remove yourself slowly. Wrap her up in a blanket so she is nice and secure and feels good.
It can be a pain (espeacially if you really need to go to the toilet) but thats what they need so thats what we have to provide.
She is only a few days old so give her time to adjust to the outside world. She was all nice and warm and constantly with you for 9 months so imagine how hard it is for her to adjust.

She will get better eventually as she grows but may relapse at times. It is perfectly normal behaviour, babies this young need constant physical contact and reassurance so bear with it and dont worry. She is gettign enough. Breastfed babies need feeding pretty much constantly because their bellies are so tiny (the size of their fist) and breastmilk is digested so easily and quickly. They can feed quite efficently in a few minutes and sometimes need to be fed for an hour. It depends on how they feel. Some of it is comfort but that is good and shouldnt be stopped. They need it.

I breastfed both my daughters and sometimes it went in a huge circle of feeding. Some days I was feeding non stop for hours. Because every time I put them down they would awake and need another feed to get back to sleep. So I'd just lay with them on my bed and then wait for them to delatch and then slowly move away. Or I'd delatch them slowly and then move away.

Good Luck and congratulations on the new baby.

Answer 5

This is perfectly normal newborn behavior. They need you as much as they need nutrition. The babies wants are the babies needs at this stage. Do the best you can and contact a lactation consultant or La Leche League for strategies on how to manage the ages and stages at your comfort level. I just remembered that you may be able to help a sleepy baby get a longer nursing period by tapping the bottom of they babies feet to help them stay awake a bit longer and get more of a feed at once.
Congratulations and best wishes to you.

Answer 6

i wouldn't worry for about another week i might try and keep her up at the hospital i had to undres my son and touch him with my cold hands but at home i would try to keep him up for 20 min cuz thats what they were suggesting for breastfeeding then i would let him sleep also if you tickle the side of her mouth she will start nursing again instead of sucking but you wouldn't want to do this too much as you don't want to over fill her

ps your probably at a grow spurt right now i remember day 4 was the one where my son just wouldn't stop eating no matter what that have to make sure you have enough milk for them whenever they want it

Answer 7

nope, it is comfort.
I breast fed 3 and it was always the same, for the first week. don't worry, the baby will settle into a feeding cycle soon, although she will continue to enjoy the closeness too.

remember that breast milk is more nutritionally filling and you will generally produce more than needed. the baby will be fine as long as you continue to offer feedings regularly.

Answer 8

Saturday? it can take 3 - 5 days for milk to come in...maybe even longer....when you put her to the breast make sure she is awake and activley sucking for AT LEAST 10 minutes...not sleeping and sucking....that she does for comfort, but it doesnt get her enough milk...it doesnt promote your body to make milk either.
when she cries, latch her on....when she starts to drift, take her off, change her diaper...strip her down to just the diaper, keep a cold wet wash cloth you can use on her feet, WAKE HER UP make her mad...she will suck more effectivley, get more to eat, breasts will produce more....this is a good cycle...it wont be like this forever...maybe by week 3 or so it will be a thing of the past...dont be afraid wake her up. talk loudly to her and tell her 'its time to EAT!'

Answer 9

I found this ebay guide on BreastFeeding very interesting.

Answer 10

well I was going to give you some advise but it seems that Carla R has said everything I wanted to and put it so perfectly!!!