Breastfeeding moms!!?

Question

I have a 9 day old and I am breastfeeding exclusively. He seems to eat constantly during the day. But only recently, (yesterday and today). He sleeps during the night somewhat, I feed him every two hours at night. But during the day it seems to never stop. I try to see if he has a wet diaper before putting him back on but he reaches with his mouth and puts his hands inhis mouth and roots for my breast. I nurse him for about an hour or more per breast it seems. i broke down and pumped, I managed to get about 2oz in 15 minutes (from both breasts). He drank one oz and is sleeping now. how can I get him to eat more and nurse less. he hasn't been causing me pain (the manual pump did that) can I expect more milk or is two oz pumped in 15 minutes good or not? He has a little mouth so getting a good latch is a challege.
he puts out several wet diapers during the day but his stools are small, about 1-2 tbs.
i really do not want to supplement with formula.

He has no issue with sucking he has a VERY strong sucking reflex

Answer 1

Hi there honey and Congratulations on your new baby boy! It is just wonderful that you are breastfeeding your baby! That is fantastic, you are giving your baby the most incredible gift, next to life itself, that you will ever give him. I just cannot say enough about how important breastfeeding is from a health standpoint and from an emotional standpoint. I suppose you already know all that and that is the reason that you have chosen to nurse your baby.
Please DO NOT ruin your wonderful efforts thus far by giving your sweet baby any formula! Supplementing with even an occasional bottle of formula can interfere with a mother's milk supply. Supplements fill up the baby and cause him to wait longer for the next feeding, thereby decreasing his sucking at your breast. The more formula he gets one day the less milk the your body will make the following day. Supplementing causes your breasts to produce less milk, not more. Also remember that a baby can become confused by the use of any artificial nipple, as it requires a different type of sucking.
It does sound to me like your baby is nursing for an awfully long time. An hour on each breast is a long time. Are you saying that he nurses that long each time or all together?
I don't see any reason for you to be pumping what so ever. There is nothing to be accomplished by pumping the milk out of your breast and then giving it to him in a bottle. You run the risk of confusing him with the artificial nipple.
I understand that when your baby is new it does seem like all you do is nurse him. Believe me that feeling will go away. It takes some time for your milk supply to become established and it does not mean that your baby is not getting enough to eat. You don't say that your baby is crying constantly or seems very unhappy. That is your biggest cue as to whether to not your baby is getting enough to eat. If he were hungry he would be crying all the time and that is not what I am hearing.
It is possible that he is having a hard time latching on properly. IF he is nursing for an hour at a time on each breast, he could very well not be emptying the breast properly. If I were you I would probably call a Lactation Consultant or get in touch with the La Leche League and see what they can offer. If they cannot send someone out to your house to advise you, they will certainly be able to evaluate your problem and help you to remedy it. I don't know if you do actually have a problem or if your baby is just taking his sweet time about establishing your milk supply. He is less than two weeks old and I know that a baby that young does basically sleep and eat. That is about it.
Is his constant nursing starting to wear you out? Can you nurse him lying down? If so why don't you just take the baby and spend a couple of days nursing and resting? Assemble all of the things that you will need and put them within easy reach, then take the baby and go to bed. Maybe read a good book if you get bored. Perhaps you are not getting enough rest and just feeling a bit overwhelmed right now. Are you being sure to get plenty to eat and drink? Are you taking good care of yourself? Don't get overly tired and don't let yourself get so focused on how many ounces of milk your baby is drinking that you lose sight of the joy of breastfeeding your baby. If you have a friend who has successfully breastfed maybe you could talk to her. Be sure that you only take advice from other breastfeeding mothers. Not that they don't mean well but bottlefeeding mothers can inadvertantly give you some really detrimental advice.
It is definitely way too soon to consider formula as a viable alternative! That is a last resort that I frankly would never, never recommend! If you brought a sample of formula home from the hospital get rid of it. You don't need it and having it sitting there is just a bad idea. I always tell new mothers to leave it right there at the hospital!
Keep doing what you have been doing. Let nature take its course and I bet that within another week everything will be smoothing out. It WILL get easier, I promise! You are doing such a beautiful thing for yourself as well as your baby. Give it some time, it will work out.
Most of all be sure to take care of yourself. Eat when he eats and remember to always have a beverage in your hand! Breastfeeding is thirsty work! Water always worked for me but what ever quenches your thirst is what you want to have lots of.
Contact www.LaLecheLeague.org you will find lots of wonderful information. If you can, order their book, "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding" it is worth its weight in gold!
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 2

I agree with the growth spurt comment. With my son, he seemed to always be on the boob for the first month, then he'd be on the boob CONSTANTLY during growth spurts until after 4 months. I can get so annoying, but it's good for him and it's great for your body. During those non-stop nursing days, you are burning way more than the extra 500 calories nursing normally burns. It might help you regain your prepregnancy shape that much faster. And it's a great excuse to slack on the housework.

2 oz is great!!! I wasn't able to pump much until my son was 6 weeks old. It sounds like you are doing a great job. And his nursing, wet diapers, and poos aound totally normal. Hang in there. Those first few months are tough, but it gets so much easier. Keep up the great work mama!

Answer 3

I totally agree w/ Lady Trinity! I would call a La Leche League leader. You can find a local one at www.llli.org or you can call their free 24/7 helpline at 1-877-4LALECHE

If your baby is having at least 6-8 wet diapers and at least one dirty diaper a day, then he is getting enough, regardless of how long it takes him to nurse. In your case, I'd advise you to watch his weight gain as well.

I don't want to freak you out b/c I don't fully understand all the details to your specific situation, but if he's not having the correct diaper count each day and/or he's not gaining "enough" and he's still taking that long to nurse, I'd be concerned that maybe there was some kind of oral/suck motor issue going on that might need some physical therapy.

Now...that sounds scary, but I have a LLL leader friend whose baby had an oral/suck motor issue and she continues to nurse her to this day and did not have to supplement-the baby is almost 2!

Like I said, I don't want to cause you to worry b/c it could just be a growth spurt or any number of minor, passing things. But, if it continues and he has too few diapers and his weight doesn't continue to rise, then I'd contact a lactation consultant right away to have him/her help you determine if there isn't some kind of suck and/or oral motor problem.

Please note, a lactation consultant is going to be your BEST bet of who can get you started on helping this situation (if it's a suck/oral motor issue). A regular ped will tell you to supplement and is not likely to know about suck problems and/or oral motor problems in infants. And it's certainly not something a ped is going to know how to fix even if he/she knows it exists.

Answer 4

My daughter would nurse for an 45 minutes on each side and I was so sore. I think most of it was just using me as a pacifier. She was about the same age as your son when she did this, and about a month later she started eating faster. It's just phase.

Also, babies who are nursed do not have much poop because breatsmilk does not have waste in it like formula.

Answer 5

It sounds like the little guy is going through a growth spurt. I know it's frustrating, but he'll get through it soon enough.

If he has 8-10 wet diapers a day, he's fine, regardless of his poop.

It sounds like you're doing a great job - keep up the good work!

Answer 6

Do Not Supplement with formula!
You are doing a fantastic job. He is eating as often as he can because that what he wants to do. I wouldn't worry about how long, or how much, just as long as he is happy. He will let you know if he is going hungry.... but it sounds like you and he are just bonding.
Keep up the excellent work!!!