I have a Breast Feeeding Question???

Question

My Baby is 5 months now and this is my 1st time breast feeding. When I first had my baby until she was 4 months I would get very engorged so I would have to pump it all out. But then all of a suddon I stopped being so engorged so I was able to quit pumping and only breast feed. She was able to get all the milk out. But now I feel like Im not getting as much milk. My baby is getting enough milk she needs her doctor sais that she is over 97 percentile so she is isn't starving but my milk isn't like what it use to be Quantity wise. Do you think it's because she is 5 months old now and bigger and just eating more so im not noticing it? Im just worried about losing my milk so I have been drinking tons more water than usual and Im still not ever getting engored like I use to. Is this normal or do you think Im losing my milk? Please help me out. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

You're at about that time where your body should be starting to produce milk more efficiently. That is, it will only produce what your daughter needs, at the time she needs it. So if she drinks all day and not at all at night, you will eventually stop producing at night, but still produce as much as she needs in the daytime. Nothing to worry about - it's just nature at work.

Answer 2

Engorgement gradually subsides for most breast feeding moms. It is actually a good sign that your body and your baby are in pretty good sync and you are producing what she needs. Your quantity is likely the same, but just regulated more efficiently. If you pumped more times than your daughter normally nursed, than it may have been possible to have more milk than needed, but a woman's body is pretty uniquely designed and in most cases things just even out. Especially when you both begin to feel comfortable with the breast feeding process, which can take a few months to happen. As long as she is nursing, you won't lose your milk. Drink a lot of water if it makes you feel better, but it probably isn't necessary. If she is happy and growing, everything is fine.

Answer 3

Your body is adjusting its milk supply to meet the needs of your baby. So don't worry! It sounds like your body was making too much milk to begin with...which is also normal. Your body will make milk for twins in the beginning even if you only have a single child. Over time your body figures it out and adjusts downward in supply. I would guess that because you were pumping, it probably took longer for your body to adjust down its supply. The adjustment usually happens around the 2 month mark. Also, the content of your milk changes as your child grows. So your milk will become more calorie dense .... meaning that 3 ounces of breast milk at 6 months is richer than 3 ounces of breastmilk when your baby is first born. Isn't the human body amazing?

Keep up the good work! I stopped breastfeeding when my baby was 6 months old and I regret it now.

Answer 4

After a couple of months of breastfeeding, your body really figures out how to do it very efficiently... it finally evens out and you aren't engorged anymore.... this is natural and great! You are surely giving your baby enough milk, don't worry! Your body now knows how to make just enough milk to feed the little one and not leave you too full afterwards. It sounds like things are going perfectly!
You should always be drinking lots of water, and eating very healthy (its all going to the baby) and get lots of rest, this will help keep your supply stable.

Answer 5

This is happening to me also and my son is 4 months old. I've read that after the 3 or 4th month you stop becoming so engorged because your breasts have worked it out so the baby gets as much milk as needed. My son isn't, by any means, a malnourished child. He's in the 85th percentile and the doc said I must have great breaskmilk cause he's growing so well. As long as your baby doesn't seem overly hungry I'm sure it's fine and you still have all the milk your baby needs. You milk adjusts to the baby's needs.

Answer 6

Your baby is eating more efficiently. I started noticing this when my baby was 6 weeks old.. he was draining the milk much faster so I started pumping a little for backstock... and had to start feeding at both breasts every feeding. As long as your baby isn't showing hunger signs and is in the 97th percentile (which is awesome by the way) then why worry? There is nothing wrong with the quality of your milk as long as you maintain your healthy diet. Congrats!!

Answer 7

It's completely normal. As you and your body get used to breastfeeding the engorgement doesn't happen anymore. You used to get engorged because your body still didn't know how much to make, and when babies are newborn, they nurse very often, so that stimulates your breasts to make more milk.

So now that your daughter is 5 months, I'm sure she's eating less often but eating more each time she nurses, so your body has figured out her eating pattern and is making what she needs.

Hope that helps.

Answer 8

Many women think that their milk supply is low, but it is actually rare for this to happen. After breastfeeding is well established, your breasts will not feel as full between feedings--this does not mean that you do not have enough milk. As long as your daughter is wetting diapers and gaining weight well, then you have nothing to worry about. Also, babies become more efficient at sucking the milk out of breasts, so you may also notice that your baby finishes feeding more quickly as she gets older. Best wishes!

Answer 9

As your baby gets older, both of your bodies get better at nursing. She'll get quicker at getting as much milk as she needs, and your breasts will start regulating how much milk you have as the system relies on her supply and demand. As long as she's still nursing on demand, you're not going to suddenly lose your milk, but you probably won't be engorged anymore.

Answer 10

no, that's common for them to get sore. listed decrease than are some suggestions: Cabbage leaves could help your breasts sense extra comfortable. decrease out the thick stem and cover your breast with chilly leaves, stem end down. go away the nipple uncovered. substitute the leaf at each and each feed (or while the leaf is going limp). end as quickly as your breast feels comfortable. If weaning you will possibly use them for an prolonged time. verify your toddler is sucking the terrific suited way. If the sucking hurts, your toddler's mouth won't be placed properly. enable your nipples air dry between feedings. enable the milk dry on your nipples. furnish your toddler the fewer sore of your 2 nipples first. Your toddler's sucking could be much less energetic after the 1st jiffy. If achieveable, place any cracked or mushy area of your breast on the corner of your toddler's mouth, so as that it receives much less tension in the time of feeding. Wash your nipples each and on a daily basis with heat water. do not use cleansing soap or lotion that could incorporate alcohol, which could dry the floor. convey milk till your enable-down reflex happens. this might help in making your milk extra obtainable so your toddler sucks much less stressful. Breastfeed in many cases to steer clear of engorgement. Engorgement could make it stressful on your toddler to latch on