Feeding and Diapering my newborn?

Question

My daughter is 5 days old.
alittle info first---
I have been producing ALOT of milk (im pumping 4oz in about 10 minutes time because my breasts are so engorged) and my breasts are constantly dripping milk and soaking breast pads-
i nurse my daughter often-usually she wakes on her own to feed but she usually only feeds for 5-10 minutes at a time and then will drift off to sleep and wake up in about an hour sometimes 2 hours to feed again....
im worried she isnt getting enough milk in the short 5-10 minutes she sucks at my breast even though i know im producing alot of milk...is this adequate time to feed at the breast?

Also--this is my first baby so im not quite sure what to expect in the diaper department.... she has been having about 4-6 poppy diapers a day, there yellow and really seedy and kinda stringy looking and watery-is this normal? How do you know if its diarrhea?

Answer 1

Like everyone else said, she sounds normal and that she's doing great.

However, just one note, you don't need to be pumping so much. You're probably giving yourself an oversupply problem when you pump so much. If you stop pumping, you'll be less engorged soon. She's getting really full because you're making so much milk, but it could also be that she's getting too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk--which is the denser milk that comes at the end of the feed and keeps her more content for longer.

If you stop pumping, you'll notice you'll regulate more quickly to her demands and she might go a little longer. Also, you should not be pumping and storing at this point. The first three weeks are crucial to establishing milk supply, pumping to store during that time is not recommended. Wait to store until baby is a little older and your supply more regulated.

Just wait, as soon as you get it all figured out, she'll go through a growth spurt and eat constantly again!

Answer 2

u are doing great. if u are producing lot of milk do breast feed ur baby and freeze extra milk which has been pumped.for 5 day old she is fine with her feeding and diapering.the stool is very normal if she is breastfeeding it is supposed to be watery because breast milk is very light and it just passes through her system.its not diarrohoea.it may possible sometime if u eat more sugary fruits herstool will be more watery.her immune system will become very strong if she is totally on breast milk.i dont think u shd worried about diarrhoea.just freeze milk cleanly.
she is taking adequate milk as her stomach is very small now and becoming bigger day by day.babies sucking is much more strong than the breast pump.so she is doing great.and when u go to dr. for her regular checkup u can see how her body weight is going.u are doing great.just chill and keep going.

Answer 3

Breast fed babies will always have water stools. This is normal so don't worry. And Yes she is getting enough milk from you. The reason she is probably not on there for long is because you have such a strong supply. This is a good thing. You would only need to worry if she was on there for half an hour and still not content on settling. They will feed when they are hungry i always demand feed and did not feed every four hours like people suggest. Your baby will let you know how much she needs. And you will get to know her well soon enough so just relax and enjoy your beautiful baby girl. Congratulations on being a mother it is the best job in the world.

Answer 4

at 5 days old they only drink about 1-3 ounces at a time. Sounds like she has a healthy appetite. Don't worry. It's also normal for them to lose a couple ouncesm a couple days after birth. Another thing you can do when she falls asleep is caress her cheek and she'll start drinking again. The normal feeding pattern for a breastfed baby is every 1-2 hours. formula fed is 2-4 hours because it is not as easy to digest.
To stop the leaking and engorgement wear a tight bra, and don't let warm water run over your breasts alot in the shower, turn your back to it.
UPDATE-
She will also have one period that she will sleep a long time, like 4 hours...If you want her to do this at night wake her up every hour or two to eat during the day.

Answer 5

its not diarrhea. breast milk is awesome. I know about the breast fullness after they are so full they start leaking. What i did while my baby slept is I used the breast pump and you can store it in the fridge if you will use it in less than 5 hours or you can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. My freezer was always full of bottles of breast milk. If your baby was not getting enough milk trust me baby would wake up crying like crazy. Im proud that you are breast feeding. I cant stand it when mothers dont do that. Its so nutritious for the baby and it helps get your previous weight back. I was 163 and after 1 month I was back to 125. The only reason not to breastfeed is if the baby is lactose intolerant or if mother has severe health problems

Answer 6

The diapers are absolutely normal for a BF newborn. When she's really little, she'll probably poop constantly. As she gets a little bigger, she may go up to a week w/o pooping, which is also normal. You breastmilk is such perfect nutrition that her body produces little to no waste.

As far as feeding, so long as you feed on demand, she'll get what she needs. Her tummy is very tiny, so she will eat small, frequent meals for a long time. If she seems content and gains weight, then you can be sure she's getting enough.

Congrats on your little one and keep up the good work!

Answer 7

Sounds quite normal to me......I nursed both of my children, She will start eating more and if you are pumping 4oz in 10 min then she is most likely getting a little more than that when she nurses because when the baby is nursing the milk just streams out most times........If she is having that many messy diapers a day she is most likely eating enough. And Yes.....That sounds like normal poop yo me.
If you are that worried, call and talk with a nurse.
But from experience, it sounds as if all is going well for you.
Good luck and congrats on your new daughter!!!

Answer 8

Babies tummies are really small. They can only eat a little at a time. But, they are growing, so they need to eat more often. She is only 5 days old and she will soon fall into a regular pattern. Keep pumping as this stimulates more milk production. Its good to have some on standby should she hit a growth spurt and need more than you can produce.
As for diapers, Breast milk poop is different than regular poop. Talk to the doctor (as I am sure you will be there soon for a regular check-up in a few days). I am sure that this is normal as long as she is eating and putting on weight.

Answer 9

i breast fed all of my children. breast milk bm's are supposed to look the way you described. she should have a bm after every feeding. what you need to do cause she is going to poop alot, before you put a clean diaper on her, put some breast milk on her bottom and let it air dry or you can put some vasaline on her bottom. when you breastfeed a baby you shouldnt have her on a schedule they might nurse for 2 minutes or 12 minutes. also if you get knots around the areola of your breast, its called a milk back up.massage it gently and let her nurse on it. and when its time for her to nurse again, put her back on that same breast because by her sucking constatly, she will release the milk down thats backed up and your breast will feel better. If your nipples become sore, squeeze some milk out with two fingers, rub it on the nipple and let it air dry. breast milk has antiboties in it. even if you get the flu, you can still nurse your baby because the antiboties in the milk protects her immune system. last but not least, bonding. when I breast fed my children I only wore my nursing bra and my underwear. when you nursing her on the bed, kind of put yourself in a half- fetal position the bottom of your baby's feet should touch your thighs in this position. when she nurses, pull her as close to your skin as possible. rub her head, her fingers, arms legs, toes and her back and talk to her softly. she needs that skin-to- skin contact with you that makes your bond stronger and gets her use to your scent. good luck with everything

Answer 10

Newborns basically wake up, get a diaper change, eat, cuddle, sleep 2 hrs... really you should only go through 8-10 per day.