is my baby getting any breastmilk?

Question

I have a newborn who is just 3 days old. Today she has been wanting to eat constantly , basically all day. I haven't stopped feeding her. Every time I feed her she sucks her hands like she is still hungry. Do you think that when she feeds nothing comes out, because maybe she is only sucking the nipple and not latching on right? I don't know why she is eating so much today.

Answer 1

Do not feed your baby a bottle!!!! In these early days, the baby needs very little in terms of milk. There tiny tummies are only the size of a small marble at this age. They don't need much and the fact that your baby is nursing frequently is excellent. Now is the time that your body is learning how much milk it needs to make. If you give her a bottle, your body will get the mistaken impression that it does not need to produce. Her frequent nursing means that your milk will be coming in very soon and you will have very satisfied, happy, healthy breast fed baby. You should only give your baby a bottle if you want to produce less milk. Keep up the good work, even though it can be worrisome, trust that your body was designed to do exactly what you are doing!

Answer 2

If she isn't latching properly it would be very painfull to you the whole time she's nursing. You should only have a bit of pain for maybe a minute for the first week or two of nursing if you haven't nursed before. If it doesn't hurt beyond that you should be fine with the latch.
Another question is how long is it between feedings? Newborns usually eat about every 2 hours from the time you start feeding. So if you start at 4 and stop at 4:30 she should want to eat again by 6. When My son was that young it felt like all the time non stop but there was and hour and half between.
Also your body is trying to adjust to the milk required. Constant suckling will help you build your milk supply. To reassure yourself see if the place you gave birth has complementary lactation consultants. If not and you have the means you considering hiring one. They are a god send for first time nursing mothers. There is also the la leche league which is a breastfeeding organization that is very helpfull and supportive to breastfeeding mothers and they offer help and classes and support. Here's a link to their site, you can find a local chapter or use the site to help answer any questions.

http://www.llli.org/resources.html

Answer 3

Completely normal. Likely your milk hasn't come in just yet (most women see it come in around Day 4 I think) but that's Ok. Your baby isn't starving and you don't have to worry about anything if she's trying to suck non-stop. This is what will stimulate your milk to come in, so it's 'suppose' to happen. Don't give anything like sugar water, formula, or whatever else you might be proposed by well wishing, yet breastfeeding ignorant, people. You'll feel the milk when it comes in, tingling breasts that start to feel hard. If you haven't felt this by Day 5, then contact someone. You should be producing colostrum now that tides your baby over until your milk comes in. If you squeeze your breasts do you get a bit of yellowish stuff to come out? If your milk already has come in, then you should be able to feel it getting softer after your baby drinks, and should watch how many wet diapers she's producing. The first weeks are learning experiences for mommy and baby. Contact LLL (La leche league) if you are concerned any further, and they can give you further details on what to look for. Good luck!

Answer 4

Your baby is nursing so often because she's working at getting your milk to come in and getting your supply going. As long as she is having 6-8 wet/poopy diapers a day and is gaining weight, she okay. If you are having sore nipples, then there may be a problem with her latch. Please ask for help from a lactation consultant or check llli.org (La Leche League). You can use that site as a resource or to find a local leader that can answer your questions more thoroughly.

Answer 5

babies have a natural instinct to suckle, just because she is sucking does not mean she is eating all the time. You can check if you are giving milk with a breast pump or just my messaging your breast. If she is sucking her hand it does not always mean she is hungry, she just wants the suckling effect, it is comforting to her. If you are feeding her each time she does this, if anything you are over feeding her. She should be eating about every couple hours, and believe me she will tell you if she is truly hungry, the cry will wake everyone in the house.

Answer 6

Your milk is likely still coming in so make sure you are nursing often and a lot. She might just be chewing on her hand because she likes it. If she cries after every feeding she either is still hungry or has a tummy ache.

If your milk is in then your breasts will be enlarged and engorged, and you will feel let down when she feeds. Also try and hand express some milk to see if it has come in. Listen for her swallowing when she feeds also so you can see if she is eating or just sucking for comfort.

Answer 7

Do you feel over full? Trust me if she isn't eating or getting any breast milk your boobs will tell you, because they'll start to swell and get overly full. Plus if she isn't latching on properly your nipples may get really really sore, even bleed. Some babies may suckle for comfort, which isn't a bad thing unless you have something else you need to be doing. You can try a pacifier or something.

Answer 8

She is helping you to build your milk supply. Eat healthy foods and drink pleanty of fluids.

Is she producing wet and dirty diapers? That is a good sign that she's getting enough to eat. If you have access to a scale, you could weigh her before and after a feeding to see how much she has taken.

Check with the pediatrician or the lactation consultant. Welcome to Mommy-hood.

Answer 9

if she is only 3 days old, she may be getting colostrum (the first milk), your milk should be coming in any day. Call a lactation consultant, or check with the maternity ward at the hospital, and they will be able to walk you through the nursing process.

Answer 10

All newborns eat a lot after a few days. Has your milk come in yet? If it has, no worries. Just because your baby wants to eat a lot, doesn't mean it's not getting anything. Babies are new into this big world...nursing makes them feel safe like they did in your belly!