Supply question

annie0714

Hi everyone My LO is now almost 3 weeks old. I have some supply questions. I think I may have an oversupply. LO will often cough during the start of a feeding or latch/unlatch multiple times at the start. He is usually only feeding 8-10 min on one side only each feeding. I used to push him to take the second side, but he would end up forcefully spitting up most of it. This has significantly decreased since doing one side only. Occasionally I will offer second side if he still seems hungry, but he usually refuses it. He is gaining a ton, 1#11 oz in 10 days. Because of how well he is gaining, I have really just tried to let go and really let him feed on demand. Before, I would nervously wake him at three hours to feed. On his own, he will go 3 hours between eating with 1-2 stretches of 4-5 hours per day. This usually gets 8 feeds in 24 hours. I am worried that since my supply is still establishing, that this will now cause it to undershoot since they are not being stimulated as often. I don't want an under supply either. Am I needlessly worrying or should I being doing more to make sure I have a strong supply long term? Also, with these spaced feedings and one side at a time, I am getting really engorged each time. This seems to make it harder for him to latch and therefore more painful for me, any suggestions for this? I have tried hand expressing before but I am not sure how much tondo before feeding Thanks for any help

kjsmith9

It sounds like you're doing great - 1lb 11oz in 10 days is awesome!  Eating 8 times a day is fine for him - he wouldn't be gaining so well if it wasn't.

Don't worry about undersupply - he may be taking a bit more at each feeding than babies who eat 10-12 times per day, but your body knows that.  I used to get engorged on one side too (DD was always a "one side per feed" girl until we moved to morning/night nursing between12 and 13 months).  I think my body regulated around 5-6 weeks and I started to feel a bit more "normal."

I would say just hand express to the point of comfort for you, and ability to latch for him.

Keep it up mama!

Staciefacie

I had this problem with my first. My milk came in overnight after she was born and I had way too much milk for her to handle. My LC told me to let her suckle until I let down, then remove her and let it slow down. Then let your baby latch again. 

Don't worry about your supply being low if he's feeding on demand, your body knows how much he needs. For the engorement between feedings, I would go into the bathroom (easier clean up, if necessary) and place really hot wash clothes on my breasts and let them let down on their own. Some of the time I needed to hand express to feel better but usually after a let down I felt some relief.