BFing questions

ShannonMVT · #1 April 28th, 2009, 03:45 PM

How long is engorgement supposed to last? I'm guessing it only lasted maybe a day or a day and a half for me. My boobs were really full and tender and mammoth yesterday but today they feel more like normal. Maybe only slightly bigger than they were during pregnancy. I'm worried because now I wonder if he is getting enough milk. Yesterday I was leaking milk like crazy into my breast pads and today nothing is leaking out. Also yesterday I could express milk out manually by stimulating my breast (I tried it to see if I could) but now when I try to express milk, nothing is coming out. My boobs are a lot softer too. How do I know if he is even getting anything or getting enough when he is feeding? He also spits up quite a bit and loses some feedings so I'm really worried.

Dh said maybe I should try pumping just to make sure that something is coming out? But then he won't get that milk... And I don't know how a pump could get it to come out when me manually expressing it doesn't do anything, not even a drop.

TIA girls, I thought about calling my doula (she said she will provide BFing support) and asking her but right now I am just crying over everything (baby blues) and I don't think I could get through the phone call without being in tears.

I am so in love with our little boy and I love being a mommy, it's just rough right now because I am pretty worried over everything and teary.

**Jenn** · #2 April 28th, 2009, 04:01 PM

I was never engorged, not even when my milk came in. I have never felt a let down either. You will know he is getting enough to eat by his diapers. As long as he has enough wet (6-8 a day) and poopy diapers (could be once a day, after every feeding, or even every couple days) a day then he is getting plenty. I could never manually express milk, not more than a drop or two anyway. And the pump...forget it! My boobs only respond to my baby! I hardly leak either.

Not being engorged is a good thing! It means your body is responding to your baby's feeding schedule and adjusting itself accordingly. Some women's bodies may take longer than others to do this. And the more often he eats the softer your breasts will remain.

Actually the only time I have been engorged is if I had to miss a few feedings and couldn't pump but that's only been on special circumstances and only has happened a couple times in my whole time nursing.

A pump is a horrible gage of how much milk you produce. Some women can pump with no problem and others (like me) can barely sqeeze out an ounce (both breasts combined).

If Matthew is content and eating well and having enough dirty diapers then everything is just fine! You're doing a great job Shannon! I know how overwhelming it is. If only we had see through boobs with ounce markers so we knew exactly how much was in there! Big *HUGS*!!!

ETA: Spitting up is most likely a too full belly or gas. How often does he burp? Do you feed both sides at a feeding?

Liam was a both side eater but Loch only ever took one a feeding. His poops were green (too much foremilk) when I gave both sides and he spit up a lot but after I cut back to one breast a feeding he was much better. He did eat a little more frequently but the spitting up was under control and his poops were back to being yellow.

Resi · #3 April 28th, 2009, 04:33 PM

I'm almost positive he is getting your milk. I agree with Jenn. If he is wetting enough diapers and pooping then he is getting plenty. Try not to worry.

Also if he is spitting up you know he is getting the boobie milk.

soImarriedAnerd · #4 April 28th, 2009, 09:44 PM

Jenn said everything I was going to say!

Sounds like your in the lucky group and your body is perfectly in synch with your baby-WHICH IS GREAT! Women kill to not have engorgement issues!

As long as he has 6-8 wet diapers a day your fine and he is fine.

Your doing a great job and are a wonderful mommy!!!!!

*Anna* · #5 April 28th, 2009, 10:02 PM

I was soooo engorged when my milk caame in that i had to hand express for about 3 mins on each boob in a hot shower. my midwife said to do it to soften them so she'd latch better... and the milk i expressed was foremilk which is ok as it left the good fatty hindmilk for the baby.

And a couple days later all was good and now its great!!!! Good luck Shannon- keep it up!

#6 April 29th, 2009, 12:08 AM

i was engorged for maybe 2 or 3 days, i forget now, but we're all different. sounds like you're doing fine.

does he fall asleep after feeding? if so, he is very satisfied! if he is fussy and cries after feeding, it might indicate he is still hungry or has wind. Spitting up is linked to wind as the other said. I used to feed Kirsty for say 10 minutes, then wind her and put her back on the same breast, then wind her when she was finished.

Mars · #7 April 29th, 2009, 03:59 AM

Jenn said it all!!

I was engorged for about 2 days when my milk came in but that was it. You're doing great! The worrying is natural but he'll be fine.

IamMom · #8 April 29th, 2009, 06:38 AM

You are lucky - I had engorgement and developed mastisses (or whatever however its spelled - he he he). I had really sore, red, hot boobs for a few days - I remember one night laying in bed with frozen pea bags on my boobies (my sisters suggestion and it really worked - molded to the boobs). But I went right on feeding him as my doc said to do (I was only told to come in and get meds if I got a fever and I never did). It eventually went away. I was never able to get much milk out of my breasts by manual expression or pump - it was depressing so I stopped even trying and just fed the baby.....he was growing fine at all of his appts and kept peeing and popping so all was fine- and that's what you need to be on the look out for. Babies are much better at getting milk out than we are or pumps are! Also, at about 4 to 6 weeks I weaned him because my boobs were just not having it - my milk supply decreased naturally and there was nothing I could do about it.....I didn't work very hard to increase it or keep the BF'ing going either because I knew I was going back to work and didn't care to keep BF'ing anyway.

I hope you can relax a little and realize that you are doing a great job and your baby boy is happy and healthy! When does he see the doc again - that should give you some reassurance that he is getting plenty!

Oh and maybe have DH or another family member call the doula - or call la leche - they deal with this stuff all the time and won't be surprised if you are upset and can't talk!

soImarriedAnerd · #9 April 29th, 2009, 07:23 AM

LLL has a FREE number you can call 24/7---google it!

soImarriedAnerd · #10 April 29th, 2009, 07:48 AM

found it!
Need Breastfeeding Help?

Call 1-877-4-LA-LECHE (1-877-4-52-53243), a 24-hour toll free helpline providing information, education, and support for healthcare providers, and women who want to breastfeed. Visit LLL Breastfeeding Helpline-US - Home for more information.

ShannonMVT · #11 April 29th, 2009, 10:55 AM

thanks girls, he is having enough poos/pees. Last night was really rough, from midnight to 9:00 am he nursed almost constantly, maybe only 2 hours of sleep for him and 1 hour sleep for me. Every time I laid him down he started rooting again. I called the lactation consultant at the hospital, she said if I KNOW he is getting milk and should be full, they don't normally suggest this but to offer a paci since some babies have a strong suckle need. I did that and he finally slept a bit. He is still spitting up some so I know he is getting milk and my boobs were soft from nursing so much and I did see some drops of milk flowing so I know it was there. It's like he did not realize that he was full or something. Dh is back at work and my mom won't be back till Sunday so I am going to try and sleep today any time he is asleep. I just hope I can survive till Sat.

Resi · #12 April 29th, 2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShannonMVT

thanks girls, he is having enough poos/pees. Last night was really rough, from midnight to 9:00 am he nursed almost constantly, maybe only 2 hours of sleep for him and 1 hour sleep for me. Every time I laid him down he started rooting again. I called the lactation consultant at the hospital, she said if I KNOW he is getting milk and should be full, they don't normally suggest this but to offer a paci since some babies have a strong suckle need. I did that and he finally slept a bit. He is still spitting up some so I know he is getting milk and my boobs were soft from nursing so much and I did see some drops of milk flowing so I know it was there. It's like he did not realize that he was full or something. Dh is back at work and my mom won't be back till Sunday so I am going to try and sleep today any time he is asleep. I just hope I can survive till Sat.

You poor thing. It sounds like a hard night. It does sound like he is getting plenty of milk. My first two weeks were hard with only a couple hours of sleep per night. Hang in there.

#13 April 29th, 2009, 12:50 PM

I know it's really hard, but it sounds like you are doing fabulous! Just keep doing the sleeping when he sleeps, even if it's on the sofa with a blanket. And don't get dressed if you cant be bothered!! PJs rock!

(((((Huggles)))))

Angelaosaurus-rex · #14 April 29th, 2009, 01:59 PM

I was only engorged for a day, and then they were just slightly bigger then during pregnancy. You are probably not leaking because you sweet baby is drinking it all

!

Alison81 · #15 April 29th, 2009, 02:07 PM

Elsa had a lot of nights like that, and it scared me thinking she wasn't getting enough, but she just liked to suck. She also rooted after feedings, so I'd give her a paci. If she was still hungry, she'd spit it out, and if she wasn't hungry she'd suck and go to sleep.

All the other advice was right on, it sounds like you're doing fine!