BFing frustration

My DD is 3 weeks old and the Bfing was going great. Although over the last few days it seems like all she wants to do is eat and is on me non stop. I have tried topping her off with formula after but I am concerned that I am not producing enough milk for her. She takes one formula bottle before bed and drinks almost 3 ozs. When I pump, I am lucky if I get 2ozs which has me even more convinced she is not getting enough. What do I do???

Re: BFing frustration

Message edited 2/8/2007 1:05:32 PM.

Re: BFing frustration

Pumping will never produce as much milk as a baby nursing so rest assured your baby is probably getting more than enough from you. At this young age babies get a lot of comfort from the S*ucking sensation. You could try a pacifier or just let her nurse on demand. Eventually it will even out and she'll develop a schedule. Also BF babies tend to cluster feed especially in the evening. Good Luck. It's challenging in the beginning but very worth it.

Re: BFing frustration

It sounds like a growth spurt! Hang in there, your body will adjust to her demand.

Re: BFing frustration

I'm sure you're doing just fine! Sometimes in the beginning they do want to eat nonstop, but it doesn't mean you don't have enough milk. And the more you keep feeding her the more your supply will increase. I remember days where it felt like all I did was nurse. It's very normal for a BF baby to want to eat every hour or more at times. But hang in there and it will get easier! I pumped in the beginning to help increase my supply, but don't worry if you're not getting a lot. The amount you pump really doesn't indicate how much your baby is getting. Some people can pump a lot while others hardly get anything. I've been EBF for 4 1/2 months and I still don't get much when I pump, but my DS is doing just fine. Just count her diapers--as long as she has enough, she's getting enough to eat.

Re: BFing frustration

you probably have plenty of milk. i was worried about the same thing until i went for his one month appt and he gained almsot three poiunds , he must of been getting plenty.
Between and 3 weeks they have a growth spurt and want to eat constantly.

Re: BFing frustration

My sister has been BFing exclusively for 5 months now and when she pumps she only gets 2 oz MAX yet her daughter is 5 months and weighs 18 lbs so she's definately producing! I think sometimes, especially when they are young and the growth spurts are so often, they do the whole cluster feeding thing. It's very common for breastfed babies to have many smaller feedings instead of a few big feedings. You are most likely producing plenty for your baby. Just keep doing what you are doing and in time that schedule will develop --- but now just enjoy that time to cuddle and bond with your little one!

Re: BFing frustration

Ella goes through spurts where all she wants to do is BF. I wouldn't worry about her not getting enough if she has wet/dirty diapers and is gaining weight.

My boobs are never as empty after pumping as they are after nursing. So I wouldn't use that as a comparison. She's taken 4oz of expressed BM from a bottle, and I never can pump that much at once.

Re: BFing frustration

best thing to do is feed on demand and both your body and the baby will adjust. It will go back to normal. I made the mistake of not recognizing and indulging the first growth spurt and it hurt my supply and made for a very cranky baby.

Re: BFing frustration

Feed on demand (cue) that is what we do and all has been well for 4 months