I feel so silly asking this, but Is it possible to drain the breast completely during a feeding? I've read that it's not since you're always producing, but sometimes LO (7 weeks) get SUPER fussy at the breast and I try to express to see if anything is coming out and I get nothing. Either I'm bad at hand expressing (very possible) or I'm not producing enough. I know my body is getting used to her demands since my breasts aren't engorged, except at night, but I almost miss getting engorged because at least them I knew what was in there!
-
Following! Same thing happens to me sometimes. He's gaining weight and peeing a lot though so I assume all is ok..
-
@Mrs. Champagne: same here - lots of wet diapers and I think she's gaining, but she hasn't been weighed in a few weeks.
-
There's a decent scale at BRU for $50 you can get to track weight gain. It's not as sensitive as what an LC would use during a weighted feed but it would let you know that LO is gaining appropriately!
I worried like crazy and regret stressing so much about it. I went to a weekly breastfeeding group too, which was nice!
-
In my experience, I believe that the breast can get drained. But it doesn't take long to get at least a little bit more in there. Not enough for a full feeding which is why they hang out on there forever. Kinda the difference between drinking through a normal straw and drinking through a coffee straw.
-
So I had a lactation consultant tell me that you can't completely drain a breast. This came after I had mastitis and my doctor told me to pump to be sure my breasts were empty. But I think empty is relative - the dr probably meant not engorged?
There is also an article on Kellymom about concern you're losing your supply - it says that it's common when supply regulates at 6-8 weeks to feel like your milk is gone. But really your body's finally adjusting. Cause I'm there now too.
Fwiw, I'm never able to hand express. I guess I just don't know how.
-
@brownie: Hmm, that makes sense! I wonder if she's just much more efficient at getting the milk than I am (kinda like how pumping isn't as edfective as baby)?
I'm going to go into our LC tomorrow for a weight check just to make sure she's gaining. She's a big baby and LONG so her weight is distributed really well and sometimes hard to tell if she's gained or not.
-
@gilmoregirl: this is good to know! I'll be there soon. Can't say ill be sad to see this engorgement go, though!
-
@gilmoregirl: I just read that, too! Hand expressing is hard for me, too unless I'm "full." It kinda hurts!
-
Shamelessly bumping this back up
I just tried feeding DD and she was acting super fussy and when I tried to hand express I couldn't get ANYTHING. It seems to be that after 3:00pm things go down hill, but I really can't tell!
-
I don't think its technically possible to fully drain your breasts since they are always producing. But I'm guessing your LO is still hungry and the flow had slowed down once she drank most of the milk. Can you just switch her to the other breast? Also, depending on your LOs age, it may be that your body has just regulated production, so you are making exactly how much she needs, and not too much (thus no more engorgement)
If you are worried or stressed about your supply its not uncommon to not be able to hand express much cuz the stress inhibits let down.
-
@fussygal: I remember stressing about the exact same thing at around 6-9 weeks. I would drink mothers milk tea in the late afternoons bc I was convinced I needed an extra bump to make enough milk for her. Turns out she was just fussy then - the evenings were the worst and weeks 6-9 were the worst. Lethal combination. I know everyone says not to worry as long as there are enough wet diapers, but i think that's usually true!
I do think it's natural to worry about supply. I still do occasionally, and DD is almost eight months. I read somewhere though that supply is not a problem for the majority of BFing mothers, so try not to worry too much (impossible, I know). Sometimes the baby isn't even hungry but is upset and doesn't know what else to do besides scream at your boob.
-
@fussygal: How old is your LO and how was her weight check? Its also normal to make more milk in the morning hours and less in the afternoon/evening.
-
I know your LO is older than six weeks, but I found this helpful several times during the first three months. http://nurshable.com/2012/05/27/six-week-growth-spurt/
-
@Seattlemom: she's 7.5 weeks. Her next official weight check is next Friday, but I weighed her today at our local hospital's mothers group and she was up a whole pound from three weeks ago so that is encouraging!
I switch her which helps a bit, but when she's got a marathon session going they're both feeling/acting super empty.
@Zbug: that link is perfect!
-
E always gets fussy in the late afternoons- no matter what method we use to feed him. We are still figuring out a rough schedule that makes him happy, but it's pretty much guaranteed that he will be screaming while I cook dinner
I really don't remember how it was with C, I suspect about the same but I've forgotten... I was that much of a sleep deprived zombie the first time around.
I just tried feeding DD and she was acting super fussy and when I tried to hand express I couldn't get ANYTHING. It seems to be that after 3:00pm things go down hill, but I really can't tell!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
15 comments