How do you know your EBF baby is getting enough to eat? My LO is 14 days old and I am afraid I am not producing enough as he is constantly feeding and crying hysterically if he wakes up and isn't eating. I met with a LC a week ago and she said he was doing great, but I am worried I am not producing enough for him now. Should I supplement with some formula? he eats off both sides every feeding, and I am worried that I am starving him....
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5+ wet diapers a day, not being constipated (usually 3+ dirty dipes a day but some ebf babies will go days without pooping), back at birth weight by 2 weeks, & gaining 5-8oz per week after that. As long as baby is meeting those you ARE producing enough!
You should never measure supply by frequency of feedings or pumping b/c the whole mechanics of breastfeeding is for baby to feed on demand as they need/want & a pump almost never empties the breast as efficiently as bebe or produce the same hormones as when nursing.
Kellymom has FANTASTIC info in regards to what to expect in the early days! http://kellymom.com/category/bf/normal/
You're doing great! Keep it up! =)
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What @runsyellowlites said, dirty/wet diapers and gaining weight is the best way to tell.
Some babies have a strong desire to suck, suck, suck even just for comfort not always for food.
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@runsyellowlites: he is getting enough wet diapers and sorry diapers a day- but he is just eating constantly and I am worried that I am not producing enough for him. FTM worries I suppose.... But when he is crying hysterically it just makes me upset and I second guess everything
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agree with pp's. also 2-3 weeks is a growth spurt, so it might just be a phase that he is going through. when my LO went thru growth spurts, she wanted to eat every hour.
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@cheert16: Remember that nursing is SO much more than just filling his little belly! He could just want to be close to your or suck or just be thirsty & wanna wet his mouth some. Nursing constantly is TOTALLY normal, especially through times of growth spurts!
Definitely definitely check out kellymom! She has such great accurate info regarding breastfeeding, baby growth, & nutrition for both mommy & baby!! I tell you that finding her info is seriously the only reason we made it breastfeeding & never needing to supplement!
He'll tell you if he needs more but not having good output. As long as he's got that then you do have sufficient supply, even if you feel empty for a day or two while he's on a nursing binge... latching, unlatching, crying/fussing at the breast, pushing away even are usually pretty normal behaviors during growth spurts (7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, & 3 months) and in a couple days your supply will catch up & you'll feel full again! Nursing is the only way to single your body to make more though so just nurse nurse nurse, stay hydrated, rest, and enjoy the snuggles!
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Dipes and weight gain !
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the first 6+ weeks my LO nursed CONSTANTLY, and every LC I met with told me this was totally normal and she was helping to establish my milk supply. As long as they are having enough wet + dirty diapers, they are getting enough. Def check out the kellymom site that @runsyellowlights posted, it is soooo helpful!! Also, for the first few months of a babies life, they go through growth spurts all the time where they will want to nurse more frequently. I remember ours being around 2-3 days after birth, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks! I now have MORE than enough milk for her at almost 6 months old.
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@cheert16: definitely don't second guess yourself! you've already got lots of good advice here but I'll share what the LC I met with told me that was so important in the early days - a baby never starved overnight. They are just trying to signal your body to make more, or just need soothing.
It is so instinctual to just wrack your brain as to why your baby is crying and how to fix it - but supplementing when there isn't a medical need will stick you in a cycle of your body not making enough and baby needing you to continue supplementing! Hang in there!
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@cheert16: It is completely normal for babies to eat constantly for the first few weeks. Vi nursed every 45 minutes for the first three weeks, and even now she nurses every two hours or so.
I wouldn't worry about your supply as long as he is having enough wet diapers. I know it's easy to worry since you can't actually see how much milk he's getting, but if he wasn't getting enough he wouldn't be making those diapers! Keep it up, you'll stop worrying eventually.
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If you want you can always get a scale, weigh him( no diaper), then feed him, and then weigh again. My had several friends do this. You just need a baby one that will measure ounces.
R is 7 weeks and still eats every two hours. And even more at night.
Have you tried a pacifier? Maybe he just likes to suck.
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It sounds like completely normal newborn behavior. We got out of the constant crying mode around 3-4 weeks.
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@runsyellowlites: everything you said!
@cheert16: my LO is six months and still has days where she wants to nurse all.the.time! What you're going through is all completely normal and you're doing great!!!!! Trust and have confidence in yourself and remember that in your arms nursing is your baby's most favourite place right now
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Everything @runsyellowlites: said! Sometimes babies just want to be close to mom. My LO nursed every hour and a half for the first several months. Every 2-2.5 hours until about 8 months.
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Totally normal!! I agree with everything said above
You're doing a great job, mama!
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