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| Breastfeeding Mommies |
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How do you know if you are empty in one breast during a feeding? I feel like my supply will go on and on. I think I may be hyper lacating because I pump and breastfeed. Anyways, my doctor says that it should be five minutes on each side these days...does that sound right to you? I also think that I am hyper lactaing because my baby will be feeding and then out of nowhere start coughing and gagung like she drank too much too quickly. It passes within seconds, but still it totally freaks me out sometimes. I just don't know when a breast is done because she loves to comfort suckle. Anyone with some boob knowledge? I would appreciate a lesson here.
Thanks,
Caity |
| Posted by caitlin on 11/14/2007 12:02 AM
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I wouldn't worry so much about when a breast is done. If you nurse about 5 minutes, then switch sides and let baby go to town on the second one, and start on the second one next nursing session, it should even out. In general, breasts go by supply and demand, so if you don't demand more, the supply will go down to what is needed.
Is there a reason you are nursing and pumping, or is it just that you are concerned about hyperlactating? If you don't need the milk for something, I would try to go without pumping for a while (unless you become painfully engorged) and see if that helps even out your supply. |
| posted by Indigo Ottyr on 11/14/2007 12:45 AM
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Caity
How old is your little one? Why 5 minutes? Is that how long you should be nursing per side or how long to empty? Remember breastfeeding is supply and demand. So really you are never empty. Is you baby a very ravenous nurser? Could be the reason why gagging and coughing. You may not be able to feel let down but it is happening. If you are nursing 5 minutes per side, might I suggest, not watching the clock? If you let your baby nurse on only one side at a feeding what happens? This may be an option for you. Or you can switch nurse. When baby gets lazy move to next breast right away and repeat. You might find this more helpful. Also you can have more than 1 letdown per feeding on a side which may be the out of nowhere coughing, gagging. I am now nursing my 6th baby and have always exclusively breastfed each one. This was their primary food source for most of the first year. So if I can be of any help let me know.
Lisa, Ct. mom of 6 |
| posted by Lisa on 11/14/2007 08:45 AM
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I just let my daughter nurse until she stops. If your baby is 7 months she should let you know when she wants it or not. If she is still hungry and your breast is empty she will probably cry. My daughter is actually starting to grab at the other side of my shirt when she wants to switch sides. She's 8 1/2 months. I pump after every feeding for 10 min each side right now because my supply is low. After she eats I am totally empty. If you think your over lactating thy do you pump?
My daughter has gagged when she gets too much. I try to make sure I hold her as upright as I can. |
| posted by Joni on 11/14/2007 09:32 PM
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I pump because I have to go back to work and start bottle feeding her when I am gone. :( But I plan to do both. Bottle and breast.
I guess what my real question is how do I know when she is nursing and not just comfort suckling? |
| posted by caitlin on 11/14/2007 11:46 PM
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| IMO it doesn't really matter if she's nursing or comfort sucking because they aren't really entirely seperate things. Having said that, if she'll take a pacifier and be happy, then that would show she was just interested in sucking. If she isn't happy, she is either specifically interested in skin sucking or milk. When my now 2yo was pre-verbal, if he was just looking for comfort sucking, he'd get mad if my milk let down! I don't know if that helps at all, but I figured I'd throw it out there. |
| posted by Indigo Ottyr on 11/15/2007 01:17 AM
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| I have 3 children who were all breastfed. I am currently nursing my 7 month old child. I can tell you about my experience with my first child who is 7. I returned to work when she was 6 weeks old unfortunately and I pumped and nursed her. I couldn't tell if she was feeding or just suckling for comfort but I let her do what she needed to do. She did like the pacifier so I did use that but I did need to get a supply of breast milk before I began to work so it did seem as though I was constantly producing milk. Once I was in work my schedule was to pump in the morning before work. Pump late morning and again mid-afternoon. I am not sure if you have the freedom to pump when your child would normally be nursing. Sadly 7-8 years ago I didn't have the most understanding employee working with all men made it a bit difficult so I needed to leave the office and find someplace to pump but anyway I was still able to provide her with b.milk for her bottles and nurse her when I was home in the evenings. I felt myself getting into a routine and felt much more comfortable with the amount of milk I was producing. I had a difficult time getting my daughter to latch during the 1st week of her life so I wanted to make sure I could pump to supply her with my milk one way or another. Its hard when you are home with the baby and nursing and than pumping for future supply but it will work out once you return to work. Is the 5 minutes on each side the amount of time to pump? I would fill up 2 bottles on each breast sometimes during one pump session but again when you are at work you will find it working out better than now since you are producing a lot of milk to feed your baby and to fill bottles. Hope this helps. |
| posted by MK on 11/15/2007 09:38 PM
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| I have 3 children who were all breastfed. I am currently nursing my 7 month old child. I can tell you about my experience with my first child who is 7. I returned to work when she was 6 weeks old unfortunately and I pumped and nursed her. I couldn't tell if she was feeding or just suckling for comfort but I let her do what she needed to do. She did like the pacifier so I did use that but I did need to get a supply of breast milk before I began to work so it did seem as though I was constantly producing milk. Once I was in work my schedule was to pump in the morning before work. Pump late morning and again mid-afternoon. I am not sure if you have the freedom to pump when your child would normally be nursing. Sadly 7-8 years ago I didn't have the most understanding employee working with all men made it a bit difficult so I needed to leave the office and find someplace to pump but anyway I was still able to provide her with b.milk for her bottles and nurse her when I was home in the evenings. I felt myself getting into a routine and felt much more comfortable with the amount of milk I was producing. I had a difficult time getting my daughter to latch during the 1st week of her life so I wanted to make sure I could pump to supply her with my milk one way or another. Its hard when you are home with the baby and nursing and than pumping for future supply but it will work out once you return to work. Is the 5 minutes on each side the amount of time to pump? I would fill up 2 bottles on each breast sometimes during one pump session but again when you are at work you will find it working out better than now since you are producing a lot of milk to feed your baby and to fill bottles. Hope this helps. |
| posted by MK on 11/15/2007 09:38 PM
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