Question on Breastfeeding ..advice pls :) How do i know if he is having enough ?

Julianne - posted on 07/23/2012

Sounds like he's getting enough. As long as he has plenty of dirty diapers 5+ a day, gains weight(they lose weight the first week) and seems satisfied with feedings, he'll be fine. Your producing enough milk (the leaky boobs) so i wouldn't worry if i were you. The leaky boobs will go away after a supply-demand balance is reached. With my first that was around 2 months, with my second around 3 weeks. If you add formula it will just interfere with your milk supply.

Stephanie - posted on 07/23/2012

my little boy only ate for 5 minutes and the nurses even said it wasnt enough, but it was when your son dosent show interest in feeding he had enough he will tell you when he is hungry so if your worried to just try to feed him more when ever he seems hungry and if he dosent want it thats fine, my son is 3 months and is already 18 pounds so im sure he was feeding enough for himself :). i have tryed formula once and my son hated it so i stuck with breast feeding.

Kimberly - posted on 07/22/2012

It sounds like he/she is getting enough. I think it's 7-8 diapers you should be changing. So if the baby is wetting appropriately. That's a good way to judge.

Carie - posted on 07/17/2012

I breastfed 4 babies. There is no need for you to supplement with formula. Your baby is going to eat as much as he needs! If he's peeing and pooping, then he's getting enough. Remember, breast babies will need to eat more frequently.

Your boobs will regulate and adjust =)

Congrats, and keep feeding him. Mama's milk is the best!!!!!

Karleena - posted on 07/17/2012

as long as he is peeing and having regular bms, then he is getting enough. you should be changing every couple of hours, also your ped can show you how to check for dehydration.

Renai - posted on 07/16/2012

wow, if he is eating off each breast for 20mins that is AWESOME. im sure he is getting enough. i worried about this too, if you pump your milk a little before or hand express a lil before you place him to your breast the milk wont squirt all over him. also if you pump your breast you will see how much milk the baby is getting. my baby only ate for 5 mins off one breast. but when i pumped for that amount of time i was getting 4ounces which was good. also if he is wetting diapers and has bowel movements your in good shape. some babys dont like formula after they have breast milk my son would not drink formula even if he was hungry........lol your doing fine im sure. keep up the good work. remember breast is the best!!!!

Tina - posted on 07/15/2012

no more formula, nurse, nurse nurse :) If he falls asleep after, he's happy :) Just know that your breasts are adjusting all the time (especially in a few weeks and months for growth spurts) so when you think he's not getting enough, he's growing so nurse more (make sure you are drinking and eating....and sleeping!) If he starts choking while drinking, you are letting down fast. Burp him and let a little leak into a burp cloth for a minute and then try again. (foremilk is the first milk they get (pee diapers) hind milk is the later, fattier milk they get (poop diapers) so you can always do the same breast you finished with last time, first so that they get more hind milk.

Andrea - posted on 07/15/2012

Yes! He is perfectly full from your breast milk! You don't have to give him more formula! Your milk is perfectly designed for him and will provide exactly what he needs! Just make sure you eat really well and drink lots of water to help produce wonderful milk!!

Leaky boobs are healthy boobs! Get some breast pads. They will even out soon enough!

Best,

Andrea

Melissa - posted on 07/12/2012

At his age he should be peeing 6-8 times a day and pooping 2-3 themes a day however there are some babies who poop less and are still gaining enough. It sounds to me like he is getting plenty at the breast alone. Good job.

Elizabeth - posted on 07/12/2012

My son, as with almost all babies, lost some weight the first week, but then my milk came in and he gained weight just fine. TRUST YOUR BODY! If he is fully lached on, if he is drinking the milk, and if you are breastfeeding him regularly, then he is getting enough!! He will let you know through his crying if he is hungry. Trust me, he will soon be a total chunky monkey!! It's normal to worry. My breasts were always engorged and I worried too, but my boy became a chub! It sounds like you are doing just fine! :) just breathe!

Penny - posted on 07/12/2012

6 - 8 wet nappies (Diapers) are a sign he is getting enough. If he is happy and contented and not crying a lot he is fine. Leslie. Don't feed him him from both breasts. If he cannot empty one breast in a feeding don't offer the other. He needs to get both the fore milk and back milk from one breast before you try him on the other. Foremilk is for thirst and looks watery, back milk is the food and looks more creamy. All new babies feed between 2 - 4 hours. Day and night! Some more often than others. But this will settle down. Take him off the formula. He doesn't need it. The next feed offer the breast he didn't use or only partially drank out of the last feed.
Your hugeness will settle down.. . and the leaking as well. Sometimes you may not think you have enough milk but we forget we are making milk as we feed. At 3 and 6 weeks he will feed more often and get a bit fussy but that is because he is building up your milk supply for his growing needs. This is a natural process and built into a babies natural instincts. Just enjoy!

Terra - posted on 07/09/2012

You've gotten some really great advice! I don't have a lot more to offer but wanted to give you a few websites to look at that have tons of great, accurate, breastfeeding information and advice. Also, "The womenly art of breastfeeding" is an amazing resource for breastfeeding mothers.

www.kellymom.com and www.askdrsears.com

I highly suggest going to those sites and reading as much as you can about breastfeeding. You will feel so much more confident when you know more about how breastfeeding works. Keep up the good work mama!

Christy - posted on 07/02/2012

When I had my son we were told not to supplement because then he would rely on that and you won't produce enough milk. If he's falling asleep while nursing, and staying asleep and also peeing and pooping, don't stress! Also, if you're worried that he isn't gaining, I know our pediatrician had no problems letting us just bring my little guy in and weigh him...that way I could see the scale going up and it reassured me!

Congrats on the new baby!

Ghada - posted on 06/30/2012

Im having the same problem since 2 months don´t offer many times formula because it will make your breast milk dry, i heard also that bear "not alcoholic",drink a lot of water and juice and green veg. increase your milk

Tiajuana - posted on 06/26/2012

he will let go.for two reasons only . full or tried..

Angela - posted on 06/26/2012

Keep breastfeeding as often as baby wants. He will get enough. You can also take him in to be weighed if you are worried. Just remember to breastfeed all the time. If you're milk supply was low, you could always use herbs to increase it. A good one to try is Breastea from http://www.breastea.com but I wouldn't use it until I knew I needed it!

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/23/2012

The content of your milk changes as baby grows, but the amount they drink stays the same from about 3mo to 12mo. But it gets more dense and more protein etc in it as baby grows.
If you're successfully breastfeeding now then there's no reason you won't be able to breastfeed a full year if not more!

Joanna - posted on 06/22/2012

For your own sake of peace since he obviously is peeing and pooping, do a pre and post feeding of your baby. That will let you know how many ounces he took at the breast. I would also eliminate offering the formula aft the breast. Offer the breast again if you think he is still hungry.

Babatunde - posted on 06/21/2012

u dont av a problem, since ur breast leaks it shows ure producing enough milk 4 ur baby. i think what u need to do is understand ur baby. i was scared too wen i had my baby, i thought i wnt be able to breast feed bt am doin fine nd my baby is healthy though she is fed formular wen am away from home. i pump wen am away nd feed her with it wen i get back she seems 2 be fine with it nd happy too. so just study ur baby nd be patient, all the best.

Tracy - posted on 06/18/2012

If he's pooping and peeing, and gaining weight, you are in luck - he's getting enough.

Alicia - posted on 06/17/2012

Just like the bottle, he's getting enough if he stops [nursing] on his own during feedings. Its also okay if you need to feed from both sides in one sitting. You should start pumping if you work, so that you can keep up with him. Otherwise, if you're a stay-at-home mom, you're there with him and you can feed as needed. In that case, you can reserve pumping for times when you need to relieve yourself of pressure [from being full].



BTW, they get "confused" about modes of delivery of their milk (bottle nipple vs mommy's nipple), not so much type of milk (formula or breastmilk). If both are being used, they have to learn to latch onto both types, which can be confusing.

Katrina - posted on 06/14/2012

Well done leslie. Your body will only make as much milk as your baby needs. I fed my first child til she was 16 months, but only started solids at 6-9 months (that was the recommended age back then - she's 11 now). My son was 20 months when I stopped, but gave him solids from 5 months, because he just kept grabbing for food from 4 months on, and couldnt say no any longer.

And yes, Leslie, you did good!! It is amazing how our boobs can just keep making whatever they need, but I also think it's amazing that our bodies can grow an entire person from a mere clump of cells. But anyway, keep up the great work with the feeding, trust your instincts as a mum, and take a few moments to yourself when you can. All the best xxx

Linda - posted on 06/14/2012

Leslie, it is recommended that you only breastfeed (No food) for up to 6 mos, then start adding cereal and other baby foods gradually. Once baby starts solids, he will drink less milk, but remember as long as he nurses, you will make the right amount of milk..nature is smarter than u think! So the breastmilk will become supplemental to his food, but better than cow's milk still. Keep remembering that it is best for his health and before u know it , he will be one and you can pat yourself on the back for a job well done. After that, u may want to continue nursing if he still enjoys it. I went by the guideline I was given. 'Whenever Mom or baby really wants to quit, then it might be time". I fed my daughter til 15 mos. when she decide she was done. At that point I was not making very much milk...it was more of a secure and comforting time and nursing was mostly just at bedtime....so I was not making much milk because she was not nursing much...but it was the right amount!! Trust your body...

Leslie - posted on 06/14/2012

Thank you everyone for all the advice , Im only breastfeeding now I dnt use no more formula ! :) its been 12 days with no formula, i took in a lot of advice and i did good lol. Now im just wondering can i go a whole year breastfeeding ?? its just a little weird, because i know my son will get bigger and so that means he will eat more, so its amazing that my boobs willl make that much more milk supply ?

Brooke - posted on 06/12/2012

Dont be nervous, I have the same worry, wondering whether or not my nb is getting enough breastmilk. I have been told by several midwives, dont focus on what is going in, focus on what is coming out! If they are having wet and soiled nappies during the day, then they are getting enough milk. Good work for breast feeding, I would stop with the formula if its not needed, Breatmilk is the best thing for babies. Hope this has helped you out and you can relax a little now =)

SylviaandPablo - posted on 06/11/2012

As long as he is pooping and peeing, he is getting enough. If you are still leaking from milk, what i did was while i was feeding the baby on one boob, i was pumping the other at the same time. The milk, comes out much easier and faster. I would save the milk by putting it in the freezer. It helps alot in case someone else in your family wants to feed him while you rest. By the way, even thougg you pump it, if your baby wants more milk, your body will provide it. So dont worry if you think you will run out. Hope it helps

Veronika - posted on 06/08/2012

If he is wettings and having bowel movements, and is not crying and looking for the breast all the time he is doing fine. I had to give my sons formula for the first 5 days of their lives because they had jaundice. Once my milk came in, at about day 4, I started to breast feed on demand and they both switched to breastfeeding exclusively without a problem. The second one would refuse the bottle after switching to breast :)
You are doing a great job and your little guy will do very well with your milk. Good luck!

Linda - posted on 06/07/2012

babies are different, so take all the ideas and use them to figure out YOUR baby. As a dietitian, I found that some foods ie onions, caffeine can affect some babies but not all. You can either take these lists and avoid them all for precaution, or if some "no-NO's" are difficult for u to omit, give them a try and follow baby's symptoms and see... you may be giving up some foods u love for no reason. GUIDELINES are just that....a GUIDE...but not always appropriate for YOUR child...:-) That's the artistry of motherhood!!!

Angela - posted on 06/07/2012

Leslie, 5days old babies don't need to drink a lot and yr breasts r leaking...means more than enough milk! Do give only breastmilk if u can,no need to top up with formula milk cos when baby's hungry,he'll let u know when's de next feed. Does wonders to de immune system too plus u save a lot! also burns 500calories a day! i had 5 babies n i breastfeed them 10mins each side. always let baby empty out yr breast so they can produce more! i used to pump for my 1st 3kids in de morning when breasts r engorged,then chill in fridge n give baby at nite b4 i sleep during de last feed so i can get longer rest :D

Priscilla - posted on 06/07/2012

Dear Leslie,
First I want to congratulate you on your decision to breastfeed! That's wonderful! It sounds like you have an adequate milk supply; to keep an adequate milk supply, you MUST drink LOTS of water so drink, drink, drink. Next, I would advise you to nurse your baby for about 10 minutes from one breast, detach and burp him, and then let him finish from the opposite breast. If he is wetting his diapers, having bowel movements, and seems happy and satisfied, then he is most likely getting enough to eat. When you take him to his pediatrician, the amount of weight he has gained will also be a good indicator of whether or not he is getting enough to eat. I would not give the baby a bottle of formula unless you have to be away from him at feeding time. You don't want him to become nipple-confused and some babies will actually decide that they like bottle-feeding better because they don't have to work as hard to get their milk so only give a bottle as a last resort; when you are with your baby, he should get your breast and nothing else. Breastfed babies do eat more often than bottlefed babies, so you can expect to nurse your son every 2 to 3 hours.

Some foods that you eat can cause your baby to have a tummy ache so you need to stay away from onions, cabbage, cauliflower, and very spicy foods like jalapeno peppers. Frozen pizzas and French onion dip both gave my babies tummy aches so you should avoid those types of foods. Once a baby gets a tummy ache from mommy's milk, he/she is very uncomfortable and very unhappy for several hours so use caution!

If you encounter any difficulty with breastfeeding, you should contact the lactation consultant at the hospital where you gave birth or contact La Leche League. However, it sounds like you are off to a good start and you may not need the assistance of La Leche League. Good luck!

~Priscilla Good

April - posted on 06/06/2012

this is my experience... my son (first baby) was supplimented due to jaundice and i feared he was not getting enough... he only nursed till he was 3 1/2 months old i pumped till he was 4 1/2 months but then it was all formula.
my daughter on the other hand was exclusively breast fed. she didnt even get a binky(pasifer) till she was 2 weeks old. she is now 16 months old and still only nurses she eats food and drinks water but that is it no other milk or formula. she still nurses 5-6 times a day. i really had some times when i felt was she getting enough? but she had lots of pee & poo so all was well. as long as he is peeing and pooping regularly u are ok. also if you want to keep breast feeding for a while...in my experience QUIT the formula. it will hamper your milk output. also try feeding him from both breasts not just one. that way you wont have to suppliment. you will make milk by the next feeding if that is what you are worried about.

also you will leak for a while i am just now 16 months in able to go all night with out a bra/nursing pads she has not nursed in the night for about 6-7 months.. so as i was told by a friend the first few months of being a mom are WET... you, the baby,etc! LOL

enjoy the nursing and it will be hard sometimes to keep doing it (even though i insisted on nursing till at least her first birthday, now i am shooting for 2 yrs!) take it day by day. and every day he gets breast milk is one more day of the best thing for him AND one less day you have to pay for formula!!

good luck and also my boobs are huge too!!! i went from a C cup to a DDD!!!! my hubby has NO complaints!!! LOL

Tia - posted on 06/06/2012

well, ounce you give your baby just boob, they more than likely wont want the bottle anymore. your breasts are going to leak the whole time you breastfeed. get used to breastpads! if hes pooping & peeing regular everything should be fine :)

Janessa - posted on 06/05/2012

If he's happy he's getting enough. I know its hard when its your first, you're not sure. You're doing great. I honestly wouldn't give him formula at all, because then you might not be giving him the breast milk as much and that could slow down your milk supply. Good-luck

Dove - posted on 06/05/2012

Honestly, I've never once heard of cleaning your nipples and my oldest was nursed over a decade ago.

Dove - posted on 06/05/2012

Cleaning nipples?! Funny... I never cleaned them with anything other than plain water (never put soap on them or anything) and successfully breastfed for a total of 4.5 years throughout all my kids with never getting a single infection of any kind....

Karen - posted on 06/05/2012

YES you are doing it right. I was so nervous I bought every breast feeding book out there within three days. I did pump milk while he was sleeping, hoping to make extra for after his feeding had emptied both sides. At first, I didn't feel like he was getting enough. Then I went to the lady at the hospital for breastfeeding advice. She made it plain and simple. She said to put the sling on and let the baby hang there until he is either asleep or that side is empty. Then move him over and feed till that side is empty too. She told me that it was fine to wake him up to feed him if he falls asleep while eating. The trick is to feed him on a regular schedule as much milk as you make. YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH. You should be drinking plenty of liquids and milk and juice yourself. Eat and don't worry about your calories. By letting your baby feed for 20 minutes on each side... even when you think its empty already.... his suckling is telling your body to make more, like he's placing an order at the buffet. If you let him suck when there is no milk ... more milk will show up later. Your body is not going to fail that baby. It is unfortunate that mothers have easy access to baby formula to supplement what God has provided for the baby. The more formula you give the baby, the less of your milk he will ask for, and thus less will show up. I wish they would stop selling it as if that was good for the baby. Formula was invented as a second choice to give to babies whose mother had died in childbirth or was not available to them at all, for other reasons. Too many mothers are falling to formula for the easy convenience. We don't know yet what causes autism. Do you want to take a chance? In other countries like China or Sweeden or Bahamas, formula is so expensive that very few people buy that and nearly every one is breast fed for 2 years, and they have very low rates of autism. 1 out of 88 children in USA will have autism, and we cant figure out why? You are home and available and your breast-milk has more good per ounce than 24 ounces of formula. I am not trying to scare you. I hope to convince you to feed your baby your milk.
I pumped my milk when I had to work, and froze it for the next days use at the sitter. I was barely making 2 ounces per bottle for 8 bottles. This really was enough. It looked like I was skimping on feeding him compared to the extra large extra full baby bottles of formula that other mothers were feeding their babies. I knew I was doing the right thing. My baby was growing and active and healthy and meeting all his milestones. He was not over fed or underfed. He was the right size for every check up. He did not get big baby fat on his legs, (that I would have loved to play with) but he was beautiful in every way. I breast fed exclusively for 6 months, regardless of the comments. Then I breast fed him and included regular food from my plate for another year and a half. He was breast fed for 19 months. Then he only needed me at night, and would climb into my bed and help himself, until no more milk would show up. He was just two when my milk was gone. So we hugged every night and fell asleep. He is 4 years old now. He does not even remember the breast feeding. But he does remember the closeness that made him happy and he runs to snuggle with me in order to put himself to sleep at night. He is a joy. Breastfeeding was a joy. It was a pain in the beginning. I had to buy the silicone shields to get the edge off the pain, but It got easier with time.

Cassie - posted on 06/05/2012

He should be fine. 20 minutes may be all he needs, sometimes breast fed babies eat more often also so he may be getting more than you realize, and maybe he just prefers the breast over formula. I have 2 children whom were both breast fed and my second would not take a bottle so it was me or nothing and he is a thriving chunky 18 month old boy. Hope you find an answer that suits you.

Laura Zoey - posted on 06/05/2012

You're doing GREAT!!!!!
Forget the formula and just keep putting him to the breast. There's no need for you to pump or give formula!
Trust your body and watch his cues and you will know he's getting enough. :-)

Amanda - posted on 06/05/2012

I am currently nursing #4, still leak. Leaking means you are making it, great news. If you have wet and soiled diapers, he is getting milk. If he is generally content, he is getting enough. If he wants to nurse, let him. This keeps your supply going. Use cloth diapers under your shirt at home to absorb the leaks. Going out is difficult, keep lots of nursing pads handy and an extra shirt in the diaper bag (may need it for a spit-up on shoulder anyway). If he is nursing well, do not supplement with formula, will affect you ability to keep up with his demands. There are days you will feel like his personal cow. The time he nurses may or may not change. My first like to take an hour+ to eat. Number 4 gets her full meal in about 10 minutes unless she is on a growth spurt. Depends on the child. We are pulling for you! Congratulations Mommy!

Margarita - posted on 06/04/2012

You've gotten some pretty good advice and I agree, it sounds like your LO is eating plenty. I also used some formula the first few days because the colostrum wasn't cutting it and my daughter's billirubin level was quite high, but once my milk supply caught up, I stopped giving her formula except for the occasional growth spurt in the first couple of months when she seemed to still be hungry after there seemed to be nothing left! She also got a little bit on the times I left her home and the breast milk didn't thaw in time. I'd be surprised if she got more than 30 oz of formula for her entire infancy.

Anywhoo, I do agree that cleaning your nipples with alcohol is no longer recommended. You can double-check with your lactation consultant, but last I heard, you leave them alone, maybe use a little lanolin nipple cream if they are dry. Although you can bathe or shower as you always have, it is also recommended you not use soap on your nipples (it's very drying) and are careful when you wash your hair, face, neck, etc in the shower if they start getting irritated because it could be the shampoo and soap running from the rest of your body.

As you continue to nurse on demand, your breasts will "regulate" so they don't get too hard or get irritated. In the meanwhile, you can definitely pump, especially if you get engorged and/or start leaking, to avoid mastitis (though I think it's a lot more common during weaning if you start dropping feedings too quickly without giving your breasts time to catch up). Anywhoo, you have a couple of options. If you work outside the home you can certainly invest in a double electric (they even make bras to make it hands free if you don't already have a pump that does that). If you don't and only need a supply for the occasional date, errand, etc., go for the manual. It is a lot easier to control and stop. If you don't want to increase your production too much (just enough to feed your LO), a manual pump and even hand expression are a better option as you can simply stop as soon as you feel the pressure go down. Conversely if you want to increase production or are pumping to save for when you go back to work, I believe the rule of thumb is to pump until you stop producing, plus 5 minutes. Either way, you can freeze the milk in bags or bottles. I really liked the Medela bags myself, and they also make reusable bottles that have the added benefit that you can just thaw them and add the nipple and you're set to go. The initial cost of the bottles is more expensive, but if you are using them regularly enough for plenty of turnover, I'd imagine they are worth it. I didn't pump enough to need more than the bags but I do have a bit of advice: Stick to 2 oz per bag. I know it seems wasteful (of bags), but especially at this stage when you don't know how much or how little you munchkin is eating, it's better to just do a few oz at a time so you don't end up thawing too much and then having to throw it all away because you can't refreeze it. Also, the smaller amount thaws a lot faster. Just make sure you label the date (sharpies are great for that) and that you keep an eye on when it expires (last I heard 3 years ago, it was 3 mos in a regular freezer, and 6 in a deep freezer).

For the leakage, I recommend disposable breast pads over the reusable cotton ones unless you're only going to wear them around the house since they tend to leak, thus defeating the purpose. Gerber ones are pretty good, but the Lansinoh are better. I hated the Johnson's myself, but others might have had a different experience.

Good luck, and congratulations.

Markita - posted on 06/04/2012

Talk to your pediatrician and a Lactation Consultant, they'll be able to set you mind at ease. In the mean time, trust your body's ability to take care of your baby. There's no need to follow up a successful nursing with formula. Get some nursing pads for the leaking so you don't have to change your clothes all the time. BTW, congratulations on making the switch.

Linda - posted on 06/04/2012

i don't think anybody recommeds alcohol on nipples anymore.. it is drying and no one wants cracked nipples!

Denise - posted on 06/04/2012

I went to La Leche support meetings when I had my first baby and it was so helpful. If you check La Leche, you will likely find a group near you. It is wonderful as a support since everyone ther is breast feeding or has in the past.

Stifler's - posted on 06/04/2012

Cleaning your nipples before feeding is pretty outdated. You don't get thrush from unclean nipples it's an infection from overgrowth of yeast. Your nipples sit in your bra they are hardly dirty especially if you have a shower every day and rinse them with warm water.

Pamela - posted on 06/04/2012

Why would you try to give him formula if he refuses it? If he is feeding 20 minutes on each breast, he is getting sufficient food. If he is not "crying for more" when he finished breastfeeding he is getting sufficient nourishment. Don't forget to burp him after each feed. Instead of patting the back (as was done before) the proper way to burp is the rub from the bottom of the spine to the top near the shoulders. This assists the air bubbles to escape from the stomach.

I do hope that you are cleaning your nipples before each feeding. Do so with cotton balls that are soaked in alcohol and water. My Mother, a Registered Nurse who was head nurse in a newborn nursey for years, taught me this. Get two glass containers, the kind used for storage of food with the tops that have plastic around the glass top for a seal. Fill each container with cotton balls (not the polyester kind....100% cotton balls). Pour alcohol over the balls in one jar and put filtered water over the balls in the other. Keep them handy where you sit to feed your baby. Wash the nipple and surrounding area (areola) with the alcohol ball first and clean the alcohol off with the water soaked ball.. This prevents the baby from getting "thrush" on the tongue, which is caused by unclean nipples.

If your breasts are huge that means they are producing ample milk. You may want to get a breast pump and pump breast milk that can then be frozen and stored for anytime you will be away from baby. The breast milk can be thawed and warmed and given in a bottle. "Nuk" brand nipples are best because they are shaped like a collapsed nipple which is what happens to your nipples when the baby sucks. They are the nipples that appear "flat" at the end.

It is best to store the breast milk in glass, not plastic, as plastic leaks chemicals when frozen.

Happy breastfeeding. It is a wonderful bonding energy between Mother and Child. It was one of my MOST FAVORITE parts of motherhood!

Janice - posted on 06/04/2012

No need to use formula if your baby is happy and producing 5 or more wet diapers a day. I fed my daughter and now currently my son just as you are doing - one breast per feed and both are thriving. Wet diapers, a happy baby and weight gain all indicate a good supply. Just so you know after the initial engorgement many women (myself included) pump much less than the baby can actually eat from the breast so pumping is a very poor indicator of supply.
Good luck Momma! It sounds like you are doing a great job. Follow your instincts an all will be well :)

Linda - posted on 06/04/2012

There are several reasons why adding formula increases the risk of failure at breastfeeding. The baby will let u know when he is hungry...no need to "top him up" . Don't worry about how many "ounces" he is getting with breastfeeding...just go by his hunger....he will let u know. Peeing, pooping and weighing him is all u need to tell u if he is getting enough. Relax and enjoy him!
If u have plenty of milk...save it for when u are away and he needs a supply. You can also freeze it.

Jan - posted on 06/04/2012

First you're doing great! Don't worry so much, God gave you breasts & the ability to make milk so it's simple, but mom's make it harder. A bottle of milk you can see & measure. First I would recommend putting him on the first breast as you said for about 15 or 20 minutes, then take him off, put him over your shoulder or in another burping position & burp him. Then put him on the other breast & let him go at it as long as he wants, he will know when he is full. Sometimes if he pulls away & he burps again, he may want more, then put him back on the first breast. One of the reasons you switch breasts is to build up the milk in both of them, & also the first milk that falls is richer in fat, it's like the creams on top, ha ha ha. This will also help your baby to gain well. Also it's best just to throw the formula out, have you read the label, no matter how hard they try it's just not that nutritional compared to natures own, & since you have plenty of milk go with it. Most people that start using formula will end up giving up. it's good he just wants the breast. If you want to keep the bottles so you can leave him on occasion, you might look into the netzi cups, I think that's what they are called. They are clear plastic cups that you can place over your nipple.When you breastfeed on one breast, the milk will fall in the other & fill up the cup, you can take it & pour it in a bottle & freeze it, it won't be long till you have a full bottle, make sure you label it with the date. Of course you can also feed the baby on one breast once your milk is built up & pump the other with a breast pump if you want to save milk. You can go to the LaLeche league website for more info on storing breast milk & for how long it keeps & other hints. Also buy some disposable breast pads & wear them in your bra, for when you leak. Eventually your breasts will regulate & you probably won't need them. You can also press hard on your breast when the milk starts to fall in order to stop it, many times then it won't leak. It's fantastic you have so much milk! I breastfed for 20 years of my life & it was the best thing I ever did, my kids are as healthy as can be & I raised them practically drug free.

Amanda - posted on 06/04/2012

an awesome resource on Facebook is The Leaky B@@b. There are tons of Mommies there who are supportive and willing to hep any way they can!

Jessica - posted on 06/04/2012

you are doing a absolutely fantastic job, im very happy for you and wish you all the best. breast feeding is the best thing i have ever done! it seems as though your baby is having enough! she will let you know when she is full by detaching herself from the nipple.and if your still not sure give her a burp then see if she will try the breast again, if shes still hungry youll know about it :)