Help!!! Supply question

[patricksmom]

My little girl is one week old. I am concerned about how I may be affecting my supply. She nurses differnt than my ds so I feel like this is all new to me and I need some advice.

Gillian eats a lot but she eats really fast. She will gulp it down and then be finished in about 8-10 minutes on one side. Then she is deep asleep again. So then I change her diaper to get her to wake up--which most of the time works--but then she only takes the other side for about 5 minutes. Or sometimes not at all. No matter what tricks I try she will not wake up to eat the other side. She almost gets angry that I am trying to shove my nipple in her mouth, LOL. When I mentioned this to the LC she said it sounds like she is getting her fill--especially since she constantly has wet or dirty diapers. But I am worried what that is doing to my supply. Patrick ate a lot from both breast for a long time.
I am worried about only nursing from one breast at a feeding. Is this hurting my supply?
I guess I should get the pump set up and pump on the side she doesn't eat from...but that just seems like such a pain in the rear. But I guess that is what I should probably do huh?

What do your babies do.....how long do they nurse on each side?

Any advice?

Also...can you remind me again how I really know when they are done nursing. maybe that is a problem also. I obviously know that when she pulls off and is deep asleep that she is probably done....but what if she is just sleeping with the nipple in her mouth. Not sucking but not unlatching either. Do I assume that means she is done or should I just let her stay latched for awhile?

Sorry for all of the questions....I literally feel like i am learning all of this for the first time. It is very weird.

[o_mom]

If she has enough wet and dirty diapers she is probably fine. DS1 rarely ever took a second side. DS2 did, but only after about 5 months (at which point he wanted to switch every two minutes...). When they fall asleep with the nipple in their mouth, I usually just break the suction with my finger. If they are really done, they go to sleep. If not, they wake up and take a little more.

[Katia]

Your situation sounds so much like mine -- I had a DS who was a marathon nurser (it used to take forever for him to finish), and now a DD who prefers one breast per feeding and is pretty efficient about it. I was concerned at first, too, but now she's 3 months old and everything is fine with her weight gain and my supply (I'm back to work and pumping). I've already forgotten how often and for how long she nursed as a newborn, but what you're describing sounds similar. I wouldn't bother pumping right now. You've got a brand new baby, and you're right, it's a pain in the rear to pump. If you have the time too pump, use it to sleep instead :-) Also, you don't want to create an oversupply problem by pumping too much so early; I'd only pump to the extent you need to relieve engorgement. HTH!

Katia
DS 2003 and DD 2006

[Clarity]

Hi there,
I agree with the pp, it sounds as if your dd is doing fine. I only feed my dd off of one side per feeding session. My LC made this suggestion. This way I know that she's getting the rich hindmilk. It's had nothing to do with my supply (I can pump about 20 oz over the course of a workday.) and my dd is in the 95% for weight.

I'm trying to remember how long my dd nursed on each side when she was a newborn - I think about 15-20 minutes. My LC was a kind woman and she said that if my baby seemed to done after about 20 minutes, it was okay to unlatch her. (The other LC said to leave her on "as long she wanted" - geez, my dd would camp out if I let her!)

~Amy

[patricksmom]

Thanks ladies!!! This has really helped calm my fears. Thanks for you advice. It is nice to hear that others have gone through this too. :)