I need help!

Maddie&EthansMom wrote: I am producing way more milk than Ethan is eating. I am pumping so much during the day and night. Right now he is eating every 3 hours and only for like 5 mins at a time. I don't know if this is enough, but the diaper count is accurate. He seems to be satisfied and like I said he sleeps for 3 hours between feedings. Should I just continue pumping when I get full? If I try to nurse him when I am full it makes it difficult for him to latch on. I am pretty uncomfortable with these knots in my breasts. When I pump I press on them to relieve the fullness, but I am still sore in my cleavage area. Any suggestions on what I can do? Should I wait to pump just right before he eats...just enough to make it easier for him to latch on? That way it will keep up with the every three hour schedule instead of pumping on 'off times' making it more difficult for my body to get on schedule? I am so confused. I hope this makes sense. He is only eating from one breast really. Should I try to get him to eat more from both?

TIA!

Kirstenmumof3 replied: Hi Aimee I remember that discomfort all too well! I think it is common when your milk first comes in to have so much of it and to experience so much discomfort. Try not wearing your nursing bra and just letting your milk leak out. I know this may be uncomfortable for you as your shirt will be wet. But I was told that the first little while a nursing bra causes most of the discomfort and for the first few weeks after I had my DS (now 7) I walked around in just my t-shirt. I think pumping to relieve a lot of the fullness is great, but just pump to relieve the fullness because the more you pump the more milk you will produce! You could also try applying hot compresses to your breasts to relieve a lot of the soreness! I hope things improve for you!

5littleladies replied: That is exactly what happens to me when I first start nursing. I thought my bb's were going to pop. Ouch! Don't pump too much or you will keep producing alot of milk. I would just pump enough so that my girls could latch on. It took a few uncomfortable weeks but I eventually stopped producing so much milk. We also had the problem of eating only from one side. I decided it was more important for them to get the hind milk so I would just let them eat from one side and then eat from the other side at the next feeding. Eventually he will be eating enough that he will be able to eat from both sides. At least that was my experience-Maybe someone else will have some other ideas. HTH! Good luck!!

kit_kats_mom replied: check out www.kellymom.com for some info.

MomToMany replied: Great advice so far!! It's good to just let him eat on one side, so he gets the rich hind-milk. Hannah has always eaten from just one side. I remember being so wet from all the leaking. Not much you can do about it except change your shirt often until your supply adjusts better. Going without your bra is a good idea, too. Maybe just try pumping enough to relieve the fullness, otherwise you'll just make more!

I know Gerber makes different cooling/heat compress things that might help, too. Just watch out for a clogged duct and all that wonderful suff.

Sounds like your doing great, Aimee!!

jen replied: (((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))) Just popped in to Say HI!!! don't have any advice! ha ha!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: Thanks for all the great advice and encouragement/support!! (And Hello Jen! ) I checked out that site and love it. I saved it in my favorites. I think my problem was that I was expressing too much. I will hold off and express just enough for him to latch on. I suspect we will get in a routine shortly. For now it seems to be going great!

~CrazieMama~ replied: Oh my goodness!!!! Congrats Aimee!!!! I am gonna have to find the post about your delivering now!!!! Congrats!!! Baby is beautiful!!!!

amynicole21 replied: Yep, I second the advice you've already received. Don't worry, your supply will regulate soon... maybe a week or two. I used to walk around the house completely topless until I wasn't leaking so much anymore. At that point, I couldn't care less! Pressing out the lumps when you pump is exactly what you need to do. Make sure those lumps are as empty as you can get them, especially after he eats or after you pump. Those could easily turn into mastitis if you aren't careful! I had those lumps for a long time.

Good luck! And let us know if you are still having problems!

coasterqueen replied: Aimee,

I agree Kellymom is a great site for advice on this. I was also going to say it sounds like you are pumping too much. That's what I did after having Kylie. When I got engorged I would pump to relieve and if you empty the breast it signals your body to make more milk. Just pump for relief Sounds like otherwise you are doing great! Even if he only eats for 5 minutes, if he is having the right amount of wet and poo diapers like you said then he's doing great!

booey2 replied: Congrats on being able to BF, I couldn't - no milk, sounds like you have been given sound advice and keep up the great job.

CantWait replied: Great advice!!!!!! I justed wanted to say that sometimes I leaked so much in a day, I was changing shirts at every feeding. I hope things regulate soon. Congrats on getting your milk in and Good Luck

Julie (jem0622) replied: Glad it is working out. Your other option (if Kellymom's site (awesome) didn't mention it) is nursing on one side for one session and then nursing on the other side for the next session. I definitley wouldn't be pumping in between unless you planned to build a stash for date nights/return to work/etc. Baby should be getting all the good stuff. Glad the nursing is going well!

Julie

MilMunchMOM replied: WOW!!! Lot's of excellent advice here, don't know if i can really add to it but, here's my story. The first couple of weeks my milk was still trying to regulate itself and i was walking around completely and painfully engorged. I did what i always do and called the LLL consultant (my savior) and she explained what was happeneing. She advised to NOT pump so much because it may confuse the demand quantity and engorge me more. She said to try and massge/squeeze the aerola to allow some milk to seep out before nursing. Within two days i was fine and the nursing is going great! I don't remember this happening with Kari and Sean but then again how much does anyone remember from the first month??? LOL

Hang in there!!! ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))