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**SoonerTexan** · 05-10-2012, 09:46 AM

1) DD is a screamer, and if I can get her to sleep with swaddling, shhing, swaying, and the paci I do... but sometimes I just can't handle the screaming (her voice is hoarse from screaming so much) and so sometimes I nurse just to console her or calm her enough to get her to sleep. I think this is okay as she isn't even a month old. Right?

Yes, absolutely! Heck, if nursing works better than the paci, why not use it? Babies get comfort and food from nursing and both are important. There is no rule that says babies shouldn't nurse for comfort or that it is "bad" for them. (well, I guess there might be some philosophies out there that would say this, but I vehemently disagree) I nurse N on demand when I am at home. It's our time to reconnect.

2) I started pumping shortly after my milk came in to build up a supply. At first I was getting about 2.5 oz each time. Now I am only getting about 1-2 oz a time. This makes me worry that she isn't getting enough milk from me if I'm only getting that amount out with the pump. (As of now I just feed her on one side at a time, and if I pump I will pump the other side). I feel like I should be getting 2-4 oz out of a breast... but really I have no idea. I'm also afraid if I start nursing her on both sides at each feeding then I won't be able to build up a supply. DD also only nurses about 10 minutes, which is how long I usually pump as nothing comes out after 10 or so minutes).

I wouldn't worry about it. I wasn't getting a whole lot until I was only pumping during the day. Otherwise she was eating most of it!

3) We've given her a bottle twice this week in which she SUCKED down every drop. The one night we gave her 3 oz. at 8 p.m. She stayed awake until 10 p.m. and then slept until 5:30 in the morning. She normally is a good sleeper anyway. Feeds at about 9:30 and then again at 2:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. but it just has me wondering if she isn't getting as much milk as she'd like/need. During the day she usually feeds about every 2-3 hours but sometimes I've been feeding her as much as every hour (usually in the evenings).

I was worrying about this too...but then I just realized my kid is a little piglet and likes to suck. Honestly in the early days she would eat at breast or bottle almost every time it was offered. Look for cues that she might be done and is just sucking at the bottle because it is there. If she is having enough diapers and gaining, she's getting plenty. It amazes me now how quickly N can eat and be done at the breast vs. bottle. You really cannot compare the two...don't try, it will make you crazy.

4) I drink a good amount of water and eat oatmeal almost every day. I've started walking and light workouts again... could that have anything to do with my supply? Is it possible my supply is normal? Or should I be doing something to increase it?

It sounds like you are fine, but I was worried too. Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek seemed to help. Also Spirulina (they sell it in tablet form) seemed to really help too. Things haven't really gotten steady and consistent until 4-6 weeks ago.

5) DD has lots of wet and dirty diapers... and I do have a doctors appt this week so I'm hoping that will confirm that she is continuing to gain weight. But at about one month, how much milk should I be producing?

I don't really think there is a right or wrong answer as long as she is doing fine. And you cannot really tell. N can definitely get more out of me than the pump.

Check out the KellyMom resources--they answered a lot of my questions! What you wrote is so familiar to me. Don't worry...in a few months you will feel much more confident and everything will be second nature. I promise.

**scrub-jay** · 05-10-2012, 09:49 AM

(1) I did this, but we kept it up a little too long and it became a nighttime crutch we had to break later (like at 14 months or so). It was worth it to us.
(2) & (3) There is no set amount you need to hit, every kid/mom is different. Read up on clusterfeeding, I'm betting you are hitting it now. Even though she acts like she is starving, she is really biologically trying to "put in an order" for next week (or w/e) when she will be growing/bigger. That is the only way she can communicate to your supply. The more you feed/pump, the more you will make.
(4) My supply only dipped when I tried to lose any weight... I ate oatmeal cookies (or chocolate chip cookies), made with fatty butter and full of fatty yummy goodness and my supply jumped, but weight stayed the same. For me, it was a simple formula ---> calories in = milk supply up. As soon as I dieted (at all) my supply dipped dramatically. Hence I stayed the same weight until we weaned.
(5) Those are good signs! There really is no magic number like there is with formula, bm adjusts to fit the child's needs... sometimes more watery when it is hot (and the body says: baby needs hydration) and sometimes fattier (baby needs fat/nutrition) so you really cannot judge by amount alone.

**alison** · 05-10-2012, 10:02 AM

Oh my! 10-5:30 stretch of sleep, and you're asking us for advice???

. I think you're doing everything right, fwiw.

I've got nothing, because I'm queen of the bf-ing failure colony.

On that note: more Minnie pics, please?

**TulipsAndSunscreen** · 05-10-2012, 10:09 AM