Hiya...in my experience your breast never actually empties. Your baby will let you know when they have finished a feed. With both my DS's I have only ever fed off one breast per feed just occasionally offering the other. As your baby feeds your milk ducts are being stimulated to produce more milk so your supply is ongoing!

If your baby is happy whilst feeding then she is getting everything she needs :)

Good luck and well done for bf, enjoy every moment, it really is a precious time for you both.

HTH
Hayl x

Hi congratulattions on Niamhs arrival

just wanted to do quick reply to say not a daft question at all and after 15 weeks I'm still not sure sometimes. Its still early days for you and changes over time - always better to ask as someone else will have thought about the same thing!

 Not much help I know but what I did with DS2 and still do is wind him when he came off if he'd been on a while then put him back on same side and used to keep an eye on how long it had been and if he started to fuss and had been feeding at least 15 min would do nappy change then swop sides. Each baby is different so you'll learn what her queues are that the flow is slowing down.

Your breast will feel lighter plus find it also depends how long since last feed - one bit of advice I read on here was to use same breast to start on within 2hour window which I think helps make sure they are getting plenty of hind milk.

Keira

thank you for your replies:)

niamh generally feeds nicely and then falls asleep at the breast. i wind her and then put her back, often shes not bothered- until i put her down in her basket and she will scream and root and then beat her little hands about round her mouth- little monkey! so i tend to put her back on the same one until she comes off awake and then try the other one.

so far i have to admit ive found bfing hard and i do feel stressed and upset with it in the mornings when im feeling very sleep deprived. this time in the evening i feel happy and confident about it! i think thats just part of the early baby blues and sleep deprivation.

luckily i have a very supportive partner, he gives me a lot of breaks by taking her downstairs and rocking her and brings her to me when she needs a feed. we are both equally shattered but im so glad hes being so great with us. hes even enthusiastic about doing nappies! shes having a long sleep at the mo so got a few awake hrs this evening to come i think!

the breast feeding councillor is coming to see me early next week, i think i may also try to go to the local breast feeding support group on thursday if i feel up to it- it depends if i feel well enough to drive.

 

HI

Sorry for the late reply on this but have only just seen your message and just wanted to say that i also found the first few weeks very tiring and stressful which wasnt helped by a bad latch resulting in very sore cracked nipples.

Anyway back to the point i was wondering what position you use to feed your little one, if you havent tried it yet i would definalty recommend that you give feeding whilst lying down a try.  It can take some getting used to but i find this a great help as it takes practically no effort on your part and you actually get to put your feet up and head down and rest whilst your baby feeds (particularly useful at night as you can still keep fairly sleepy yourself and continue to rest through the feed and easily fall back to sleep).  Since doing this i have found that the night feeds have left me less tired and DH doesnt even get disturbed at all as litlle one will generally fall straight back to sleep as they are not being over stimulated just transfered to your bed for a feed and then straight back.

stick with it and seek further help and support from professionals because it does get easier as you go along

HTH

Gem