Expert: ruth kraft - 11/14/2009

Question
I have 2 breastfeeing issues, any insights, possible solutions would be wonderful:

Since he was born, my 3 week old ALWAYS falls asleep at the breast within 5 minutes of starting to nurse. He then wakes up very soon after and fusses because he is still hungry. I've tried undressing him, cold wash cloths, burping him upright to try to wake him up enough to nurse.

Another confusing habit of his is that he keeps latching on, taking a few sucks, and pushing himself off the breast for a pause before relatching and resuming nursing. I know I have a strong milk ejection reflex.  I also know that when I pump, I get all of my milk within 5 minutes and then nothing after that.  I've tried giving him a bottle of breastmilk and he does not do the same behaviors (pushing off thing, nor the falling asleep right after) with the bottle as he does with the breast.

What in the world is going on?  

Answer
The baby falls asleep at the breast because he gets an endorphin rush which makes him nice and relaxed :) its a good thing ;)  Most people and babies get most of what they need in a feeding in the first 4-7 minutes of a feeding. So you sound right on target. He is only 3 weeks old, so chances are 5 minutes has filled his stomach :)  He wakes and wants to nurse again because it is instinctual for him right now to nurse as much as possible. It builds his immune system and helps his brain grow the more he nurses. It helps you heal faster and creates hormones for both of you that make you feel good :)  Is he pooping every day several times? does he have 6-8 wet diapers a day? if so, then don't worry about times etc... just nurse when he wants and know you are doing it right :) if after 5 minutes he sleeps, thats fine... for the first 6 weeks, this should be all he wants to do :)  after that it settles down more. ( after the growth spurt at 6 weeks where he will nurse every hour )

I would suggest no bottles. I know it seems easier because he doesnt have the reaction of pulling away, however, he has to determine milk flow. he teaches your breasts, literally, how much milk and at what pace. RIght now, the strong reflex you have is because that is how your body does it. But if he doesnt get the chance to nurse and master it, your breasts wont know how to change to what he wants for a good nursing experience. So no bottles until at least 6 weeks will be best for both of you.  If you sat at the pump for 30 minutes you would get more let downs, however, they get farther inbetween. If you pumped for 3 hours, you would still get letdowns. you will never run out of milk unless you stop nursing or pumping. SO, if you let the baby decide how much and when he wants milk, you will always have the perfect amount :) That's why they say it takes 6 weeks to establish your milk supply. It is more like regulating it really, but theres alot that goes into it that your body and baby have to learn. Theres little you have to do other than provide the breasts and trust your baby knows and body know what its doing :)

I hope that helped :)