Expert: ruth kraft - 12/12/2009

Question
I am a third time mom but this is the first one I am breastfeeding. My baby is 8 days old. She pooped this morning, but it was the first time in 5 days! Her poop she had this morning was very runny. She had a docs appointment this morning and her pedi. didn't seem that concerned. She weighed 7lbs 15oz at birth and when we left the hospital she weighed 7lbs 7oz. When we went to the docs today, she still weight 7lbs 7oz.  I am worried she is not getting enough milk. My milk came in on the 3rd day. When it came in my breasts were very full and very tender. When she fed, the were no longer full or tender. Ever since then I haven't felt like they have got full, and they definitely have not been tender. My breasts don't leak at all. I can handexpress a couple drops of milk though. When my daughter is not sleeping, she is searching for food. She will feed sometimes for almost 2 hours straight! I really don't want to give her formula, but I don't want her to starve.  She does have at least 8 pee diapers daily.

Answer
Hello! Congrats on the new baby :) Well, it sounds to me like everything is going actually quite well. If she is having 8 weti diapers a day, then you are off to an amazing start and she is getting enough. The Poopy diaper was it yellowish? kind of mustardy? that is PERFECT ! it should be like that until you suppliment with foods when she is 6 months old ;) loose looking bowels in breastfed babies is good :) Sounds silly but its true.

The reason why they are not tender any more is because the hormones are starting to even out. It should not hurt or be tender to nurse. For the first week is sometimes, but after that, the tenderness should go away. So you sound on tract for that too.

Some women feel VERY full, some women only feel a little full. If she is having 8 wet diapers a day, she is getting enough.

She will spend the next 6 weeks acting as though she is always looking for food. It in instinctual for them to nurse and nurse and nurse and nurse. The reason being is because they know that they are building their immune system. the more they nurse, the healthier the baby. It also is the best way to establish your milk supply. By about 8 weeks, she will be much more content going longer periods. remember also that at 6 days and will at 6 weeks go through a growth spurt where they want to nurse every hour and act famished all the time. This is also normal.

Your pedi was right not to be concerned. You are doing fabulous.... keep it up,let her nurse as long as you can tolerate for now. I promise after 8 weeks it will be MUCH easier.

You are doing fabulous! if you need anything else please ask me before you give her formula... I hope that helped!