ever feel "empty"?

[avery's momma]

i used to feel really full alot of the time, but now i almost rarely full really full (breasts, not tummy. .. my dd has been gaining good weight (prob weighs 11lbs now, was 6lbs, 11oz at birth 11 weeks ago tomorrow) i am worried i am running out of milk?! i started on the nuva ring (low dose birth control) about 5 weeks ago... and dr said that drying up milk is a rare, but possible side effect of it.. how will i know if it is drying it up or if i am just paranoid? also- i was pumping more regularly, but i haven't pumped recently bc i am afraid i am "stealing it" from avery.. what if she wakes up and needs it and i am empty? she won't take a bottle from me either, and dh is at work all day.. so i am afraid of what would happen in that case.. any advice or ideas? i really want to brfd!!!!

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

That is how your breasts feel once your baby has established a good routine.

The problem with expressing and b/f at the same time is that you always have full breasts as they never know whether they are coming or going and then over rpoduce.
I expressed and b/f on my 1st son and always felt very full and my breasts were much larger because of this. But this time i do not express and exclusivley b/f and my breasts are smaller and so much better because they do not leak like on my 1st.

They learn your babies routine and will produce milk on demand as your baby feeds. If your baby is gaining weight then i shouldn't think you have any supply problems.

[deenz]

I agree - if your baby continues to put on weight, has wet (& dirty) nappies and goes for 2-3hrs between feeds (except maybe closer together in the evenings), I would be confident that your milk supply is fine.

[daisymelan]

I would possibly check kellymom.com to see if they have anything to say about the nuvaring.  I don't have experience with this.

But it's true what the previous posters have said.  The empty feeling is quite normal.

[avery's momma]

whew. thank you.. i was feeling paranoid i guess about my milk supply running low.. i am interested in expressing though, so dh and i can go out on dates and she can take a bottle if need be.. any suggestions about pumping? it is good to know that this "empty" feeling is quite normal.. thanks ladies!

[jbepko]

As far as Nuvaring goes- it contains estrogen, so it CAN decrease your supply.

[lajillson]

I'm so glad that you asked this question.  That is how I have been feeling lately (empty) and good to read the feedback from other Moms!  Thank you!  What about pumping? Do you ever have the problem of when you go to pump not much comes out?  I've tried pumping an hour after I've bf and maybe get an ounce.  I'm like you and would like to be able to express milk so that my husband and I can go out and have a bottle of breastmilk for our son.

[avery's momma]

thanks stacy- i will pump tonight after bed and see how it goes!!

[Sam's mum]

Thanks so much for posting this question!!  I was getting a bit worried too and really appreciated the responses... also great advice about expressing as I was concerned when I tried that I wasn't getting anything!

Anyway - thanks again!

Fiona