Minimum number of feeds - newborn

[lily_layne]

DS is 15 days old. From day 1, he has only nursed about every 4 hours. I am often waking him at the 4 hour mark for a feed. I started using both sides, but he was having green poop so my MW recommended I switch to single side feeding (I also did this with DD) and it has been working well. On average he feeds about 6 times in 24 hours - including 2 MOTN feeds. He is gaining weight well but today I noticed that my right breast doesn't seem to fill as much. It seems that my left is always full and ready to go but my right doesn't seem as full. Is this a potential problem? Should I be feeding him more often? Should I offer the right at every feed or be pumping to encourage more production? Could it just be the way my body is - I vaguely remember the left getting more engorged with DD as well and she always preferred the left.

Also, after he fed at 3:30 am, he settled in for a long stretch of sleep. I ended up waking him at 8 to eat again. Should I have let him be?

[*Ali*]

La Leche league and WHO recommend a minimum of 8-12 BFs in 24hrs for newborns to help establish supply.

What about waking him after 3hrs in the daytime to fit in a couple extra feeds if you are concerned about your supply? Or you could pump an extra feed once a day perhaps?

Is he having plenty (6+) of wet and soiled nappies? Has he regained his birth weight?

[lily_layne]

He's having at least 8 wet/soiled diapers a day and his poop is a lovely, healthy yellow. He has regained his birth weight and more. I had no issues with supply with DD (in fact, I had so much I had to express before each feed) but she fed far more often. I love BFing so I don't want it to come to an early end by not feeding enough in these first weeks. If I pump an extra feed does it matter when I do it?

[*Ali*]

Maybe if you have oversupply that is why he doesn't need to feed as often. Could be he is just a sleepy newborn. Mine always slept lots at first and then woke up more after 3 wks or so.

I would pump between two widely spaced feeds if you can. So if he goes from 6pm to midnight for example I would pump at 8 or 9. Or you could do it straight after a feed. Many people et lots doing this at the first morning feed but depends how busy you are then. I always had more time in the evening when kids were in bed.

[lily_layne]

Were you at my house last night? He went from 6 to midnight! I am going to try pumping this evening.

[*Ali*]

Ha ha! Good luck.

[lily_layne]

I didn't get around to pumping until just now. It's been 3 hrs since the last feed and he's sleeping so I thought I'd give it a shot. In 5 minutes I pumped 3 oz. Does it matter which side I pump? How long do I pump for?

DD is certain that she wants to feed DS milk. She keeps lifting her shirt and wanting me to put his mouth on her belly button!

[*Ali*]

I used to pump either until I had a full 5oz bottle or until the milk stopped flowing relatively quickly.

I'd pump both sides if you can bear to. Otherwise probably the side you didn't start LO from at the last feed.

[lily_layne]

DS has been spitting up and gagging/choking lots yesterday and today. Is that from overfeeding or just wind?

[*Ali*]

Is the choking during feeds? If so it could be the oversupply or overactive letdown. Mine suffered with wind due to taking in air trying to cope with overactive letdown. There are tips for dealing with it here.
Oversupply and Overactive (Forceful) Let-Down
If oversupply is an issue maybe skip the pumping unless you need the stock.

Spitting up from overeating is normally from taking in too much in one go.

[lily_layne]

He does sometimes choke during feeds. I definitely have overactive letdown when my breasts are really full. Thanks for the link - there's some good tips. I did a lot of those with DD but forgot.

He has been pooping less lately (2-3 times/24 hrs instead of at every feed) but still has lots of wet diapers. Does that mean he's not getting enough or is that a normal change?

The last 2 nights he's been waking up more frequently to eat towards morning (every 2.5 hrs). He did have extra daytime feeds yesterday but it didn't seem to change anything. At this age, will extra daytime feeds help or is he too little for it to matter yet? Is it worth trying him on both breasts at night or during the day?

[*Ali*]

Yes, fewer poops is normal as they get older. 2-3 sounds fine by this age.

Since his tummy is still so small I don't think he would be able to take much extra in the day to mean he wouldn't need to feed frequently at night.

Until at least 6wo he is still working to establish your supply so frequent feeds are necessary.

[lily_layne]

Since his tummy is still so small I don't think he would be able to take much extra in the day to mean he wouldn't need to feed frequently at night.Until at least 6wo he is still working to establish your supply so frequent feeds are necessary.

That's what I thought. He's been eating a lot and been quite unsettled today. I think he's having his first growth spurt.

[*Ali*]

Probably. Just feed, feed, feed and things should settle down soon.

[lily_layne]

Just feed, feed, feed

We did lots of that yesterday