Am I Drying Up?

[Jenifer]

My daughter is 4 months old.  She is on 3.5 - 4 hour EASY.  She went for her shots last Thursday.  That day she wanted to feed a couple extra times so I let her (figuring it had to do with the shots).  Last time she had her shots she went on a little nursing strike so I didn't mind feeding her extra this time.  Well, every day since that she has seemed "hungry" after some feedings and so I offer her the other breast (only been single-side feeding) - and she emptying that one too!  So, here I am a week later and she's emptying both breasts at most feeds, my boobs feel "empty" and she's still seems hungry to me (she'll keep going back on and fussing as if not getting enough).  Tonight she screamed about 5 minutes after starting on each side (probably when the flow slowed down).   

I'm finding in the morning my boobs don't feel hard like they used to either.

Am I drying up?  Is this what they get like when they're ready for solids (something more filling)?  My doctor told me that there's no more growth spurts so what gives?

I know I shouldn't supplement with formula (I haven't yet) but I also don't want the girl to be crying out of hunger.  I'm not ready to stop breast feeding.   

Help!

[CJF]

i don't have an answer for you but i just wanted to say we are going through a similar situation.  i was going to post a similar question. (sorry for jumping in on your post)  my little guy has been fussing at the boob especially the left one and then i switch him over to the right and he eats just fine and then is hungry a  short time later (maybe 2 hours later) not his usual 3-4 hour span. (i am still single side feeding.)  i was wondering if he is just getting picky with which side he is eating from or if my supply is diminishing on the left.  i do give him 1 bottle of formula a day...would 1 bottle a day do that to your supply?
my boobs have been feeling more empty lately, too.  your doc said there isn't a growth spurt at this time?  (i would have thought this sounded like one)  when do the growth spurts happen? 
these little turkeys keep us guessing 

[mum101]

No more growth spurts? At 4 months?  That sounds odd. 

I can't help much on this topic as it's been a while since I b/f, but from memory if they start feeding more, it can take 24 hours for the milk supply to catch up to the new amount.

[Claudia Main]

The same thing happened to me -- my breasts felt relatively flabby and did not engorge as they had in the past, and I thought it surely meant the end of breastfeeding.  Have no fear.  This is apparently normal.  I read in one of my breastfeeding books that at around four months of established breastfeeding, this change occurs but it does not mean you are drying up.  It does mean that your breasts are more experienced at lactation and enter a new phase in which (1) breast milk if not consumed is "reabsorbed" by your body (which is why you do not get engorged) and (2) in which the let down is triggered within two minutes of a feeding (new experience for baby that the milk is not just sitting there).

As for the crying, apparently one thing that can trigger let down (in addition to suckling) is a baby's cry (not necessarily yours).  So, your baby's cries are actually helpful, even though she does not know it.  And, yes, you may not be producing enough for your baby right now, since she is probably going through a growth surge or is hitting a new feeding plateau.  But that should right itself within a few days.  Supplementing a bit of formula will not destroy your breastfeeding relationship while your more mature supply level is being established.

And back to empty breasts - I don't feed my girl from 6:30 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. (She is seven months and takes breast milk in a bottle for her dream feed since the bottle requires so little effort on her part and therefore does not wake her up).  I have no engorgement whatsoever when I wake up, but the milk comes once she starts feeding first thing in the morning.  So, this change you are experiencing, from my experience, is normal.

[First Time Mom]

I agree with Claudia's mom about the engorgement going away at this age as bfing is established. Any amount of formula will take away from telling your body to make the total amount required, so formula will not help. Many that start with one sided feeds will have the need to switch to 2 as baby gets bigger and needs more so it's normal that your lo now will drain both. I think your body just needs to adjust to the increased demand (each side is now going 4ish hours between feeds whereas they went 6-8 hours with single side feeds). I would perhaps feed a bit more often just for a few days to get the amount increased. Odd that your doc said there's no more gs! From what I remember reading there's one at 6 mths and 9. Actually, come to think of it my dd was a bottomless pit and fed every 2 hours for 2-3 days when she hit 6 mths. I would hold off on solids if possible until 6 months unless your doctor advises it for some reason but there's really no need until then and their guts aren't really ready to handle it until then. B milk has way more calories than solids (exception avocado) so if they fill up on solids vs bfing  they may wake more from hunger in the night due to the lower cals.

[deenz]

There is a growth spurt at 4mo, and this sounds like what your little one is doing (increasing your supply).  The more she feeds, the more you will make (although it can take up to a week I believe).  Introducing formula at this time will upset what your baby/body are trying to do.  And ditto to what the others have said about breasts not feeling engorged/full - normal.  Try and have a bit more rest this week maybe (any excuse right?!).

[Katet]

I haven't read all the posts but both my boys had a growth spurt around 4mo & you know babies don't read the books .

Drs can say things but you really have to trust your baby & your body.

 I doubt you would be drying up... I am bf second time around (ie second child) & I have only once felt full (in 14 months) & that was after ds was really sick in hospital & didn't feed for 12 hours (on a drip)... I know I had heaps of supply as he was 10.3 kg (23lb) at 6 months on breast feeding alone .

Honestly if you aren't ready to stop, then don't do anything to jepodise that... just treat it like a growth spurt & your supply should adjust.

[evelyn]

Maybe this isnt relevent to you, but i notice that my supply diminishes somewhat before my period and comes back with a bang thereafter!

[Samuel's mum]

A few things:
1. As others have said, It is so so common to have your fears around the 3/4 month mark. Don't go by how your breasts feel!!! Have a look at this:


http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/breast-fullness.html


2. No more growth spurts!!! Not the case. Around 6 months is a famously mega-one for a start. They come at different times for all babies. She could be telling you she needs to build up your milk supply and she is capable of doing it herself - you may just have to be a bit more flexible about your feeding schedule for a few days and be prepared to feed more regularly - perhaps use EAEASY.

3. If you do feel she is still 'hungry' at the end of both breasts - go back to the first one. She will get something.

4. I think if you are feeling anxious there is a chance your baby could be picking up on this which might make her more restless. Don't forget there are people out there who can help you for free - try the FAQ board for helpline numbers and details of the La Leche League.

5. Don't supplement before you've spoken to someone if you don't want to - there are plenty of other things to try - and supplementing will not do your supply any favours as someone else has said.

[Jenifer]

Oh, thank you all for your responses! 

One thing I should have mentioned -- we were supposed to go out of town for 24 hours to a wedding (tomorrow) .  My daughter was going to stay back with my mother (feeding her expressed milk).  Considering she's going through a growth spurt is it ok to go away for that long and just pump when I would otherwise feed her or do I risk not increasing my supply with her?

Also, this has already been a week of eating like this (and disrupted sleep, fussiness, etc.) .. if it is a growth spurt I thought they were only supposed to last a few days.   

[Samuel's mum]

I have heard of growth spurts lasting up to a week: 2-5 days is more common. Yours might last a little longer if perhaps you didn't recognise it straight away and she needs a bit longer to build up supply?

The wedding has come when it has!

we were supposed to go out of town

Does your use of 'supposed to' mean you have changed your mind? You should do whatever feels right. I wouldn't suggest you cancel just on the grounds of your milk supply (unless you want to cancel ). If you do go, pump as often as she would feed (or every 3 hours to be safe) and when you get back prepare to still be a bit more flexible with scheduling to give her an extra chance to build up your supply. Maybe also consider some additional pumping at the end of her feeding to boost your supply.
 

If her behaviour continues to be uncharacteristic for a few more days, you could also consider teething or even an ear infection which can be more uncomfortable when a baby is feeding. Have a chat with your doctor.

[Jenifer]

What does it look like when they have an ear infection?

[Samuel's mum]

Sometimes you can see a little redness just inside the ear but more often than not you can see nothing.
There is a description here:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bhealth/0,,3q9t,00.html
But often it's hard to tell. Some people talk of 'silent ear infections' because it's so tricky.

[Jenifer]

Well, thanks for all your help.

We didn't end up going out of town for the wedding.  She's had a rough couple of days so we thought it would be best if we were here for her.  She woke up a few times last night - once to eat - which is unusual for her these days.  I think she's got to be going through a growth spurt (given all the extra feeding and restless sleep).  Although she has started really "biting" on things the last few days too (used to just suck on things).  Wonder if she's teething too ...

We're going on a week of this unusual behavior .. hopefully this is the end of a growth spurt soon.

[Fife_Mum]

To add to what others have said, my first baby had 10 day long growth spurts  , and I discovered (on here) at the time that lasting a week was fairly normal and up to 2 weeks not too rare! If she is teething too that would also explain some fussiness, but also remember it can take several long periods of 'teething' before her first teeth actually appear  .