breast feeding advice ( HELP)

hi ladies, im new here, i had my son 9 days ago, we are trying to establish breast feeding.. im so new at this since i didnt breast feed my  daughter, was hoping for some advice and tips.. first of all, for 2 days now ive been on an antibiotic, due to infected stitches. i only have 3 days left on them,  my boobs really dont seem as full as they did a few days ago, estecially in the afternoon and evening, im really not feeling the "let down" either, but they are still engorged in the am when i wake up.. im worried that im not producing enough milk,, i feed him anywhere from 10 - 35 mins a feeding depending on him, as much as possible a day.. also i bought a medela pump and have been trying to pump aswell to get my milk to come in better, but i can only get maybe half an ounce when i pump.. thought i should be able to get more.. any advice or words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated,, thanks

[mum2beagain]

It is quite normal to not feel as full after a couple of days of that initial engorgement, If you feel full in the morning then that is okay, it is a great sign that you are producing milk. Right now nurse your baby as often as he want's to nurse (it may feel like you do nothing else some days LOL), that is the absolute best thing to increase your supply. Don't worry about only pumping 1/2 ounce, at this stage this is good seeing as you are exclusively nursing him too. The best way to know if you have enough milk is him; does he have several wet/dirty diapers each day, is he happy and content, does he seem satisfied when he comes off the breast after feeding? If the answer to these questions is yes you are doing just fine, trust your body. Make sure you keep up with your fluid intake and eat plenty  of good quality protein.
Congratulations and I hope that infection clears up quickly.

[Clysta]

I agree that it's normal to not feel full. You're not always going to be engorged and heavy all the time. This especially becomes true once your supply is established. I've been EBF for 6 months and rarely feel full, and when I've pumped I'm lucky to get 3 ounces combine from both breasts. My baby is latched to me constantly, so I used to think I'd get more. A baby is much more effective than any pump and will always be able to get out more. The important part is to not doubt yourself. It's also important to remember that babies cluster feed, and might want to nurse every hour or less at certain points in the day, and this lasts for a few days or more. This is completely normal and works to get your supply up. It's best to avoid any supplements at all because they can drop your supply. Good luck!

[mature_enough]

It sounds like you have good reason to be concerned, as many good moms are when they don’t feel like their baby is getting enough. The number one reason mothers stop breastfeeding is that they believe they are not producing enough milk… but that is very rarely the case. Most mothers can produce more than enough for their child. Fortunately, there are ways to find out if that is the case for you. WHAT GOES IN MUST COME OUT. Here is the scoop on poop. By day 3 you are going to want to see 3 or more stools. After day five you will want to see four or more stools (dirty diapers) and by 2 weeks you want to see that your baby has regained his/her birth weight. As the others have mentioned, it is normal for your breasts to feel less full after the initial engorgement from when your milk “comes in” is gone.  And don’t worry, it is normal that you do not feel your “let down”. Many mothers do not feel their milk ejection reflex. If you have concerns you should take your baby to a breastfeeding friendly pediatrician to get the reassurance you need, and if you are having anymore problems with breastfeeding contact a certified lactation consultant.
I sincerely hope this helps and wish the best for you and your baby.

[happynifer]

just put him to the breast as often as he wants and don't worry about pumping this early.  it is completely normal to not feel full or feel your letdown all the time (or ever)
as long as he is producing the diapers he is supposed to and gaining weight you are just fine.
your body is made to do this....you will be just fine