1 month seems only nurses well when I am slightly engorged.

by Stephanie
(McKinney, TX)

Hello. Is it possible that my 1 month old son would nurse 10x better (and faster) when I am slightly engorged? I have noticed that we have a harder time with his latch and that he doesn't seem to engage in the feeding (sleepy within 3-5 minutes) when my breasts are soft. I am struggling with the fact that he takes at least an hour to finish but have noticed that when my breasts are really full he nurses so much faster and stays engaged the whole time allowing us to finish within 30 minutes instead. What do I do? I have had a hunch that his latch is not the best it could be. But, I have met with a lactation consultant twice now and she seems to think that we are doing fine. Do you have any insight into this specific issue?
Thanks so much for your time
Stephanie

Answer from the lactation consultant

It is very hard for me to anwer this question without more information.
But what I can say is that a feed should not take any longer than 30 minutes total, ever. If it does, the baby is not feeding the whole time, they are sleeping. And this is usually because they are not emptying or getting milk. AND this usually occurs as a result of bad latch OR supplementing with bottles.
So, now I have questions for you:
1. Is your baby being supplemented with a bottle? If so, how much and how often
2. Why are you getting engorged? At a month, with a baby feeding on demand, you should not be getting engorged anymore.
I am "guessing" you are supplementing and going longer stretches without feeding, thus the engorgement. And when you are engorged the pressure in your breasts increases and it comes out faster, making it easier for baby. BUT if you are supplementing and getting engorged, this will greatly reduce your supply and this is likely why he is feeding so long because your supply is dropping.
Are you doing the "feed a bottle at night, so I can sleep " thing? This is BAD for supply and latch.
If you are NOT supplementing and this is going on then the baby simply needs to be trained to eat at the breast. And this can be done by performing breast compressions during the feed. I am sure the LC showed you how to do this.
I am sorry I can't help more but without the full story, I can only guess.
You can add comments and I will check them tomorrow or I am available for a phone consult tomorrow if you want.
Happy 4th!
Liz Pevytoe, RN, IBCLC