Today was an interesting day....

I decided to give it a go and breastfeed all day.  Well guess what - it worked!  he did breastfeed ALL day.  He was a happy baby and did not  cry (unless needed of course).  We did very well but in reality, this is all new to me and I felt the weirdest sensations - and I can't say they are good.  Without getting into too much detail, I'll be brief.  I felt like my breasts were constantly full.  This is uncomfortable.

I decided to do a bit more research on what I think my problem is with breastfeeding.  It's an oversupply issue of milk.  I found THIS website with some interesting information.  You may think this is a great thing, but it really isn't.  I believe this happened because of all the pumping I did the first two weeks postpartum.

Some key points that I read and relate to me (us) are:

• Baby cries a lot, and is often very irritable and/or restless
• Baby may sometimes gulp, choke, sputter, or cough during feedings at breast
• Baby may seem to bite or clamp down on the nipple while feeding
• Milk sprays when baby comes off, especially at the beginning of a feeding
• Mother may have sore nipples
• Feedings often seem like battles, with baby nursing fitfully on and off
• Feedings may be short, lasting only 5 or 10 minutes total
• Baby may seem to have a "love-hate" relationship with the breast
• Baby may burp or pass gas frequently between feedings, tending to spit up a lot
• Baby may have green, watery or foamy, explosive stools
• Mother's breasts feel very full most of the time

From a bottle, Ethan will drink 3 ounces or less.  When I pump, I produce at least 8 ounces.  So that tells me right there I have an oversupply of milk.  He latches fine but constantly comes off the breast and then relatches - and this is probably the cause.  

I will be honest, I enjoy bottle feeding over breast feeding, but I like the convenience of breast feeding over bottle feeding and pumping!  I think if I work on lessening my supply, things will go more smoothly.  

I also have to get over the thought that he is starving.  I just can't get it out of my head.  I avoided "topping him up" with a bottle today and he did fine - pretty much followed he normal eating schedule.  We did give him a bottle around 8pm just to make sure he ate enough to last him the night (again - my own paranoia). 

BUT, I put him down at 9:45pm and he woke at 10:10pm.  Ryan thought he was hungry, so of course, I warmed a bottle up and fed him.  He only ate an ounce maybe so that tells you right there he wasn't hungry.  

The upside was that he didn't spit up much and only vomited once.  This is a good thing. 

To conclude, I will continue to breast feed and try to get my supply down.  First, I want to make sure it's the real deal, and not something he was trying out for a day or two.  I'd hate to limit my supply for him if he  isn't going to continue to breastfeed.  I'll update about this in a few days if I see any promise in it. So my plan is to breastfeed during the day and pump when he goes to bed and at 4am. I am just going to cut my pumping time down from 20 minutes to 10 minutes (gradually - I'm at 18 minutes right now).

Oh the joys!  If it's not one thing, it's another!