It's like psychological warfare this breastfeeding milarkey!!

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

My son is 5.5 weeks. Yesterday he fed every 2 hours (normally about every 3), '6 week growth spurt' I thought to myself knowingly.

However, midway through the day I noticed my boobs seemed empty, there was no leaking & when I gently squeeze the usual firehose spray is non existent. The same thing today, empty feeling boobs and DS is bobbing on and off my boobs particularly the right one which he know seems to hate.

Where has my milk gone?! I'm putting blind faith in his change in feeding pattern being down to a growth spurt & not a lack of milk, but bloody hell it's hard. The temptation to give him a bottle to 'just check' is overwhelming!

There is milk there though right? It can't just go overnight? My milk supply must be calming down a little? What great timing!

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

*now seems to hate, not know!

[Oodthunkit]

He's probably trying to increase your supply. There's some there but he wants a lot so the more he feeds the more comes. Then they slow down again and you spend a few days looking like you've had a boob job!

[NeedlesCuties]

I'd bet my house on there still being milk there.

Every two hours for a baby that age to feed is not unusual.

I have bf two babies. BF DS for 11 months and am currently bf 3 month old DD. I have never leaked a drop, never have been able to make milk spray out and very rarely get engorged.

But my son was alway 99th percentile and DD is 91st.

Your supply will tailor itself to what your child wants, just let him feed on demand and go with the flow.

[Wigeon]

Here are some very reassuring words from a great, evidence-based website, Kelly Mom about exactly what you are describing. .

And remember your milk supply is like a river, not a sealed bottle - so as you feed your breasts make more milk.

If you give him a bottle then you risk your supply actually really being impacted, and reducing. Which is fine if that's what you want, but not if you want to carry on EBF.

It's not "blind faith" that you are carrying on - it's sensible!

I would be thankful that the firehose has calmed down!

[worldgonecrazy]

From my hazy memories, I think it was about that time that my supply settled down, no more rock hard boobies and no spraying unless I put some effort in.

I sincerely doubt your milk supply has gone overnight unless you've taken a cold remedy which dries everything up. In which case it will be back very soon so just keep doing what you're doing.

My hazy memory also tells me that the "growth spurts" all blurred into one long massive one! Kellymom has great advice for when you're having a wobble of faith. Website is here.

[bettyspaghetti33]

Hi OP congratulations on your new baby and well done you, it sounds like you're doing a great job feeding him. I have breastfed my two children and what I would say could be happening to you is that your milk is still there it is just regulated much more towards your baby's feeding pattern. From what I know about breast feeding it takes a few weeks for the milk to regulate during which time you can feel overly full (like I did) but after a while you and the baby get used to a pattern of feeding so your breasts will produce exactly what he needs, even if you feel empty you most likely aren't. To check he is getting enough make sure he feeds whenever he wants for as long as he wants, check he has a good latch and is producing lots of wet and dirty nappies. Ultimately his weigh ins will tell you that he is thriving.

Getting babies through growth spurts is hard work as they do get feeding frenzies which can make your body produce more as they build up your supply but providing you take his lead and feed on demand you should be fine. Maybe others will come on later with differing points of view but from what I can tell you sound like you're doing a really great job feeding your baby in the best way possible. If you are still in doubt give NCT breast feeding helpline a call, they are very knowledgeable and reassuring.

Good luck and keep at it :)

[BertieBotts]

Don't panic - sounds like you've switched from hormonally driven supply to on demand supply, is all. It means that your milk production is more in tune with what your baby takes, which means you won't generally feel "full" unless you miss a feed for some reason. Lots of ladies find they stop leaking and expressing output goes down, too. All normal and nothing to worry about, but I can't see why they don't warn everyone in advance - no wonder people think they've run out of milk!

Am on phone so can't link, but there's a great blog post called "the boobs feeling full = a good thing myth" if you can find it.

[BertieBotts]

Also remember there's no such thing as an empty breast as the majority of the milk past the early days is made literally as your baby is latched on. Have faith in your body, it's pretty amazing stuff :-)

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Thanks everyone, I'm such a worrier, it's the "have faith" I struggle with as I am a control freak but you are all right, he is fine and doing well weight and nappy wise.

Just seems so ironic & a kick in the teeth that supply has calmed down on the very day my baby goes into a feeding frenzy, I can see why other people without such fab support would think they had run out.

I would be so lost without the help on here as local support is pants! Thank you all so much for the hand holding everyone. Mumsnet website should be in my maternity notes alongside all the feeding helpline numbers!

[BertieBotts]

I don't think supply and feeding frenzies have much to do with each other really, even if you were still at the rock hard and gushing stage he'd probably want to feed as much :)

If you like to feel in control it can help to read about the science bit of how it works so you feel confident that it's happening as it should rather than just relying on faith etc. The article Wigeon linked earlier is great as are these:

thefunnyshapedwoman.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/breasts-feeling-full-good-thing-myth.html

thefunnyshapedwoman.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/foremilk-and-hindmilk-in-quest-of.html

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2012/03/discussion-clare-byam-cook-low-milk.html

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2010/07/foremilkhindmilk-and-lot-of-confusion.html

Also absolutely anything on Kellymom you could imagine a topic on :) - enjoy!

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

Thanks Bertie, I will have a read now