Breastfeeding query

[Paulathompson2015]

Hi there, I am a first time mum to a 7 week old little girl and have been EBF since birth. I very recently started expressing and before today my little girl has had two bottles of expressed breast milk. When breastfeeding tonight my daughter emptied both boobs and kept fussing; coming off the breast crying, wanting to go back on but it seems not willing to 'work for it'. In desperation I gave her a bottle of expressed milk and she downed 4ozs. I am now slightly worried about a) my supply not being enough and b) that she maybe prefers the year to my nipple? Am most likely overreacting but any advice would be very gratefully received! Thanks all ??

[MrsHathaway]

Absolutely normal.

When she's taking a bottle, she's just feeding. When she's at the breast, she's also putting her order in for tonight/tomorrow/Tuesday. Sometimes breastfeeding isn't just about the immediate nutrition, but the ongoing supply. To that end, the bottle could be counter-productive during a big session.

On the other hand, your letdown may be slow during this kind of cluster feeding (which she is classic age for). Dark chocolate, flapjack oats and fenugreek are good to increase supply. Something from that group and plenty to drink during the cluster should help. You could try chamomile or peppermint tea, both of which are supposed to calm heads and tummies.

[CultureSucksDownWords]

I doubt your supply has suddenly changed. If you are using free flow teats on the bottle, you could try swapping to teats that mimic the breastfeeding action. That way, they have to work for the milk a bit more and it can reduce any preference for the bottle. I used the Medela Calma ones but there are other similar ones as well.

[Paulathompson2015]

Thank you for the reassuring words and the sound advice! I have a Medela pump and bottles but have been using the Munchkin Latch tests as they are supposed to mimic the movement etc of the breast. I will stick up on chamomile & peppermint tea and also the food stuffs to increase supply. Thanks again ??

[PenguinPoser]

Careful with peppermint tea as apparently it can reduce supply. Not sure about chamomile.