Breastfeeding supply issues at 8 months

[Ginger4justice]

For background: I had low supply issues with DC1 only EBF for 3 weeks then mix fed (1 bottle a day) until 5 months when my supply struggled again.
Now with DC2 and EBF him for 6 months when we added a bottle a day for various (non-supply) reasons and it had all been going so well. He's now 8.5 months and really likes his food so had cut down to 2 feeds during the day (which I have to offer and aren't very long) and 2 at night plus still a bottle. This week he's been really poorly. He's been completely off food and milk and has just been drinking water. He's now had medicine and getting back to normal but the past 2 nights he's not been satisfied with breastfeeding during the night and I've had to make him up a bottle. The first night he hadn't ate much during the day and so I just put it down to being really hungry, I'd fed him for nearly an hour (normally he's a very quick feeder) and he was just getting more cross so gave up and gave him a bottle. But the same happened last night and he'd eaten more during the day and I'm worrying that the 3 days of little feeding have ruined my supply. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up (and I certainly don't enjoy making up bottles at 2 in the morning) but I can't express, even when I was at my fullest and I don't want to just refuse bottles and spend all night with a hungry tired baby when he's not eaten much this week and neither of us have slept much. Is there anything I can do or do I have to accept this as the beginning of the end of breastfeeding?

[Ginger4justice]

Oh sorry that's long!

[CarrotPuff]

3 days of little feeding won't ruin your supply at this stage. It's very well established by now

[ALongTimeComing]

Is it possible he's finding sucking painful? Happens during teething and illness and they go back to the breast. Keep offering and offer more often.

[havalina1]

Period due? Mine used to impact my supply.

[babypeach]

As pp said I think at this stage your supply is unlikely to be ruined. Even if after 3 days of less feeding it had lowered a little, your baby would probably just feed a little longer/more frequently to up it again (just like if they've had a cold etc and feed less because of congestion or something similar-they just feed a bit more when they feel better)
Also I wonder if it might be a growth spurt? Bf babies often seem "fussier" and less satisfied during one-I think its part of them adjusting your supply to meet a new demand
Hope it all settles xx

[Ginger4justice]

Thanks everyone . I think it's settling as his appetite and sleeping is improving as the antibiotics kick in. Given the troubles with DD I do panic a bit about my supply but glad to hear it shouldn't be so easily disrupted.