To ask for help with my newborn?

[Bibby26]

Google is proving unhelpful but then I’m not sure what to google!

DD is 3 weeks old, she is mixed BF and formula because I have a low supply which I am working on and will hopefully increase

DD has not slept after any feeds today which is unusual

I don’t know if she is just confused, this morning DP gave her formula before he went to work and then I BF her all day, this afternoon she went for a 1.5 hour nap on me and woke wanting crying for a feed again. DP fed her formula when he came home and she still won’t settle to sleep. She is still rooting and showing all signs she is still hungry but has had 120ml of formula and was on the boob an hour before this.

Usually her feeds would be morning, noon and afternoon BF then before bed and night time formula. After her bed formula feed she usually shows signs of hunger still but will settle

Could she potentially be being confused by the mixed feeding? I don’t understand why today she just doesn’t appear to be full after any feeding. Normally at some point she will come off the breast full and after formula she will be full and sleep.

It may be as simple as increasing the formula amount but 120ml is already a lot for her age

Sorry it’s so long, didn’t want to drip feed but I’ve probably still missed something

Sounds like cluster feeding to me and that is what will increase your supply. I would just let her have the boob all evening as much as she wants.
Don't worry about over feeding.
Do you pace feed when you give formula too, if not Google it and give that a go.

Agree with all the above. Feed her whenever she is hungry. Most babies don’t stick to timetables. You cannot overfeed a baby that young. Terrible advice from your HV.

If you have supply issues you need to breast feed every 1-2 hours at this age.

You can’t overfeed a bf baby. The best way for the two of you together is to just to let her feed

You definitely can't overfeed a newborn! Yep, that sounds like classic cluster feeding alright. I had dc constantly attached to me in those very early days. It's hard work, but extra feeding should increase your supply.

I had a similar thing at first with supply not coming through at first so formula top- ups were recommended. I started feeding DS whenever he wanted it soon after (even though I'd convinced myself it wasn't enough) and it increased my supply so much. I think it's normal for them to want loads of feeds as pp have said, to snuggle close and to increase/ regulate your supply.
Keep going. Sounds like you're doing great

Great news that she is cluster feeding that will help to increase your supply. Just keep feeding her whenever she wants it.

Make sure you eat and drink plenty yourself, then snuggle up and feed, feed, feed day and night for a few days.

You're doing an amazing job!

There is a lot of good advice, except from your hv. Let her suckle you anytime she wants to. I spent the first month with baby almost permanently attached to my boob! It will boost your supply naturally.
Download a few box sets, set out the table with snacks, make sure to drink enough and offer her free bar!

Do speak to la leche league or your local breastfeeding group (they won’t be meeting at the moment but mine have gone onto Facebook) - I found them so helpful and supportive. A bit worried about your hv’s advice - you should not be worried about giving your baby too much breast milk. This is really the time to establish your milk - it really sounds like baby is having a growth spurt and cluster feeding. I would offer the breast as much as possible - mine would literally go from one side to the other and back again for hours, especially at night, when going through the early growth spurts! Sounds like you need a comfy chair, drinks and snacks and a box set!

Oh and you probably know this but if you want to boost your supply try to have lots of skin to skin :)

She’s trying to up your supply for a growth spurt. The answer to everything at the moment is out her on the breast.

At least we’re not going out eh?!

Well done, you’re doing a fab job

Babies want on the boob for other reasons than just food. It's a comfort thing to them as well. It might just be she wants her mum!

Recommend you look up 'paced feeding' for when you are topping up with formula. Replicates flow of breastfeeding rather than just gulping down from the bottle as although you can't overfeed a BF baby you absolutely can overfeed a bottle fed baby! This method will give your baby enough time to recognise when she is full if feeding from a bottle:
dots.actionforchildren.org.uk/feeding-and-nutrition/formula-feeding/paced-bottle-feeding/

I tried bf, milk never came in, so ended up going to ff only so can’t help on the bf bit. But I’m sure for the general feeding bit it’s impossible to over feed a baby - if they want it they’ll drink it, if they don’t they won’t, and if they’ve had too much they’ll sick it up.

With my DTs I was really worried I was over feeding them (DS in particular, he was a very hungry baby) and the hv told me the above. I was obsessed with the idea because he was constantly drinking above what the tin said he “should” be on, but it’s just guidance.

Keep on offering boob as and when she wants it, you’re doing great!

Cluster feeding! Both my dds did this in the evenings (and through the night ) really helps up supply but you musteat and even more importantly drink loads! Great thing at the moment given the problems people are having getting formula. Good luck!