Some Breastfeeding Help please!!!

[CharlotteLER]

I have been breastfeeding my DD for 12 weeks now. I have only given her one bottle at 8 weeks (wanted to try so i can leave a bottle with babysitters just in case) but found it more hassle than its worth.
My milk supply felt completely regulated by about 6 weeks. But now in the evenings for the past week or so suddenly feel like i don't have enough milk. I don't know if DD is just comfort sucking, but I'll be feeding her on and off for hours and i just feel completely empty :(
During the day she has a good feeding routine and feeds every 3/4 hours. I definitely want to continue bf because for me there are just so many pros and would be devastated if i had to stop...just getting worried that this is the beginning of the end.
Some advice or similar stories would be much appreciated :) I don't know if i don't have enough milk for her and should start giving her a bottle in the evening, but i don't really want to do that!

Just feed, feed, feed. It's probably a growth spurt. You're doing great.

sorry short message - one-ghanded typing. ds feeding.

I have this on and off with DD, she'll sometimes feed every hour in the evening. I learnt to just go with it, if she's hungry then she needs feeding!

charlotte your milk doesn't just stop - so I assure you, you have enough milk. 12 weeks is a classic growth spurt phase though and she is most likely just wanting more - let her suckle as long as you can bear it and in a day or so your milk supply will increase and satisfy her.

Feeling empty is also normal but recent research has shown that breasts don't "empty". They can get fuller, but they don't run out! Your body will just keep on making the stuff so don't worry about that at all.

I assume that your daughter is getting around 8 wet nappies a day, and stooling as normal for her, and if so she'll be fine. Keep going with what you're doing.

The only thing which would reduce your milk supply is topping up with formula as your body would think it needs to make less - so it does - so your supply then does reduce.

Totally normal behaviour :) Young babies cluster feed in the evening, and then at certain times there are growth spurts which cause constant feeding for a few days. Just keep feeding, your milk supply is fine!

Totally normal :) Please don't worry, and just let her keep sucking to stimulate more milk. Your breasts are never empty.

Thankyou for the responses you've made me feel better, sometimes you just need reassurance you're doing the right thing :)

It' called cluster feeding and is completely normal and expected developmental thing for a baby to do.

By the way the 'emptier' your breast the fattier the milk. Kellymom.com has a fantastic article of fore/hindmilk and milk production here. Fore/hindmilk doesn't actually exist even though everybody seems to talk about.

Keep up the good work and go with baby's cues and you won't go wrong

You have received some great advice, just to add to it, I was told by a health visitor, that at an evening your milk is more creamy which is why the baby feeds more at night. I know its really hard but try not to get stressed, your doing great! Breast feeding is probably one of the hardest things i've EVER done, but well worth the perseverance! kellymom is a fab website! but dont forget the breast feeding helpline too, They are amazing!!!! My baby has always fed better at night, and my boobs feel empty too, but seem to fill up more after a feed. Nobody ever tells you about growth spurts, cluster feeds or all the other stuff when you go to the breast feeding workshops!

www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/

Hope this helps!