Endless breastfeeding and still wants formula

[Sweetipie]

My ten week old endlessly wants to breastfeed. For the past 2-3 weeks she feeds for fifty minutes, gives me twenty minutes break and then wants to start again. I am sure I have milk as I see her swallowing and it hurts towards the end when she is drawing it from the ducts but often after a whole morning or afternoon of feeding she still gulps down formula and now it turns out that she is not putting weight on as quickly as she should. I am so worn out and fed up and am thinking it would be best for both of us to switch to formula entirely.

I don't know if it makes any difference but the two of us have had a throat infection and virus for the past few weeks.

Does anyone have any ideas on what is going wrong???

She could have a tongue-tie or something that's stopping her being able to feed efficiently - or maybe there are some adjustments to the latch that could be made? Are you able to see a breastfeeding counsellor face to face to watch you feed?

I would second Moon Unit's advice, but I definitely found that my milk was affected by any illness. It seemed to be less satisfying. Are you better now?

Thanks both. Am still very poorly and run down. I have the virus and have also developed RSI in my wrist and put my back out from lifting / holding her etc. The health visitor didnt think me being ill would affect my milk but the problem has got worse the more poorly i have become

Having a bf counsellor watch us is a great idea. I will get on to that asap.

NCT number is 0300 330 0771, La Leche League is 0845 120 2918

Either should be able to direct you to a local bf counsellor.

It sounds horribly draining, I do sympathise. If it helps at all DD2 was quite ill when she was a few weeks old and once she was recovering she fed pretty much constantly for a few weeks. I think it was a combination of her needing the nutrition combined with a growth spurt and me feeling run down, she just seemed to need more than a 'normal' (hate that term but ykwim) baby at that age.

Agree that seeing a BF counsellor can never be a bad thing.

Thanks all. First time I have posted on here and so glad I did. Am arranging to see a bf counsellor but it does seem that it was the milk quality so am working on building myself up and supplementing with tb
The bottle so she isn't so hungry.

Bear in mind that if you're supplementing you should do so with the advice of a breastfeeding counsellor as that in itself can reduce your milk supply. It is sometimes needed - I'm not saying not to - just to take care with it and do it on the advice one someone who knows what they're doing. The NCT and La Leche League counsellors can be relied on.

Also, when you say that she's not growing as she should do, can you define that?

It may be if she's been/is ill that she wants to suckle for comfort, but this isn't something that you can assume - which you're obviously not :) But the BFC will be able to tell you that as well when they see you in person and see what's going on.

On a positive note, while you're breastfeeding her she's getting your antibodies to the virus so you're actively helping her to get better. Just a bit of encouragement for you :)

Hope you're both feeling much better soon.