How do you know if your older bf baby is getting any/enough milk?

[RitaMorgan]

DS is 8.5 months old, has 3 meals and 4-5 breastfeeds a day. I haven't felt a letdown or felt full for a few months (which I know is normal) but I can't tell anymore if he is getting much/any milk from me.

I was offering breastfeeds when he's hungry between meals, but in the afternoons particularly it doesn't seem to satisfy him - I think I might need to give him a mid-afternoon sandwich or something instead.

So how do I know if there's enough milk for him? And what should I do if there isn't? I don't have any objection to giving formula if that's for the best, he had it when he was younger.

The funny think is I never had any doubts about my supply when he was a newborn

BF first then offer solid food once he has come to a natural stop with the BF. If he still wants the sandwich, he's hungry! When you want to wean, swap around the order of snack and BF. That's what I did anyway.

Your supply should be very robust by now, you woun't fell full. Sounds like the no of feeds is prity normal.

This is a good website for more info
www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/index.html

You don't need to add formula you'll still be producing all he needs. As for the afternoon thing you could offer a snak but still feed first, that way he gets his milk but if he wants solids offer after his milk.

We didn't actualy add any snaks till DD was 12months as I wanted to make sure milk was main part of her diet untill. But I know some babies are more keen on solids then others.

I think he would happily have a sandwich after a breastfeed - do you think that means there's not enough milk?

I'd add solids, rather than formula, if he's not seeming satisfied by milk. At a year most babies have 3 meals + 2 snacks, and milk as well. So you should be moving roughly towards this :)

And of course there are still lots of benifts to BF at this age for both of you.

Remeber the WHO recomend BF untill 2 years alongside solids.

Maybe he just loves food :) Don't worry - your milk will be just fine, there's no reason to worry. He will naturally start to want less milk and more food at this age. (I wish someone had told DS this!)

I'd also add solids - as well as making sure you offer bf an hour before meals. I can't see any reason to use formula.

DS was 11 months when I was able to tell that he needed 3 solid meals and wasn't able to just get by with a bf instead of one - he'd get too grumpy.

I stopped always offering bf an hour before meals at around 12 months. At 13 m.o. he started to need snacks too. Now at 15 m.o. he has 3 meals and 1 or 2 snacks.

IIRC the WHO suggests 3 meals (and 1/2 snacks if desired) till about 12 months, and 3 meals and 2 snacks after that - on top of frequent & on-demand bf.

In the afternoons he'll swap back and forward between sides a few times and then lose interest - which is what makes me wonder if there's enough milk there.

It could be that he's just gradually starting out on the process of eventually dropping that feed. Or it could be developmental - there's a big spurt around 8/9 months which can effect feeding, and often makes babies more distractible feeding.

He is very enthusiastic about food

Maybe I should go back to offering milk an hour before food - we've got out of the habit as he tends to breastfeed before naps and then has lunch when he wakes up - and then in the evenings it's dinner-bath-milk-bed.

If he's swapping sides he might be thirsty. That's fine as breastmilk will quench his thirst but you could offer water if you prefer.

Thirst is a good suggestion - now I freely offer DS water between meals, I'm always amazed at how much he drinks.

If I offer more water won't he take even less milk though?

Well since he woke up from his napy 45 minutes ago he's had a breastfeed, a couple of cubes of cheese, 40ml of water, another breastfeed and is now eating a banana

Maybe I am underfeeding him? That seems like a lot for a snack given that he had lunch at 12.

Relax! :) Some babies just love food and take to it really easily. Others take a while to get settled with it. As long as you aren't stopping him from feeding, don't worry if he seems to want less than you are expecting. If you follow his lead you can't go far wrong. Remember they feed more efficiently the older they get too, so it's possible he gets what he needs in fewer, shorter feeds. 4 or 5 sounds fine.

I don't think that past 6 months water is going to have any significant effect on how much milk he has, so again, don't worry. You don't have to give water if you don't want to, but if he's eating a lot of food I probably would.

I agree with Bertie. I'd offer bf before meals/snacks, offer some water with solids to avoid constipation, give solids as often as you fancy and not worry about the rest.

I read somewhere that at this age there isn't much distinction between a 'meal' and a 'snack', and many babies/toddlers do better with 'grazing' rather than big meals.