9 week old wants more after BF I feel awful but have given her a bottle!!!

[Rosie87]

I didn't produce enough milk to feed my first baby and had to top up after each feed with him, so this time round I was determined to soley BF my daughter. I have had to give her one bottle of formula last thing before she went to bed since birth but other than that I have managed to feed her on my own. She is now 9 weeks and is getting increasingly frustrated after about 15 of BF on each side and impossible to console. This only happens during the day, night time and first thing in the morning is fine. For The last 2 days I have given her a 3oz top up during the day and she has settled right down straight afterwards. I expressed after feeding her but barely got 1 oz out of either side so i think that i am now not producing enough to satisfy her completely. I am really worried that history is repeating itself as she only put on 2 oz Last week when she was putting on between 4 and 6 each week previously. Any advice?? I feel I have really let her down and have tried to resist using the formula milk but she is so happy afterwards!!!

Do you go to a breastfeeding support group? That is a good way to get help and support. 9 weeks is a classic age to have a growth spurt and your supply should catch up - make sure you are eating and drinking plenty. Or is she unwell? Teething? Have you tried winding her then offering the breast again? my youngest had reflux and would need a good burp before she could take more milk.
Also, it you give bottles it can reduce your supply as your body is clever and responds to baby and their needs. This is not a problem if you want to mix feed but if you want to soley BF it is wise to stay clear of top up feeds.

Rosie how much you express is absolutely no indication of how much milk you produce, it could just be that your DD has got much more efficient at taking the milk from you.

If she has 15 mins on each side and is still unsettled have you tried putting on the first side again? If you want to boost your supply feeding is the best way to do this. Like Four says, if you give her formula during the day your body will think your baby needs less milk and will produce less.

Are you getting any RL support? Agree again with Four that it is probably a good idea to got to a Bfing Support Group and talk to a Bfing Counsellor?

It is probably a good idea to call one of the helplines too, try ABM or the National Breastfeeding Line.

If you do decide to wean from the top-ups, this might help .

The guidelines in the red book also recommend weighing your baby every 4 weeks. Weight gain can vary week by week, so going every week is a sure fire way of getting yourself worried when there may be no need.

My DS went through what you are describing every 4 weeks or so - it's usually when baby is having or gearing up for a growth spurt. A bigger baby needs more milk, so the constant feeding is training your breasts to make more. Settle down on the sofa or in bed with baby and keep feeding and switching sides.

Breast feeding groups run by the Breastfeeding network or similar will keep you sane!

Thanks everyone. I have attended a BF support group, it's run once a month in my area so is due to be held a week on Monday so will pop back and have another chat with the councillor. The HV has asked that we have her weighed weekly because of the problems I had with my first, he was poorly as a newborn and then didn't put on weight feeding from me alone. She has only been bait unsettled for the last 3 days and our chart does indeed say she is due for a growth spurt around now so with any luck she will settle down. It's nice to hear that this is normal, I think I'm over cautious because of my first and it's a horrible feeling when your trying to feed your baby and she's turning away after a few seconds and screaming. I was told to try double pump express to try and get my milk supply up, but I'm just worried that if I do this I won't have much there when she wants feeding. Has anyone tried this and it worked for them???

"it's a horrible feeling when your trying to feed your baby and she's turning away after a few seconds and screaming", does she do this when you first start feeding her or when she's fed for a while? If its at the beginning, have you got a forceful letdown?

Think your HV is talking crap being overly cautious. What happened to you and your DC1 is sad but this baby isn't ill and there is no reason why your supply should be low, afterall you've managed 9 weeks so far . Also not really sure about the double pumping advice. Have a read of is my supply really low. It is very easy to doubt yourself and can imagine it is more so when you've had a bad experience the first time .

If you do decide that your supply is an issue after reading the link, read the rest of the link and the best thing would be get in touch with a BFC straightaway.

Thanks Jiltedjohnsjulie, that website is brilliant, having read through perhaps it is just that she is going through a fussy period, especially evenings and I just need to persevere a bit more. I wont give her a bottle during the day tomorrow as she has only had it twice and won't be used to it yet. I'm also going to express more often when she's asleep to see if that wil help and give her the expressed milk as her nighttime feed. Honestly it's a mine field and so good to have other mums to talk to. I feel so much better, I'd had a small breakdown earlier over the whole thing which is so unlike me!! I think I might stop having her weighed weekly as well and go to fortnightly for the time being!!