fussy baby - not enough milk? - advice needed.

[jobiwan]

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone had any advice for me with regards to me DD and feeding.

She is 7 weeks old and has been feeding successfully throughout this time,feeding on demand (roughly every 3/4 hrs) sleeping well and my milk has been plentyful to the point of gushing.

However, over the past week I have noticed that my breasts are not as full and no longer have the let down that they used to. I have tried to express to get the supply up (HV recommended this) but can only manage a half an oz from both breasts.

My concern now however is that my DD has started to fuss when being fed, sucking for 2/3 mins and then pulling away. She would then return for 2/3 sucks and pull away again & so the cycle goes on - until she cries & gets really worked up. Its like she takes the quick flowing foremilk but then doesnt want to work at clearing the breast for the backmilk. I do manage to calm her down but everytime I offer her the breast again she gets worked up, she has also stopped sleeping as well both at night and in the day.

Today, after her feed, I offered her a bottle of my expressed milk that I had saved up throughout the day and she drank it like she had never seen milk before & was looking for more.

This has gone on for 2/3 days now & I am starting to worry she is not getting enough food.
Anyone had something similar? Should I start to do combination feed (BF & Formula top up)?
Any advice would be really welcome

Sounds like a growth spurt to me. There is a massive one around 6 weeks. DS fed constantly & was really unsettled for around a week (sorry). Have you heard of the wonder weeks it's great for this sort of thing. The app is pretty handy too.

Your supply also becomes established around now & soft boobs are the new normal, so it's a double whammy. Keep feeding & offering all the time. They are upping your supply, so the more they demand, the more you'll supply. if you supplement now, you won't be making that feed IYSWIM.

Expressing is not an indication your supply. Some people can happily feed their babies. & not be able to express a drop. I express for the milk bank but have never managed to express during growth spurts. Just keep going you're doing great

Firstly the amount you can express is absolutely no indication of how much milk you can express. Dd will be far more efficient at getting your milk than a pump will ever be. Lots of women successfully bf without being able to express, including me

Also, wolfing down a bottle after bfing isn't a sign of hunger either. Lots of bf babies will do this and its no sign of a low milk supply.

Think you would benefit from talking to a BFC about the fussing and your concerns over your supply. Have you got the helpline numbers?

X-posted with seriously and agree that soft boobs are a sign of a low supply either. It's normal for your breasts to feel softer after the first few weeks as your body has become more in sync with your Los needs. Not all women experience a let down either, so again that is now indication.

Have you read the la supply information on kellymom? You might find it reassuring

Thanks for the advice...its funny how something so natural can cause such worry. But your advice is really reassuring.
I didn't know there was a helpline for bf would be good to get hold of it if you have it.

National BFing network - 0300 100 0212

Le leche league - 0845 120 2918

Nothing natural about breastfeeding in the beginning IMO...I had NO idea what I was doing for months

Thanks for that

Can't do links at he moment but try the national Breastfeeding helpline.

The association of Breastfeeding mothers, la Leche league, nct and Breastfeeding network all have bfing helplines staffed by Breastfeeding counsellor s. if you google them the numbers and opening hours should come up.

Did you manage to read the information on kellymom?

Xposted again, agree it took me ages to know what I was doing and then it usually changes anyway!

This is the thread I made when my baby was nealry 6 week all about my 'empty' boobs

Could DD be fretting due to fast let down? If you have been pumping a lot you could have over supply?

How you getting on?