Worried about milk supply with 7wk old

[Keys86]

I'm looking for some help/advice and support really.

My DD is 7 wks and I breast feed on demand except she has one bottle of formula before bed and has done since week 2. (Please don't critisise me! It means she sleeps for 6 solid hours at night and I feel more human for it!)

All has been going really well until this last week, she is breast feeding from both sides untill it seems that there is nothing left and then still seems totally unsatisfied.

So at one feed (2.5hrs since the one before) I expressed and fed from a bottle to see how much she was getting. The problem being I only got 1 - 1.5 oz off each side! Surely that's not enough for her, I have done this a couple of times over the last few days and it is pretty much the same each time. I feel like I should give formula top ups to make sure she has enough but I know this will effect my milk supply even further.

HELP!

I feel like I'm beginning to fail her and I really want to carry on breastfeeding.

Pumping does not give an accurate amount. I didn't get more than 1oz and I bf for 9 months.

Expressing tells you bog all. Some people can't express a drop. It's not a limited supply. Think of it as a river, not a pond. Your breasts make milk as you feed. If she has both sides and wants more, you go back to side 1 and offer 3/4 or more sides per feed.

You know that supply is meeting demand by nappy output, growth and general well being.

Totally agree. I was one of the ones who couldn't express a drop, yet I knew DS was feeding from his nappy output.

Also agree that its if you've fed from both breasts and she is still unsatisfied, just put her back onto side one again

Bf babies also don't take the same quantities as a ff baby. On average a bf baby will take 1floz per hour. This is because the milk changes over time.

If you are still concerned this should be reassuring. Also do you have to top up with formula? Could you offer feeds more often in the day or top up with ebm? Although I do think there is no need

Is there a Bfing Support group you can go to? They should be able to observe a complete feed and talk to you about mixed feeding and your concerns.

Another here who took 3 days to express even half a bottle's worth (which DS then refused to drink anyway) - yet that was all he had for 6 months, and mostly all he had for a good few months after that and he's a perfectly healthy young lad.

Some of us just aren't made to express..

There are times when I've express and I only got about a teaspoon. My LO is EBF and growing really well.

How are you getting on now Keys?

A local breastfeeding group is very helpful indeed. Another great tipp my midwife told gave is to drink neuners nursing tea. It increase my supply within 24 hours and I was able to express more.

Thank you everyone!
Things have improved! I had a couple of days on the sofa just feeding and feeding as often as possible, and occasionally pumping. Not to see (and worry!) about how much milk there was but just to encourage my milk supply.

By breast now feel fuller before a feed (like they did before) and DD is having good feeds and not rooting around and being hungry for more after. So hopefully things have got improved. She even have a BF at 8pm last night she would then normally have a bottle at 10ish but she didn't want it she just slept through until 3.30!

I have (for now) packed the pump away as it just stressed me out even more!

Thank you for all your help!

So glad things are improving for you