low evening supply at 17 weeks - will it get better

[fuzzywigsmum]

Hi, DD2 is exclusively breastfed on demand. At about 15 weeks I started experiencing low supply - fussing on boob, not seeming satisfied after feeds etc. This seems to have improved for most of the day except at the bedtime feed at about 7pm. I usually feed to sleep and 4 days out of the last five I've fed her and she hasn't dropped off and instead screamed for between 15 mins - 60 mins until another let-down has been triggered.

I'm a bit concerned as, at about this age with DD1 my supply completely dwindled, she lost weight and I switched to formula on the order of a GP. However I'd already been giving her formula dream feed which I thought was the culprit for low supply.

This time I've done everything by the book - fed on demand, co-slept, don't take her off the boob etc but there still seems to be a bit of an issue. NB DD2 has also had very slow weight gain - about 100g per week on average.

Sooo, I suppose my questions are...is low evening supply common at this age and will it pass? Or am I going to carry on battling with this? Should I consider substituting the early evening feed for a formula feed if it's going to continue being a bit crap and making bedtime stressful (it's very unlikely I'm going to start expressing - never had much luck with it + looking after toddler). And if I am prone to low supply, can I ever give an occasional bottle of formula at night to give myself a break?

Sorry for the long post. x

Is it just the fussy behaviour that makes you think you have low supply? I'm not saying you can't have low supply, but nothing you say indicates it and it would be extremely unlikely that you exclusively breastfed and co slept etc for four months and then had a problem with supply, unless you'd started taking medication that could inhibit supply? 100g a week is certainly within acceptable weight gain, especially if it's been fairly consistent.

Babies can get more 'difficult' to feed in general at around four months. They're more aware of the world around them, they start to get more of their own personality, stronger likes and dislikes etc. you could maybe try things like breast compressions or switch nursing to keep your baby interested at the breast for longer at these fussy times, but perhaps give one of the breastfeeding lines a call to discuss first?

Thanks Midori. It certainly seems like low supply to me. At the times she seems fussy, if I squeeze my boobs they seem completely dry or the tiniest dribble comes out. I've had it again this morning actually tried to feed her for about 20 mins and she fussed, there seemed to be hardly any milk there and, although she's not screaming she's now quite unsettled.

I haven't been taking any medication except fenugreek. Admittedly the week that this was worse she was ill with a bad cold so maybe was finding it painful to swallow. I know I should see a lactician but am going on hols tomorrow. Stressed because my mum will be there who thinks I'm starving DD2 and seizes any opportunity she can to tell me I should be giving her a bottle. I try to tell her that I'd love to be able to give her one occasionally but I'm worried about my supply but it doesn't seem to go in.

And then, sometimes I think, if my supply is crap perhaps I should just mixed feed, so that I can stop worrying about it.

Nothing in your post indicates low supply to me either - around 3/4 months is when your supply regulates a lot so you don't get the really full feeling/leaking/superfast let-down thing you can get in the early days, but there's still usually plenty there.

A fussy baby at around 17 weeks is very, very normal - if you Google the Wonder Weeks you'll see there's an enormous developmental spurt at about 4 months which can result in fussing at the breast, odd sleeping habits, crankiness, clinginess, cluster feeding, etc. Nothing to do with lack of supply. Best indicator of supply is alert, healthy baby and lots of wet/dirty nappies (though infrequent dirty nappies are normal with a lot of BF babies).

Well, she definitely has plenty of wet and dirty nappy and seems alert and happy most of the time.

So if my supply is ok, presumably it's now ok to give her the occasional bottle of formula - if she'll take one, that is?

I don't think it would cause a problem if it was just an occasional thing, no.

Is 15 weeks not about the time colic appears? - I had low supply and had to top up w formula- as dd was losing weight. I remember researching low supply and reading it is common for mothers with no supply issues to confuse evening discomfort/ colic with supply issues. If she is gaining weight I would try not to worry too much. Worry may be what affected your supply in the morning- it seemed to affect my supply.

Stupid question but are you definitely drinking plenty? Seems to affect my supply.

Around 4 1/2 months my baby could drain both sides and I'd have to take him off because he wouldn't stop sucking (especially in the evenings). He also got the 4month sleep regression. After a couple of weeks either his growth spurt slowed or my supply caught up, but 2 months later he's still waking at night!