Low supply at bedtime

[Diryan]

My 15 week old DS is ebf, with the exception of a formula dreamfeed which my DH gives him around 11pm.

For the past month DS has been very hard to settle at bedtime (6.30-7pm ish). He gets very frustrated at the breast, and won't settle to sleep. He seems very hungry, but just can't get enough to satisfy him. Last night I bf him for ages and he was still upset so I thought I'd try him with a formula top-up. He drank 210ml in one go and fell instantly asleep.

I appreciate it's really hot at the moment, and perhaps he's going through a growth-spurt. But I really feel as if I don't have enough milk by the end of the day. Should I continue with formula top-ups? I know if I persisted with the bf then my supply should increase, but this has been going in for a month or so now, and I can't seem to settle him with bf alone.

Very grateful for any advice.

'cluster feeding' in the evening is very common. Lots of babies like to feed and feed at this time and its not a sign that you have low supply.

Also guzzling a bottle doesn't mean they weren't getting enough. :)

So you should be ok without top ups if you're happy to carry on.

I don't think mine settled as early as that at fifteen weeks, they probably sat on my knee till I went to bed sleeping and feeding in and of.

On and off even!

Thanks velvetglove, maybe it is just cluster feeding. It's just that he seems so unhappy and frustrated. He keeps coming off the breast & crying, and he beats at my boobs with his little fists . He sucks & sucks for ages but hardly swallows, so I worry he's not getting much milk out.

Your supply in the evening is slower not low. This is normal, as is cluster feeding in the evening too. Google cluster feeding and fussy evenings - kellymom explains it well. It's just the natural change in your hormones. Supplementing with formula will affect your supply even more, as you will tell your body that even less milk is required.

Totally totally normal. Set up camp on the sofa or in bed and just let him have as much access as he needs. It'll improve at some point. He's just building your supply.

210ml in one go would knock any baby out I don't think it indicates anything that he fell asleep, it's like an adult overeating a Sunday roast and needing a snooze after!

I would just persevere with breastfeeding, and keep swapping sides when he comes off.