Massive percentile drop

[WeShouldOpenABar]

DS had his six week check today and has dropped from the 75th to the 25th percentile, I'm assuming this is as bad as it sounds.
Doctor just said to supplement with a bottle for every feed but I'm really not sure what that means. He fed off me for 20 minutes when we got home and possed at the end while still on the boob and took himself off, I would usually consider that him being done but he took 4 oz of aptimel after that so I'm obviously wrong.
I'm mortified I've left him hungry , I've been crying since the doctors hours ago.
How long should I offer the boob for, how many oz of milk after? How do I know I'm not starving the poor thing.

My DD2 dropped from the 91st to 25th within a few weeks. The HV insisted on regular weighing. After a while it was clear that she had settled on the 25th centil and that was where her natural weight was.

Two things:

Listen to tiktok - she knows her stuff.

And my 6mo DS was born on 50th centile, and is now tracking along below the bottom line on the charts. He’s been checked out and everyone says he’s fine. Which isn’t to say that you shouldn’t talk to experts and see if there’s something wrong (there might be), but it’s also possible that everything is fine.

This happened to me and DD, 50th centile to 10th in the first 4 weeks. The guilt was indescribable (and still is although she's 18 months now).

Definitely get checked for tongue tie, was a big factor for us, but you might also have to be cruel to be kind and make sure he's hungry before you feed him otherwise no matter how long he's 'feeding' for he might only be comfort sucking.

Do top ups but only a couple of ounces, you can always put him back on the breast if he seems hungry after the bottle. That way you will still keep your supply up but he won't be starved.

Please believe it is possible to keep feeding even though you're topping up, it's a huge job in perseverance but possible. DD breastfed for a year after all that.

My baby dropped from 90th to 50th percentile I was also BF. However they told me to continue with BF and not introduce formula because there were no other signs of issues, eg lots of wet nappies/slept well/wasn’t crying lots etc. Though I had to bring her back twice a week to have her weighed. After she had been on the 50th percentile for 4 weeks I dropped down to having her weighed once every 4 weeks. They basically said that 50th was her ‘new curve’

Is your baby crying lots/permanently on you wanting food/not having wet nappies etc?

This all being said you have been told by a doctor (who examine your baby) to give formula and your baby did drink it. I would therefore continue to give formula until you can speak with the doctor/a different doctor again but when giving formula at the same time express 4oz so it doesn’t impact your milk supply.

Dear OP, make sure you access your local Children's Centre and to find out how you can be referred to breastfeeding clinic. You will be better off seeing experts in this field.

Hi OP,
I'm in Ireland too. Wait for the PHN and have a good chat with her. I think GPs (as pp have said) aren't up to speed on bf and the advice you were given was more to cover the doctor's ass than being genuinely helpful.
My baby dropped a lot after birth (the guilt!) I was advised eventually by PHN to supplement 60mls at every feed (2oz) and to continue bf as much as possible.
Please contact la leche League or your local Cuidiu group, they have volunteer counselors who will help you out. My local Cuidiu have fortnightly meetings where bf counsellors are present.
My local HSE has a breast feeding support group once a week and a lactation consultant that works the area but is at a different group each week.
Try not to panic, talk to the nurse

OP take the advice above. Mine is also seek out a Lactation specialist. We did a weighted feed with my DD and quickly established that she was taking in less than half the amount of milk she was expected to.

The cause wasn’t that obvious, but they decided it was probably low milk supply as there was nothing obviously wrong with her mouth or latch. We did use formula top ups (DD was also only a couple of weeks old btw), but also hugely increased the time bf as well. Put to breast every 2 hours, tickled to keep awake, etc etc. She absolutely turned around and now at 3.5 months is breast fed apart from one formula bottle on an evening.