Supply decreased

[SassyPants87]

DD is 10 weeks old and I was EBF until she was about 7/8 weeks. I wanted to start combi feeding, in particular giving her a formula feed at night. I'm quite happy to just give her one bottle at night and BF the rest of the time, she's also been sleeping through the night since I've started doing this (yay!!) BUT I feel like my supply has also dropped during the day too. DD will feed from my breast and still but screaming for more milk after!

I though my supply would just decrease for the night feed, is it normal that it's decreased during the day too? I'm finding the past couple of days I've had to give her some top up formula feeds after a breast feed during the day too

Any advice or similar stories would be most appreciated. Ideally I want to just keep at that one formula feed at night

Do you have an infant feeding team you could contact? I found mine via the hospital I gave birth at and they were soo knowledgeable and helpful. Afraid I don't have any experience of combi-feeding, however it's possible that your daughter may be getting frustrated with the slower flow of milk from the breast compared to the bottle, rather than your supply being the problem. And just be aware of how much you're topping up as obviously whatever your daughter is taking that isn't from the breast will cause your supply to drop. Sorry, I don't know much - infant feeding are great as are FB breastfeeding groups (find one that is admin-led so you get good advice!)

@sausagerole thanks for that I will definitely look into it to get some advice. She has no problem feeding from breast from morning feeds until afternoon feeds but from about 4/5pm onwards that's when the issue starts. I know milk supply depletes as the day goes on but maybe it's dropping by so much at that time that she's not getting what she needs

I might also try pumping straight after a feed to see if that improves my supply over the next few days as I do really just want to stick to giving that one formula bottle in the evening and not having to supplement even more breast feeds

Do they go through a leap at 10 weeks which makes them want to be feeding more? I remember every few weeks, i'd feel like feeding was established then ds would fuss or feed more frequently and for longer and i'd feel like we were back to the start. I agree with pp, check with your health visitor

Make sure you are using a paced/responsive bottle feeding technique (google if you're not sure what it is) to counteract the flow preference that some babies develop when they're mix fed.

Could it be coincidental and she's just in a growth spurt? Do you have a pump- you could try fitting in some pumping sessions during the day for a boost as well. When she screams for more are you trying to put her back on the breast?

She has no problem feeding from breast from morning feeds until afternoon feeds but from about 4/5pm onwards that's when the issue starts.

This actually sounds normal. There is also a natural drop in supply some time after 6 weeks, so it could be that your supply is just settling down to its natural level and you need to do more evening cluster feeding to compensate.

@teezletangler I've just googled it and will give it a go! She is really good at latching and feeding from me so at the moment I don't think just the one bottle is doing much harm, plus we are using an extra slow flow teat so she uses the same sucking action and doesn't get lazy on breast

When she starts crying I do try to put her back on but by then she's already drained my breast and there's nothing else coming out so she won't stay on. This is when I've had to top up with formula

It may just be coincidental that it's around the time of a growth spurt/leap but I'll try pumping and hopefully that will increase my supply for her

Be careful you don’t end up in a vicious cycle. The more you too you with formula the more your supply won’t be able to meet her demand as your boobs aren’t being required to provide the milk that she is getting and aren’t receiving the signals that they need to make more (she is sucking at the bottle not you!). Google the top up trap. Best way to get your supply to meet her needs is to stop topping up and put her on the boob when she seems hungry. Your body will adjust and increase accordingly.

If you want to give a bottle then pump at the same time.

*top up not too you!

Also your boobs will make more milk, they’re not a reservoir ie if she keeps stimulating them then they will produce more milk even if she has drained what seemed to be there.

Sounds like cluster feeding, totally normal

@BabyGirlNumber2

Also your boobs will make more milk, they’re not a reservoir ie if she keeps stimulating them then they will produce more milk even if she has drained what seemed to be there.

That's my issue, she doesn't actually stay on to stimulate my breasts once she's drained them. So I think I need to pump straight after a feed

Hopefully it is a growth spurt/ cluster feeding like a few people have said and my supply will adapt to her needs

That’s normal though, they will pop off and have a grizzle and then pop back on 5 mins later. Totally natural way of building your supply. If she’s got plenty of wet and dirty nappies and is gaining weight then no need to worry. Your body is just getting used to regulating your supply, hence why you need to stay away from formula top ups!

I think it’s probably too early to move to mixed feeding if that’s what you’re hoping to do eventually as your body may not have yet built up a robust supply especially if she’s growing.

This sounds very normal. Babies love to cluster feed of an early evening. I BF my twins and we used to call it the witching hour. Around 4pm they would suddenly get very fussy and want to be on and off the boob all evening. As others have said, be careful of topping up with formula during this time as it my cause your supply to drop. I know it can be very hard though. What helped us is putting a good bed time routine in place with a set bedtime. It took a few weeks, but it helped our boys know that bed time was coming, which really calmed them down in the evening.

Sorry just to add, you talk about your breast being drained but a lactating breast is never fully empty - they're more like rivers than bottles. If you'd like I can PM you a link to the BFing FB group I've found really helpful?

Came on to post what Saussge has said but she beat me to it!
Don't forget about supply and demand here. Topping up with formula is fine if that's your choice but I think it will be detrimental to your supply ultimately.
When she fusses at the end of a feed can you try switching and alternating sides?

@MrsPatrickDempsey I've only topped up once in the day the past couple of days (outside of her regular formula bottle feed at night) I did come on my period this week so though that might have effected supply

I do normally offer both breast but I will try switching back and forth to see if that helps today and avoid the top up