Feel like supply isn't enough for 5 month old

[TBC45678]

Just that really! For the past few weeks I feel like my milk isn't satisfying my 5 mo. He's quite a big baby but since birth has dropped from 91st centile to 75th (HV not worried). He often fusses at the breast and sometimes cries a little when he comes off. I swap breasts and my let down still feels strong, but it seems to slow down quite soon. He's always been a quick feeder - about 5-7 mins or so.

He does have the odd bottle, a couple a week maybe so I get a longer sleep stretch, but he still wakes a few times over night, so I rarely go more than 4 hours without feeding even over night. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong! I've been quite stressed with a baby and a toddler, and maybe not eating quite enough? I breastfed my eldest for 14 months with no problem, but I just feel like it's not enough for this baby and I'm really tempted to start topping up each breastfeed with formula, which I know will begin to affect my supply and may end up with moving exclusively to bottle feeding.

Could it be that he's ready for solids? I don't have anything against formula feeding, but feel a bit sad that my breastfeeding journey may be coming to an end before I wanted it too. I really don't want him to be hungry though.

Any tips on either boosting my supply, or slowly phasing out breastfeeding for a baby of this age?

Also just to say he's been moody with teething (got 2 teeth in the past couple of weeks) so maybe that's been affecting him seeming more disatisfied? I can't really say if he seems more content after a bottle feed to be honest. Think he's pretty much the same, and he doesn't sleep any longer or anything like that. In fact last night he had a 200ml bottle of formula and then I had to breastfeed for 10 mins to get him off to sleep...

Yes it could be teething but l think maybe he's more hungry than you think.

What about combi feeding between bottle and breast, obviously increasing the number of bottles he has so that ita 50:50

The only way to boost supply is to feed him more don't worry about the clock (unless you are very busy with work or something)

My kids started teething early at about 4/5 months. It's very uncomfortable/painful for them so they may want to feed more for comfort. Check the guns, you may feel a bump on the lower jaw. You can try teething gel as well ;)

@grey12 yes, I have been trying to put him on the breast more, IE when he wakes from a nap and also before he goes down for a nap, but if I do that he only takes a super short feed... Not sure if it's because there's not enough milk for him to bother or because he's not hungry

Also when I squeeze my breast after he's come off, most times milk will still spurt out, so it's not like there's absolutely nothing there.

Babies go through a massive developmental leap at 4 months, which often leads to them being fussy at the breast because they're so interested in everything around them. Their sleep also often goes very wobbly, and the leap lasts 4-6 weeks so you could well still be in it.

If his weight is OK and he's having the right amount of wet and dirty nappies I'd just keep feeding on demand. From what you've said it doesn't sound like there's a problem with your milk supply, but if you are still worried is there any feeding support local to you that can watch you feed him and see what they think?

What makes you think he's still hungry? My eight month old is a boob snacker and has always had at least 12 up to 20 feeds a day. At least three over night still now. As long as you're getting plenty of wet and dirty nappies at this stage I don't think there's an issue. I read fear of under supply ends breastfeeding early more than any other maternal worry past 3 months as so many start topping up with formula which ultimately ends breastfeeding. Unless you want to stop, keep offering the boob and trust baby.

Thanks @Flittingaboutagain, that's my worry, that I'll start supplementing and my supply will tank. I don't feel ready to stop breastfeeding yet.

I guess just his general fussiness and the popping on and off the boob makes me worry about hunger. But like you say that could be put down to teething etc, he's also learned to roll and is doing some impressive babbling, so he's got a lot going on at the moment! I'll persevere for a few weeks longer and see how we get on.

The fussing at the breast could be caused by nipple confusion. Stop the bottles for a while and see if things improve?

From everything you’ve said it sounds like he’s getting enough milk. Remember that most five month olds don’t go more than four hours at night without a feed; babies that sleep through the night are much rarer than mums who lie and say their babies sleep through.