Milk supply puzzle

[JendleWendleBells]

I have heaps of milk at night but during the day at various points there just seems to be none at all. DS2 sucks furiously, pulls and tugs and cries and it is very frustrating. He is 5 weeks old. DS1 was BFed for 16 months and I had no problems at all with him and assumed it would be just as easy this time.

I have been doing everything I can to increase supply ... latch has been checked, feeding on demand, switch feeding, pumping between feeds, taking hebral supplements ...

TBH I don't mind giving him a bottle or two of formula each day, but I would prefer if there is some predictability to it. I don't feel that I can go out with him without having a bottle just in case.

Today I spent the entire day in bed and had two big naps and it made NO DIFFERENCE! So it's not as simple as saying that it's sleep and rest ... could it be something to do with the dark?

is it perhaps to do with you being relaxed [babies are mini mood sensors, aren't they] and if you are worrying in the day about what he is having / when / how much etc then you are - even subconsciously, a little bit stressed over it?
Obv only you know how you feel, and I might be talking twaddle. just didnt want your post unanswered

I found on my last one that the tea time feed just wasn't happening because I was soooo stressed out trying to get everything done for everybody else. Cook tea, do homework etc. etc. etc. I ended up formula feeding for that one feed, secure in the knowledge that the night time feed would be plentiful.

is that the way to go again, then? If it would help family-wise, then go for it.
I have to say that was the hardest feed to do with DC2 & 3, as you say purely down to the demands of family life. If, a few weeks down the track, you wanted to re-introduce it then you more than likely could.
Don't push yourself to express if you have barely time to do the the necessities at mealtimes. Could you express in the evening, refridgerate overnight and give the milk the following day when your time is most in demand?
The other little thing that occurred to me, but only you will know, is that if the baby is doing mad sucking rather than "milking" the breast, he won't get anything and will become frustrated and take himself off, mainly letting you know by shouting his head off. Feeding your other child for 16 mo is no mean feat, so dredge up your knowledge and confidence and do what is best for you because ultimately a calm mum is what's best for your baby. So early, you can make quite a few adjustments and your boobs will cope. As you know!
wishing you loads of luck.

I don't think I'm stressed during the day. My husband is home full time and DS1 goes to nursery. Apart from being a bit sleep deprived, I feel fine. In fact I am much less stressed than I was with DS1.