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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Does anyone else have a "just enough" milk supply?

11 replies

AlishaLouise · 09/10/2023 14:30

Hi! Second time mum here but first time breastfeeding.

My supply seems to be "just enough" borderline too low, in the morning and before bed I can't seem to satisfy her (i know they cluster feed at this time, but I can tell she is not getting enough out and she doesn't settle) so she often has a bottle of expressed milk in the morning and before bed.

She only feeds for 10 minutes during night feeds which allows me to pump enough for a feed in the morning. During the day i usually get enough for the night time bottle by catching let down throughout the day with my haaka.

Anyway, i was wondering if anyone else has had experience with a supply that was "just enough" and what you would do if you were out and couldn't feed baby?

I'm not producing enough to create a huge freezer supply and i have a wedding coming up where baby will be with me in the day but staying with a close family member overnight. I have managed to freeze about 50oz which i know is enough for one night but i'm worried will i ever be able to go to events like this again if i can barely produce enough to feed her, let alone for the freezer.

I'm trying to power pump when i have the time but doesn't seem to be increasing my supply. Is it even possible to increase supply at 8 weeks pp?

Also just to add i think the reason my supply is a bit low is because my baby was jaundice and very sleepy in the beginning she would only feed for 5 minutes a time and at the time i didn't pump (if i knew what i knew now back then then i would've pumped more often).

Any advice or just reassurance this isn't just me would be appreciated!

OP posts:

CelticPromise · 09/10/2023 14:57

It's quite normal for your supply to settle to just enough, if you have a significant oversupply you'd be at risk of mastitis etc so your body doesn't want an oversupply if that makes sense. It's really common to have unsettled evenings and feel that the flow is slower, less common n the morning but not abnormal. Does she take both breasts in the morning? You can switch back and forth several times. You might find she has a stronger effect on your supply than the pump. 24-30oz would be about right for 24 hours so sounds like your freezer stash is very healthy! Are you pace feeding the bottles?

lorisparkle · 09/10/2023 14:59

I certainly struggled to pump very much so I think it is normal to produce 'the right amount'. I never leaked and the only time I felt 'too full' was when the unexpectedly slept longer at night.

However I never gave bottles - only used little cups for expressed milk. I fed on demand and it all settled down.

Original poster

AlishaLouise · 09/10/2023 15:04

CelticPromise · 09/10/2023 14:57

Yes i do pace feed, i've been very lucky that she latched straight after birth and ever since and has had no problem taking to a bottle too. To be honest it's not every morning that she needs a top up, but i do believe when she does its because she only wakes up once during the night and only feeds for 10 minutes.
Should i be waking her for feeds during the night rather than using the pump?

OP posts:

Labradoodlie · 09/10/2023 15:07

I’ve never pumped very much , and I’ve never leaked. But I’ve fed two babies (one kept going till 2.5, the little one is 6 months). Both started tiny and are now 50th centile. Both also started sleepy and comfort fed a lot… but that’s just babies.

I suspect you’ve got plenty of milk for your baby, but pumping doesn’t do much for you (like many women).

Thisismynewusername1 · 09/10/2023 15:08

If your managing to express/collect that much and feed I’d say there’s nothing wrong with your supply.

around 8 weeks supply does settle to making what the baby needs. Which is why growth spurts=feeding marathons as the baby works to increase your supply.

pumping can often be counterproductive. It’s not as effective as a baby at stimulating supply, so by pumping instead of letting baby suckle more (even if they don’t actively feed) or feeding more you can actually reduce your supply. So when she has the bottles that is not stimulating your supply, so it will reduce- if you’d fed her that would increase your supply.

the only way I could express long term was to factor in another feed. So every day, at the same time (10pm usually, 3 hours after the bedtime feed). If I missed a day my supply very quickly adjusted and I’d have to start again and work up to being able to get 3-4 oz.

it’s a very fine balance and one of the reasons why combi feeding or even the odd bottle can affect breastfeeding, and why for most it’s almost impossible to pump enough to exclusively feed ebm.

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 09/10/2023 15:12

Breast milk is higher in fat at the end of a feed . The fore milk is quite watery. Just let her feed until she's satisfied and you'll have enough.

Original poster

AlishaLouise · 09/10/2023 15:13

Labradoodlie · 09/10/2023 15:07

I suspect you’ve got plenty of milk for your baby, but pumping doesn’t do much for you (like many women).

Thanks for your reply. That makes sense! i'm just wondering what women do in regards to feeding when they are apart from their babies.
I guess its still early to be spending the night away from her but i'm a bridesmaid at this wedding and has been planned for years!

OP posts:

Labradoodlie · 09/10/2023 15:21

i'm just wondering what women do in regards to feeding when they are apart from their babies.

They just go wherever I do!

Original poster

AlishaLouise · 09/10/2023 15:25

Labradoodlie · 09/10/2023 15:21

i'm just wondering what women do in regards to feeding when they are apart from their babies.

They just go wherever I do!

I thought this would be the only answer. I unfortunately don't think this would work for me as my mental health would suffer not being able to have a break occasionally, as selfish as it sounds...

Thank you for your response!

OP posts:

CelticPromise · 09/10/2023 15:30

No need to wake her, just put her back on the breast in the morning instead of top up. She'll get another letdown. Most milk is made while baby feeds rather than stored.

Thisismynewusername1 · 09/10/2023 15:41

AlishaLouise · 09/10/2023 15:13

Show quote history

Re. Being apart from baby.

for my first I pissed around with pumping, expressing bottles, worrying about having a big enough freezer stash. It was honestly so draining, double the work and mentally taxing. I did it mainly because of the pressure from other people calling me selfish or a martyr for not giving them a chance, people telling me I needed to allow dh to feed so he could bond, and lots of “concern” for me saying I needed to give bottles so I could have a break. I never got a break because I was always feeding, sterilising, and pumping. Everyone else got the break sitting on the sofa feeding bottles while I ran around!

my second I swore I wouldn’t and it was so much more chilled. Yes breaks were short but I’d feed, nip to the shop or park, or a cafe on my own. Or I’d take baby with me and she’d nap while I sat with a drink, cake and a magazine.

i got more breaks when I wasn’t spending all my time with expressing etc.

it’s only very short anyway. You’re in the thick now but by 12 weeks a routine will emerge. By 6 months they’ll be weaning, and then breaks will be much easier as their carer can give solids if you need to go out for more prolonged periods. I had a friend who worked nights and her husband used to get up and make the 6m old a weetabix or yogurt at 3 am rather than a breastfeed.

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