Not enough milk?

[Gingerbread987]

My baby doesn’t seem to be satisfied, even after a super long feed and often needs a formula top up.
Any tips for increasing milk supply at 7 weeks.
We had a dodgy start due to severe tongue tie.

Congratulations on your new baby!

Could you try to offer boob as often as possible? The more baby latches on, the more milk you will make. Have you spoken with a La Leche League leader perhaps? Or an IBCLC? They are so, so knowledgeable - much more so than normal midwives.

Long feeds are also normal at this age - they don't necessarily indicate anything is wrong.

It's very normal for long feeding sessions at this age. I would spend hours and hours feeding my twins. A lot of it is comfort too it's all they know how to do at this age. Also the more you feed, the more milk you supply so it's like a constant catch up. I would just put my feet up , movies, snacks and embrace the long hours. My toddlers are now weaned and I would do anything to go back to those long feeding times!

Thank you! I think I’m just worrying a bit so I appreciate your reply. I was waiting for our local milk cafe to reopen after Xmas but it’s not until next Monday.

Thank you so much for your comment, I think perhaps I just needed a bit of reassurance. I’m in awe of you breastfeeding twins!

Look up cluster feeding 😊 7 weeks is the prime age to be doing this. I would stop formula top ups and put back in breast / other breast or at the very least pump while feeding formula to help maintain your supply. Combi feeding is fine but you need to take other measures to maintain your milk supply of your going to supplement 😊

I thought I didn't have enough milk but I realise now that I definitely did. You will make what the baby needs. Keep going! You're doing great x
I found pumping very helpful, it stabilised and increased my supply and got my baby used to taking a bottle as well as breast.

@stonedaisy thank you so much for that, it’s so hard isn’t it.
how did you balance pumping and feeding? Any tips that might help me?

@YetiSeven thank you! So with stopping the top ups would I just keep passing him from boob to boob until he comes off? I’ve got a pump, but he also only contact naps so I’m struggling to fit it in

Yeah so unless weight gain is a concern, or you have worries about nappy out put, or your HV has advised the top ups I personally would keep going with breast only, it's not uncommon for them to feed from both in one feeding. It's tiresome in these early weeks but it's not uncommon for a cluster feeding baby to feed for an hour and be fussing again in about half an hour to do the same. One day I barely moved off the sofa, just found some good TV and got my husband to bring me lots of drinks and snacks 😂 once the supply is where baby wants it to be they will stop.

Yeah pumping is hard but I'd recommend Id you could, and if you wanted to keep up with the bottle and formula, If anyone else is able to give the bottle so you can pump while they do if possible? Essentially a bottle given of formula and no pumping is a missed feed and can alter supply. It's a minefield! But I'm sure la leche website has great advice on combi feeding 😊

Sorry for late reply.. i started off pumping both boobs once a day when baby was sleeping and any milk i collected i stored in a sterilised bottle in the fridge. I had a one boob electric pump so would do one at a time while watching tv. I drank loads of cucumber water and oaty cookies.

Increased pumping to maybe twice a day after a week + but i was mindful to not over pump as baby would want to breastfeed when awake..
long evening breast feeds would happen too, The baby would stop and start again.. it all increases and maintains supply x