Bf @ 5 weeks

[An89]

Started bf at 5 weeks now doing combo feeding with about 300mls formula/ day.
Baby now 8 weeks
Saw health visitor and she said my feeding wasn't effective and my milk supply is low (baby Will only suck for short time then use me as comforter before going back to sucking again.so feeding can go on & on. Baby is producing 6 wet nappies/ day and weight percentile (9th centile).

Feel awful after being told re milk supply. How do I ensure effective milk feeding

That sounds very stressful! Five to six weeks is hard (lol, the whole time is hard...) because often the baby is having or about to have a growth spurt, so they pop on and off, want to feed constantly, etc.

I combination feed (just weaning fully to bottles now at seven months) and was probably giving slightly less formula at 5 weeks, but my baby is (and was) 50th centile. Is your baby holding on to their centile? Are YOU happy with their growth? Does 9th centile sound right for you and your partner's body sizes? HV sometimes like to worry - and make YOU worry - about things that are actually normal.

Some things I did to try and keep the baby feeding at the breast: switching side when you feel the flutter suck kick in; changing their nappy mid-feed to keep them alert; tickling their ears to keep them focused on feeding instead of sleeping; and blowing on their face to activate a swallow reflex (it's A Thing https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1499357/ and the midwife recommended it to me after birth).

If you aren't too worried, you could wait before deciding to introduce more formula. There is a good chance the baby will become more efficient at feeding quite soon (12 weeks? I already can't remember...) and the problem may resolve itself. And if you do need to give more formula, then that's fine and you can still breastfeed the baby, which benefits you both. You are doing great.

Sounds like there may be a problem with the latch if feeds are taking so long and supply is dipping.

Could you pay for a lactation consultant? I got one and she was worth every penny. Are there any breastfeeding support groups in your area? Increasing your supply is all about keeping baby at the breast. The night feeds are extremely important. Don't give formula at night/evenings as that's when yoour body produces the most of the lactation hormone.