poor supply?

[maras]

I've been checking through these threads and am feeling reassured already. Dd (3rd child) is now 14 weeks and has never been a great feeder and I'm finding b/feeding less satisfying than with the other 2. (She feeds often - usually a 4-5 hour stretch in the morning then 2 hourly in the afternoon and hourly in the evening. Somedays she'll have a few longer feeds (10-15 mins or so), but in general 4-5 minutes is average).
I've had her in our bed from day one (which I didn't do with the other 2) and she has got the habit of grazing through the night - ie half waking every half hour for literally a few slips after getting the let down then falling asleep. I was getting soooo tired (if I fall asleep first she doesn't stay latched on) that I am now trying to make the effort to sit up to feed her at night so she takes a bit more and goes a bit longer. I've also just started putting her in the cot for the first part of the night and bringing her to the bed after feed one or two when I haven't the energy to get up again, or she doesn't want to settle in the cot or there's a risk of her next wake-up waking my other 2!
The longest she's gone at night (in the cot) is a couple of 3 hour stretches, - the usual is feeding 2 hourly. In the bed it's usually hourly or less even if I sit up to feed - once or twice I've had a 3 hour break but this is rare.
I think the waking is a habit rather than hunger (even when I sit up at night she will only feed for a minute or so and is never wide awake - but could it be poor supply? Obviously the more fequently she feeds, the less I feel I have to offer as I never feel my breasts are "recharging" (- but I do feel a let down). Could it be a circle spiriling downwards in that her v short feeds are not enough to stimulate my supply?
(I know all the theory is to the contrary but I'm just paranoid - although I refuse to admit it to anyone - even dp! (My mother would have a fit if I was honest about the nights - she thinks formula is the answer to everything!).
Btw I know there can't really be a problem as baby is v fat (!!!) - haven't had her weighed recently but weight is fine - nappies fine etc!
Also know I have a tendency in the day to put her to the breast whenever she grizzles as a quick feed than happy or sleeping babe is easier to deal with when I'm racing round after the other 2 (aged 5 and 3) rather than trying to stretch the gap!
Other doubting point is that I'm now working one or 2 days a weeks - she takes bottles of ebm (- 3 - 4 ounces every 3 - 4 hours) so not a huge amount - but I find the expressing hard - I can only do it when she's feeding on one side to get the let down on the other side - otherwise it's impossible - and I have to feed a couple of times off one side to give the expressing side a chance to fill up - then I usually get about 4 oz so I guess this is what she usually takes on a feed. But the milk I freeze now looks very watery compared to what is was when I started expressing - when she was about 5 - 6 weeks old. Is this OK?
Lots of questions - I think I know the answers and things should be Ok - but I just need a bit of reassurance!! AND if anyones got any tips on how to get a bit more sleep!! Do not want to try controlled crying - yet!!
Many thanks anyone who has the time to answer (tiktok are you there?!). I never have to write at home - better apply myself to work now!!

Another point - if relevant - she was quite colicy in the early weeks and very difficult to wind. Even now there are some days when she seems to take on a lot of wind - and if she doesn't bring it up it causes her a lot of pain and she can come off the breast screaming until eventually there's an enormous burp and she's happy again. Don't know if this is relevant - I think I've heard that windy babies can feed more often. There's no pattern yet - some days she crys a lot and has wind problems other days longer feeds and some days really short feeds etc!
But in general (apart from the bad days) she's very happy and alert!
Sorry this is all so long - but I'm trying to offer up all the facts!!!!

I'm not an expert or anything but just a couple of things - if she's "fat" (your words not mine" then of course there is no problem at all with your supply! I have read that babies get most of the nutrition from a bf in the first 5-10 minutes so she's (a) a very efficient feeder and (b) getting a lot!
Sounds to me like you feed her quite a lot but not overmuch - she's still young. When you have the energy you could try making her wait a bit, distracting her etc. to stretch out the feeds a bit more and hopefully make that more of a habit.
I know what you mean about night times though - much easier to feed - just depends on how you feel about it - whether you really want her to go longer between feeds.
Lucky you getting her to take bottles. Mine always looked very watery if that's any comfort. But 3 out of 4 children wouldn't take it anyway so that was a waste of time for me!

Maras - there sounds as if there is absolutely nothing wrong with your supply. Your baby has just got into this habit of feeding. Personally I would not restrict her feeds during the day at all. You could perhaps try feeding her out of bed at night but that in itself is tiring if she doesn't settle - worth a try though.. Your baby sounds as thought she is thriving. Getting 4oz when expressing is a great amount too.
When I returned to work I actually expressed when my breasts felt fuller then fed the baby. Your breasts are NEVER empty. Expressing is less efficient than the baby actually feeding. It is better to get the flow going by hand expressing initially - I actually hand expressed all the time with my last baby because it was quicker than a pump. You will find expressing quicker by keeping switching from side to side as the flow slows instead fo pumping away when the milk is not letting down. Your milk will look different now because the content changes in response to the baby's age and needs. I found that the milk I expressed at night when I was working looked almost pale green! You are obviously doing a fabulous job but perhaps need to get your baby into a better routine at night - sorry no advice on that one. Try to ignore the clock at all times so that you do not know when you last fed or how frequent it is.
You can get lots of info on this site such as expressing leaflet etc.
www.babyfriendly.org.uk

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm sure we are doing OK, but it's so easy to let little doubts slip in!
I usually express when she's feeding as otherwise I find it hard to get a let down and only get an ounce or so off each side - and it's so time consuming! She usually only takes one side anyway. (Maybe this is why I don't often "fill up" as my supply has regulated well to her small demands). Even when I express at work after about 6 hours, although I'm pretty full then - I still don't always get the let down. I use the Medela battery/mains pump and usually only do it a couple of times a week (or at work whe I have to) just to keep my freezer stocks up! She has taken one small feed of formula when we were trying her with the bottle as I didn't want to waste too much expressed milk - so in one way I'm lucky I have the option if I do run out of stock - and although I find the expressing a real nuisance (I don't like doing it when the other children are around!), it almost becomes a challenge as I feel I don't want my working to be the reason she has some formula - although of course a couple of small feeds once a week is hardly going to have much effect on her well being!!