OK, so I've managed to EBF for 12 weeks and I'm well chuffed with that! However it all seems to be going downhill and whilst I desperately want to carry on my confidence in my own ability to feed DD is plummeting.
I know this is a common worry, but I'm really concerned about supply. DD feeds every 2 hours during the day at the mo and I'm knackered, but what she needs she gets! She has slept 6-7 hours per night for the past 8 weeks, for which I'm grateful and until now it doesn't seem to have affected things.
First 2-3 feeds of the day are fine, but in the late afternoon/evening she fusses at the breast and makes highly amusing but worrying grunting noises! This makes me think my flow is inadequate and it guts me to think I don't have enough for her. There definitely seems to be less milk there than earlier in the day.
I work 2 eves per week and need to express for that, but she feeds so much now that I don't get the chance to express!! Aargh! What if I run out?! Can I use formula?? (I always express at work to 'keep things going'). Having said that, since she has uppped her feeds to 9 or 10 a day, I am able to obtain more volume when I do express, so surely all is in working order?!
She always takes both breasts for a min of 10 mins, max of say, 40 or so. Plenty of wet & pooey napppies and seems well in herself, but getting increasingly 'angry' re feeds (or lack thereof?)!
On top of all this she is only 10lbs! I can't tell you how sad I get when I take her to the clinic after doing nothing with my life but feed all week to find she has only gained 3oz! HV says I worry too much and that this is prob her pattern of weight gain.
Somebody help me! I have searched the archives for hours on this topic and the advice has been wonderful, but I just need extra reassurance. Please tell me I don't need to give up!
Apologies for the War And Peace post