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Baby losing weight after began breastfeeding more than formula

6 replies

alw93 · 01/03/2021 22:33

I have an 8 week old and my plan was to exclusively breastfeed. However due to bad jaundice and milk supply not brill at the beginning (as well as baby inheriting my appetite) I have been combi feeding. When he started to cluster feed I pretty much formula fed in the day and breast fed during the night.
After a breast feeding support worker talked to me about upping my supply she suggested I pump and replace some bottles with breast which I have and all has been going well.
However, my son has gone from 10lb 8oz to 10lb 6oz in a couple of week.
I know I may be waaayyy overthinking it as a couple of ounces is not dramatic but I feel awful that my son may be going hungry not getting full with me and missing those calories and fullness he was used to with bottles throughout the day.
When he feeds he is usually the one to pull away. And his second feed of the day and last one before bed seem to settle him. But I've realised he's been very fussy after bottles now, essentially wanting more, and I feel so guilty thinking now it's because he's more hungry overall as I've taken his 'bigger' meals away from him.
My husband says to go back to formula and to feed him expressed milk when I have a bottles worth so we can keep keep eye on his ounces but I think I'm gonna miss the closeness of breastfeeding and don't want to give it up yet if I don't have to.
Am I overreacting?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CatherinedeBourgh · 01/03/2021 22:37

Are the bottles you’ve been giving formula or expressed bm?

What happens if you offer him the breast again after he’s pulled away? Will he take milk from a bottle after a bf?

jakeyboy1 · 01/03/2021 22:41

It sounds like it's all getting a bit complicated, don't pump if you don't need to! If he was fine before and you were with the previous routine go back to that. Obviously he needs to start gaining weight but hopefully it's just a blip.

alw93 · 01/03/2021 22:45

They are formula (aptamil) 6 ounces. One in the morning. One at night. I breastfeed throughout the day.
He usually pulls away because he has gotten tired and falls asleep for a few minutes. When he awakes he doesn't root again if I'm still holding him.
It seems to be purely after his bottles he's wanting more when they are finished but will settle after a minute or so.
I've never immediately offered after a breast feed as he always seems content after or has fallen asleep.

OP posts:
alw93 · 01/03/2021 22:51

Thank you

OP posts:
peachypetite · 01/03/2021 23:00

Has someone assessed your latch and technique?

CatherinedeBourgh · 02/03/2021 17:24

When ds1 was seriously underweight the doc told me to bf him first then offer the bottle, so that if he had stopped due to a supplyissue he wouldn’t go hungry. I would also switch sides when he pulled away, sometimes more than once a feed, to try to keep him feeding.

In the end, the breastis more work than the bottle, so they can get a bit lazy, you just have to keep encouraging them.

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