Increasing milk supply and top ups

[newmummy470]

I put a thread on here a week or so ago about my lo . Shes 13Wk. She is ebf and I think feeding well. I always offer both sides she's content between feeds. Feeds approx 6-7 times. 3-4 hourly in day and one 6-7 hour stretch at night. Although sometimes wakes up b4. Wet nappies through day and at least 2 poos. Soft and yellow. She's alert and progressing well in all other areas. HV could see this and was happy with everything else. Just that her weight seems to 'be plateauing.She was born 7.4 went down to 6.3 but quickly regained. Now on Monday weighed 9.13 at 12weeks 3 days. Height 53cm at birth now 60cm.

HV has suggested my milk supply may be low and she could do with some more calories. Even though lo is doing so well on all other areas. So suggested I pumped after feeds, at least once after her usual 3/4am feed and after morning feed. Although I've tried to add in a couple more. Done this two days. Pumped for 10min on each side. Left side don't get much at all but always felt this was weaker breast. In total got 3oz first day and 4oz today. Gave this to lo as a top up feed yesterday and this evening and she had it all, (even though she'd Fed well from me beforehand. Detached herself on one side. Fell asleep on other. I also pumped after this feed but only got about 1oz)
So my questions. Looking for a second opinion. Is there really an issue when she is coming on in all other ways. Could it be my milk supply even though she feeds well and is content between my feeds. How come though she'll then take the top up feed?. And will my milk supply increase so I won't have to pump and top up this way.
HV coming back Monday to weigh her again so will have tried this for a week.
I'm just worried for last 3 months she's not been having enough, when ive thought everything was ok and will I always now have to pump to get her this additional amount, as I may not always have the time
I really want to carry on bf but wondering whether it's enough for her now.

How is she tracking along her weight centile? I'd be thinking that if she seems to be feeding well and is content between feeds (and those seem to be lovely spaces between feeds) then your supply is fine? I remember this period of establishing bf'ing, I was always worrying my supply was rubbish and we were doing it wrong! Still going a year later so we must have been doing something right. Try not to worry, hopefully her next weigh in will be reassuring for you. X

If you want to pump to increase your supply then I would freeze what you pump for the time being, as each time you give her the expressed milk you wi be reducing her demand for normal bf milk - she'll end up getting the same amount of milk in the end, it's just some of it will be via a bottle.

So, you need to keep putting her on the breast exactly the same and then pump extra to increase demand.

Sorry, posted to early.

By increasing demand, you will increase supply - once you've done that drop the expressing and just try with an increased supply.

Hopefully TikTok, or someone similar will be along soon - as I've just covered how to increase supply, not whether you actually need to!

I would suggest putting her to the breast more often -more like every 90mins to 2 hourly. This what I did to build my supply and her weight up with DD once her tongue tie was properly sorted. If she doesn't want it she'll refuse if you offer but I found with DD that she didn't always ask as she was used to her tummy not being completely full IYSWIM.

When it was as hot as this, the breastfeeding mums (including those with no supply/weight problems) would offer every hour. I get hungry and thirsty more than every 3-4 hours so I'd imagine a baby with a tiny stomach would too. It's the little snacks that really help.

The other thing that really helped was feeding her more often at night. This is when you produce more prolactin and can build your supply quicker. Again she didn't really ask so I brought her into bed with me (safely! ) so she could smell the milk. Initially she fed 5-6 times but this did calm down and she started putting on 8oz a week.

Have you tried breast compressions too? Google them -Jack Newman has excellent advice on them.

Good luck newmummy and keep us updated x

Yes, feed her more often - a baby is far more effective (by a country mile) at getting your supply up than pumping would ever be. At 13 weeks she should be having 8-12 feeds a day, not 6-7, so I wouldn't let her go longer than 2 hours between feeds (unless she's asleep).

Thanks for all the advice and tips. HV rang this morning and said because I've been able to pump 4oz over a day they don't think supply is an issue. Perhaps as Monikita says she's just used to not having a full tummy and just takes enough to keep herself ticking over?
She did ask to be fed more often yesterday, every 2 hours and it was warm and also woke for an extra night time feed at 1.30am. Last night back to normal though.
Gorgeouspie she has gradually fallen below the centile she was on. So HV is hoping top ups I'm giving this week will boost her back up on track. I only give her the top up at night straight after I've fed her and it doesn't seem to have effected when she asks to be fed again.
Yes hopefully Tiktok will also reply.
I'll update on Monday to see what her weight increase is then and what HV says. Even with pumping to increase supply though I can't imagine she'll eventually start taking an extra 4oz directly from me at night?
And they say breastfeeding is natural and your body knows what to do! I'm not convinced anymore!

I'm quite new to mumsnet....will this thread stay open so I can keep updates. I think her weight issue may be more ongoing n no doubt I'll want to ask more questions?

Yes, the thread will stay, though it will disappear from your 'Threads I'm On' search you'll be able to see 'Threads I Started'.