Topping up breastfeeding

[indi80]

Hi,
I'm after some advice please. My LB is 12 days old and we have breastfed from day 1.
He dropped 8%of birthweight and on day 8 he hadn't gained anything back so midwifes recommended we top up with formula. On day 11 he hadn't gained weight so they want us to continue topping up for the moment. He is breastfeeding every half hour or so for 20mins each side but still demolishes a bottle with 30ml in. He is also a little jaundice. Has anyone else gone through something similar? I'm concerned about my supply as he seems full one minute and starving the next, until he gets formula?
TIA

Hi DC2 is 5 days old and we were advised to top up too because of jaundice and loosing 8% in first two days.
Seems to be picking up now tho. It was the same with my DD who was super tricky as she hated the bottle.

Have you tried doing anything to increase your supply? Pumping between feeds and use breast shells seemed to help me up my supply.

Good luck

Your supply will keep up with the amount he's taking from you.

So 40min bf, 30min wait including bottle, and repeat? He finishes a 30ml bottle or her takes 30ml from a bigger bottle? And after every feed? Unless I've got something wrong that's a lot of milk, how big is he?

There is a good La Leche League article about this:
www.laleche.org.uk/my-baby-needs-more-milk/

Has your baby been checked for tongue tie? That might make feeding difficult or less efficient, meaning the baby will feel unsatisfied after feeding. As far as I know, breastmilk is digested faster so baby will be hungrier sooner than on formula.

If you are supplementing with formula it is suggested that you also express milk in order to maintain your milk supply (or use expressed milk to top up him at feeds).

It does get easier with time, you are doing great, stick with it!

Also have you spoken to a breastfeeding specialist: they’re really helpful. I always kept mine on one boob per feed to make sure they got the fatty hind milk: but if you’ve been advised to switch sides after 20mins there might be good reason for that. Just an idea really.

Hi, sorry the 30ml formula is every 3 hours. It is just breastfeeding inbetween that feels like it's constant. I will give expressing a go to keep up supply, it just seems as though we are spending every minute feeding at the moment which is exhausting. I haven't checked for tongue tie but I will ask them to take a look when we go back this week for weighing.

Thanks for the advice!