Supply question

[alejorge]

I had to relactate when the baby was 3 weeks old. Not sure what happened but I dried up. It took me from April 8th till now to get the baby to taking just 2 bottles a night. He is exclusively breast during the day but at night he will get 2 bottles sometimes 3 bottles. Around 9:30pm he goes down for the night. I for the life of me can't get him off that bottle. He will drink a 6oz bottle of formula. Then go to sleep. Then wake up about 3 to 4 hours later to eat again. Normaly I will give him another bottle of formula about a 4oz bottle. Then at 7:30am he gets up again and I will start breast feeding him again. My main problem is he is starting to refuse the bottle. Should I cut out the middle of the night bottle or keep it? I would pump for those bottles but I can only get about 1/2oz to 1 1/2oz when i pump which is way to little of EBM for the baby. If you ladies have any input on things I should try that would be really great thanks.

[jessiehannan]

try bfing him for that one feeding?

[whitnessforhim]

First of all pumping is not an indication of your milk supply. Pumping only tells you how much you can pump.

Do you offer to nurse him for those night feedings or just automatically give the bottle? If you do offer is he fussy while nursing?

If he is preferring you over the bottle could he be taking the bottle for comfort, not necessarily because he is hungry?! Personally, if he is not fussy while you are nursing during those normal "bottle" feedings I'd nurse him and kick those bottle feedings and pumpings all together. By nursing him at night when he wakes your supply will build back up in a few days. Again, if he isn't fussy at any of the nursings just nurse as much and as long as he wants and co-sleep if you can for your sanity.

[alejorge]

THE ONLY NURSING SESSION WHERE HE IS FUSSY IS THE 9:30PM FEEDING i CAN NURSE AND NURSE AND HE IS STILL FUSSY AND SCREAMING AT ME SO THAT IS WHY i GIVE HIM THE BOTTLE AT THAT FEEDING. THE OTHER FEEDING WHERE I GIVE THE BOTTLE IS JUST BECAUSE THAT IS HOW I HAVE ALWAYS DONE IT. i WANT HIM TO BE EXCLUSIVELY BREAST FED. I DON'T WANT HIM TO GET ANY MORE FORMULA. I JUST DON'T HAVE QUITE ENOUGH FOR THAT 9:30PM FEEDING.

[whitnessforhim]

Its very normal for milk production to be much slower/less in the evenings. I'd always offer breast first and supplement after when he seems not satisfied.
I would try nursing him for the other feeding and see how that goes.

[dimplesx3]

I would definately try nursing him for that middle of the night feeding.
It will tell your body to make milk during that time.
Have you tried cosleeping during that night feeding?
This is so you can just latch him on and go back to sleep.

[alejorge]

For some odd reason I can't nurse comfortably laying on my side in bed with the baby. Is ther a trick to getting it to be comfy? I have nursed in bed and been ok not quite comfy but enough for the baby to eat and sleep but he will stay on my boob all night instaed of taking breaks.

[whitnessforhim]

Usually what I do is lay on my side with my arm underneath the pillow. Then I use a couple of pillows to support my back...so I can lean back but not all the way flat. That helps a lot for me. Usually once their sound asleep your boob will just pop out of their mouth.

[jessiehannan]

It was far more comfortable for me to lay Sam ontop of a pillow and nurse her on the top breast rather than the bottom breast, she could breathe better w/o mommie's boob suffocating her. I would also lean against DH for support so I wouldn't roll.