It's very stressful when you find out your baby is not putting on weight and you doctor is telling you that she is hungry, but please don't feel guilty, Shan. You are not stupid! You have been doing a wonderful job, especially doing what you need to do to find out why Mia won't settle very well. Learning what a baby needs in the early days is so very hard - so much of it is learning and guessing early on - it happens to us all
You can certainly offer formula or expressed milk after a breastfeed, however many mums often find that before too long their babies find milk from a bottle is easier and can sometimes refuse the breast, as it is harder work for them. It can also mean that your own milk supply can suffer as you body learns to make more milk the more often Mia feeds and the more milk she removes from your breast. The less milk she takes from the breast, the less you will make.
You want to do everything possible to ensure that Mia is growing and putting on weight and is healthy and top-ups are one way of doing this, but you can do this just with breastfeeding too!
It's very normal for BF babies to cluster feed, especially around the age that Mia is. This is where they just want to have feed after feed, often less than an hour between feeds, and sometimes even just wanting to stay attached for hours. It is very normal, and it's a baby's way of making sure that you can increase your milk supply to match their needs to keep growing. I remember when my baby did this when she was a little bit over 6 weeks old. In the end I stayed in bed with her for two days straight, and just fed her every time she woke up, which was often only 10 minutes after I had put her to sleep! I know this is very hard to do when you have another little man running around your house and needing your attention - do you have someone who can help and keep your son entertained or take him out for a walk or an activity at times?
It's also very normal for young breastfed babies to feed as often as 10-12 times in 24 hours. This means that every 2 hours, sometimes less, sometimes more is roughly how long many babies can go before the need another breastfeed at Mia's age. Feeding her more frequently is definitely a way to also boost your milk supply to meet her needs. Could you try feeding her every 2 hours, (or whenever she stirs from sleep, if it is sooner than 2 hours) for a few days (yes, it's very hard work!) and see how you go from there?
How often is Mia feeding for on each side? Sometimes babies can come off the breast for a few minutes break before wanting to go back on again, so if she's been on the breast for only a few minutes before stopping, you can definitely try and put her back on the same side again. This can ensure she is getting as much milk as she needs, and that your breasts are being emptied well. You could aim for 20 minutes (each side, if she will take it!) and then you will know that she has had a full feed, and that's she's emptied your breasts well. You may even find that if you offered her a bottle after this time, she may not even need to take it.
Just thought I would offer some things that you can do to ensure that you don't need to rely on top-ups (formula or expressed milk) to give Mia the milk she needs, if you don't want to. It is very hard work (and I don't even have a 2.5 year old son!) breastfeeding a small baby in the early days, but you are doing a *fantastic* job - you just need to keep going and offering her more feeds, more often for longer and your milk supply should be able to meet her needs. It will always come down to the more milk that comes out of your breasts, the more you will make. Expressing means removing milk from your breast, but a baby can much more effectively remove milk than a pump can. Expressing is also a lot of extra hard work, and it is far easier to simply let Mia get extra breast milk by feeding more frequently.
You could also try ringing the ABA (Australian Breastfeeding Association) on 1800mum2mum for some more support for what you're going through, and there's so many lovely ladies here on BB - many of whom have been in your position - having a toddler and trying to establish breastfeeding in the early days - who can support you and help you.
Hope this is helpful, and please remember that whatever choices you make to feed Mia, you are a GREAT mum for doing everything you can to ensure she is healthy and happy, and most importantly, growing.
Shan, I totally agree with Miss C. There is nothing wrong with you or your milk. Nearly always when a baby isn't putting on weight well, all it takes is extra breastfeeds. 8 - 12 feeds in 24 hours is quite common at 7 weeks. If you do decide to comp, expressing and providing EBM is a better option, as this will increase your supply, where as giving formula will decrease your supply. Top ups can also be at the breast - often feeding again after 20 mins is all that's needed. See how you go with that hun - I know you can do this!
BTW, how is your DS going now? I haven't seen you around in a while - I guess you were too busy having another baby LOL!
It's very stressful when you find out your baby is not putting on weight and you doctor is telling you that she is hungry, but please don't feel guilty, Shan. You are not stupid! You have been doing a wonderful job, especially doing what you need to do to find out why Mia won't settle very well. Learning what a baby needs in the early days is so very hard - so much of it is learning and guessing early on - it happens to us all
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