Jessii, you are doing really well hun. The first few weeks with a new baby are very confusing

As the other posters have mentioned, breastfeeding works on supply and demand - the more often your breast is emptied, the more milk you make. Also, milk is made more quickly when your breasts are empty. Frequent feeding is the key to increasing your supply. If she doesn't seem to have had enough during a feed, another option is to top her up by putting her back to the breast about 20 minutes after a feed - you will have made more milk by then. Then if she still seems hungry you could try the bottle after that.

Your concerns about whether your little girl is getting enough milk without top ups are very common - this is the most common thing that mums worry about. So it can help to know the signs that your baby is getting enough milk. The easiest way to tell if she is getting enough milk is to look at what is coming out the other end. A baby who is getting enough milk will have 5 heavily wet disposables in 24 hours (or 6 - 8 pale wet cloth nappies), and at that age, 2 or more runny or soft poos are normal. Weight gain is another sign, but weight gains can vary a lot from week to week, so often it is better to look at this over a 3 - 4 week period. Hopefully knowing these signs will give you some confidence to experiment with easing or stopping the bottles, as you will be able to tell from the nappies if she is getting enough.

Sometimes mums with sleepy babies find it easier to take the baby's clothes off (except the nappy) to feed. They offer one side, tickling toes, using a damp face-washer, or blowing on their face to wake them during the feed in necessary. Once the baby seems to have stopped drinking, you can take her off, change her nappy to wake her up, and offer the other side. If none of these techniques work, you can try lying her on her legs, then lifting her up into a sitting position, then lying her down again etc to see if that opens her eyes. Also, babies are able to feed during the light sleep cycle, so feeding while she is asleep might also be an option for you. Another trick is to feed in the bath.

The other thing that might be happening is that her attachment mightn't be quite right, so she is not getting much milk out during a feed. When she feeds at the breast, does she get into a rythmic "suck, swallow" pattern? This is a good sign as it means that you have had a let down and she is drinking your milk. If this isn't happening then it might be an idea to see a Lactation Consultant for some help with attachment.

I also agree with the suggestion to call 1800 mum 2 mum (1800 686 2 686). The ABA counsellors are very reassuring and helpful and it's a toll-free, 24 hour helpline, so you can call anytime. Sometimes just talking to someone who understands can make a big difference.

Best of luck with it all hun.