For those who bottle fed first bub and then breast fed a subsequent baby

[LuluHB]

Do you ever get past second guessing yourself that you have enough milk? Miss A fed every 2 hours yesterday and then every three overnight, feeding both sides, after it being more like 3-4 hourly during the day and up to 8 hours overnight, so I spent most of the night awake in between her feeds stressing that she's feeding so often because there's not enough there each feed. I'm never getting that feeling of being really full. I fed DD2 for 5 months before switching to formula and was constantly leaking between feeds so with her I knew there was plenty there.

Whatever downsides there may be to formula feeding, at least I always knew that my girls were drinking as much as they wanted, not just as much as was available IYKWIM.

Is it enough to just have a baby with plenty of wet nappies and that is gaining weight? Are they really the only indicators that are relevant to the whole supply thing?

[~clover~]

I bottle fed 2, then breast fed 2. By the time I had DS I knew about babies cycles of sleep & growth spurts, so never questioned it.

Both fed 2 hourly through the day til 8 or more months old. Every day. Nights were the only feeds that really changed. Some nights were hourly, some nights they'd sleep for 6 - 8 hours straight.

She's probably going through a wonder week too. I can't remember, but pretty sure growth spurts & wonder weeks both happen around 12/14 weeks.

Long as she's having plenty of wet & dirty nappies, & is settled after a feed (even for an hour ) she's getting plenty

ETA- Breast milk NEVER runs out (unless in rare cases it dries up). Give her a feed, then try express a little after. I guarantee there'll still be milk there to squeeze out

[OceanPrincess]

...Is it enough to just have a baby with plenty of wet nappies and that is gaining weight? Are they really the only indicators that are relevant to the whole supply thing?

Those two are great indicators! But there are some others - how many feeds in a 24 hr period? You'd expect 8-12, which it sounds like she is doing. Other growth, not just weight - head, length are good indicators too.

What about behaviour? Obviously babies can have some unsettled periods but how is she otherwise?

The ABA has some good info here:
https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/lowsupply.html

Check the dot points after the sentence in bold.

FWIW - I have never had that really full feeling or leaking boobs, with either of mine! Maybe I will with this one!

[HotI]

i have bf both mine, but my boobs adjusted earlier 2nd time around - less leaking and less engorgement - and i think that is pretty common.

Yep, i just go by those indicators. Your feeding sounds fine to me.

[LuluHB]

Thanks for that link OP. I'm sick at the moment as well as her so that could be affecting stuff - hadn't thought of how I'm feeling affecting things. Yep, definitely growth not just weight - she's just grown out of all her 000s. And look at you - soooo close now

Thanks for the reassurance ladies.

[OceanPrincess]

Thanks Hun Getting there!

Lu you have had a pretty tough journey with DD3 and BF - I am so impressed that you are hanging in there. One day, soon I hope, all this will be a distant memory You're doing a wonderful job.

[Liviam]

Hun it sounds like Little Miss A has hit her 3 month growth spurt. Either that or H has been in her ear telling Miss A how much he makes me feed him, LOL!!

I'm b/f'ing my 3rd and I still have moments/days were I worry about my supply too hun. I just look at them and they are usually happy, healthy and growing like little weeds and that reassures me. I ignore weight gain because that just drives me insane.

You are doing an amazing job hun

[HotI]

How are you doing now, Hun?

I really admire those who breastfeed a 2nd or 3rd child after having difficulties with earlier kids.

[LuluHB]

Thanks for checking up on us. She's still a bit hit and miss. Last night was brilliant - she fed at 7.30 pm when she went to bed, 12.30 am and then again at 1.30 am (I think we both just fell asleep before she'd really finished the first time so the 1.30 am feed was really just a top up), and then didn't have another feed again until I woke her at 8am. Today was every two to three hours. Her cold is a little better and I think that is definitely helping her feed more efficiently. Dunno. Maybe its just one of those things where I need to let go of my need to understand it and just take each day as it comes.

Dan - I don't think I'm going to have any issues with this one with weight gain unless its too much! Unlike I and E, she's a serious little buddha baby and is growing like a weed.

[Ilithyia]

I AF fed DD1 ad BF DD2.

With DD2 I found that my breasts adjusted to the milk supply very quickly, I didn't experience that painful engorgement you get as your milk comes in nor did I feel really full at other points but I fed her until she was 13 months.

I think our bodies work things out different with subsequent babies. It's like they know what to do better the next time round.