weight gain and supplementing

[Isadora]

I have had dramas with bfeeding from the start, but these days things have improved greatly. Baby is now almost 4 months and seems to be feeding well. She is still tiny though, and one week lost 50g, the nurse was not worried about this and told me to feed as often as possible. So I increased her feeds, fed at least every 2 hours and included top ups here and there between the 2 hrs itms? Due to this the next week she gained 90g. Apparently 90g still wasnt enough. I kinda put this in one ear and out the other as she seemed happy.

Over the past couple of weeks, she hasnt been the happiest baby. She is constantly wanting to be fed, which I have been doing with no problem. She is on at least 10-12 main feeds per day and has top up feeds all over the place. I feel like I am constantly feeding. However, this is not the problem. She just seems so hungry. I know it could be a growth spurt, but I wonder if I am not supplying enough. I have tried everything to increase my supply, fenugreek tablets and tea, lactation cookies, obviously feeding alot more and I have been on motilium for two weeks. Still by the end of the day I feel like I really dont have enough and she whinges for more, and has stopped sleeping through.

I have been unable to express anything. Not a drop.

Last night I finally gave in and DH and I offered 60 mls of formula. I had bought it a few days prior for just in case. She gulped it down, fell straight asleep after four hours of crying, and slept right through. I tried this again tonight as we have had the same scenario of crying for hours. Also today, I know she is still very young but she was eyeing off her older cousin eating baby custard, and we just offered some to my bub out of interest. She could not get enough of it and cried when it was gone. She just seems to be quite hungry.

So my question is how long can i continue to sup feed her at night with the bottle (as her last feed for the day) yet still mainly breastfeed? Will she eventually refuse me and want the bottle? This doesnt worry me a whole lot as I feel so glad to have gotten as 'far' as I have, but that being said it would be nice to continue a while longer for her benefit.

[Catastrophic]

You can do that for as long as it works for you and bub xoxox

Alot of people sup feeds for different reasons, just ask your chemist (or MCHN) for a formula that is more compatable with breastmilk....

[Isadora]

Thanks MN, alot of people have told me bellamys, so I have used it a couple of times on her and so far no reaction or tummy issues.

[onthefly]

Hi Is, I've been wondering who you guys were going.
Some people successfully combine the two long term, some find that there's a slow creep of bottles and/or baby makes the choice for one or the other.
Some things you can't control, but if you want to keep breastfeeding, then just keep right at it.

[Isadora]

Thanks for thinking of us MadB. I am trying to keep at it, poor bub just seems so hungry and it seems to hubby and I that I dont have quite enough. It may just be a spurt and things can go back to normal. Who knows. I guess I am at the stage now where I am pretty happy whatever way it goes, though to bf till at least 6 months would be fantastic.

[onthefly]

Hey, you do what you can do, right?