DS losing weight & EBM solution offered by clinic nurse

[Renee_AW]

Our DS is 4 mths + 5 days and although he is 3cm longer than he was at 2.5 months he is 20 grams lighter. According to the nurse he should have put on approx. 500g in this period. He is in 50th percentile for length & now 10th percentile for weight.

DS is fully breastfed. The solution she suggested we try to increase his weight was to breastfeed & then offer a bottle with EBM immediately after the feed. Try this for a week and weigh in again. Trouble is, DS doesn't take a bottle or a sippy cup. We have tried the bottle four times now & no luck. Sippy cup only once so I will continue to try...my goodness it is stressful.

We are currently in the Sleep, Feed, Play routine & I asked if we changed to Sleep, Feed, Play, Feed, Play (rather than giving EBM) if that would work. She told me that the problem with doing that is that it takes DS energy to breastfeed and he is not likely to get enough milk to cover the energy expended for a second feed. She said drinking from a bottle takes DS much less energy so he will benefit more from giving him a top-up after his breastfeed.

I obviously need to increase my supply and will do anything for DS & anything to save breastfeeding & avoid formula but am wondering if I really need to express rather than feed to do this.

Does anyone have any experience or advice.

I am desperately sad that I have been starving our beautiful DS.

Also, DS has about 5 wet heavy nappies & at least one poo'y nappy per day. He is a 'regular' baby when it comes to poo's & has never had a period where he has gone for a day without a poo. He is also very alert & happy.