OK so i know that DS is getting plenty with whopping weight gains of 500g in every two weeks sice birth, lots and lots and (you have no idea) of poo! and many wet ones a day (we can change ever two three hours at times!)
But he seems sooooo hungry all the time, last night he was on and off me for 5 hours, i finally gave up and defrosted the EBM (160ml) and he took the whole lot!
How much EBM would a 6 week old baby usually have? i know all babies are different. but he had been on my for 5 hours also! he was so content after he collapsed and slept for over 5 hours!
Im able to express off 100ml from the first two feeds in the morning, but i want to start to freeze some, not give it in the evening.
Im so annopyed that my supply is so weak at the end of the day, is there anything i can do? i dont want to have to start to top up with formular in the evening if i can avoid it.
I will say i have been running around like a loony for the last couple of days, tidying the house and getting to the shops as well as appointments and .........lunches out lol
He seems a completely normal baby who is growing, and behaving in a pretty typical way.
Lou,
you are doing fine
The evening sucking is totally normal - as is appearing to be hungry and scoffing ebm and then collapsing.
You do not have a problem, and your supply is not weak at the end of the day - someone is just deciding to munch it all.
Try feeding him lying down - he may actually go to sleep in the process.
A 6 week old baby needs (as do most babies up to 6 months) between 750 ml and 1000ml of BM a day. He is growing rapidly and hence is getting enough - you do not have a supply problem, you have a typical slightly overtired surly baby problem. Take him for a walk outside and see if that helps him to sleep!
6 weeks is a wonder week. Just looking at my littler pair who shot up to 90th and 75th percentile respectively at 6 weeks (both started at 50%) I'd say a 6 week old baby can consume about 50 litres of breastmilk a day and STILL seem hungry.
I have a poop-o-matic too so I sympathise
My lump gets starving towards the end of the day too, but then he gears up for a bit of a sleep at the start of the night. Yours sounds like a similar kind of deal to mine. I'm on baby #3 and pretty laid back about the whole thing so I'm just going with the flow. I wouldn't give him the expressed milk to top up, this crazy eating will increase your supply while the growth spurt is happening, giving ebm might mess with that.
I can only go from what DS was like but he would cluster feed in the evenings as well, i think he stopped at about 2 months old and my supply at night has always been awesome now. Like the other ladies have suggested he is probably going through a wonder week, growth spurt all which will help build up your supply
If you think its lacking at night right now have you tryed the lactation cookies? I make up a batch whenever i feel my supply is a little low (generally around the time AF visits) and it boosts straight back up and then some, not so much how much is there but the milk is alot richer and creamier.
You have received awesome advice but wanted to reiterate. Your baby is spot on for a growth spurt and wonder week and I agree all the feeding is to boost supply...topping up only messes with the demand he is trying to make. His weight gain is excellent so I think your supply is awesome!!
A sling is so handy in the evening. Now the days are longer try taking him for a gentle stroll so you don't go insane from constant feeding.
The others are right. What you are experiencing is common, and completely normal. You make the same amount of milk - day and night. What changes is your baby's behaviour. In the evening they are over tired/overstimulated/ we don't know what. They seek to regulate themselves (wind down) through sucking. sucking feels great! To us, it looks like *hungry* but not necessarily. They just want to be with their mum. You can feed them into oblivion (think about how you feel after Christmas dinner - you can do nothing else but collapse on the couch for a nanna nap. But we only do that once a year - it's not good all the time. The trouble is that this is the time of the day when we are tired/hungry and thirsty ourselves. We can't do anything about them (just dig in and feed) It can help though to make sure you have a snack, a nap and plenty to drink - so you can cope with that period. Your reward is that they often have their longest sleep after those hours of cluster feeding
I know my supply is good with his weight gain and nappies ( although still learning) but just wondered what was going on. I knew fellow bbers would be able to reassure me this happens!
I guess part of my post was to see if i was doing the right thing by topping up with EBM when I am 'there' iykwim?
Good point that it might mess up my supply. I just don't want DS to go hungry in the evening
You don't need to give him ebm in the evening. It's you he wants. So just be prepared to hang out with him and don't get too caught up with the ebm treadmill
Yeah, I would just attach him to the breast (in a sling or something if you can) and go with it. He will grow out of this in time (and you'll be on to the next thing, lol).
You're doing great, btw, sounds like you're an awesome team.
evening feeds?
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