What else can I do to eradicate formula top ups?

[emmjayt]

Thanks everyone, I'll be back later to reply properly to you all.

k4t, that's a really hard one to identify. DH actually worked out that when she was hungry her crying sounded like she was saying A but when she was grizzly it was more like an E. Mothers group and going through the hungry, tired and satisfied signs really helped too

[Kmn]

Emm,
I've been thinking about this, and if I were you I would stop expressing now. It's important early on, if baby isn't sucking strongly enough to stimulate your supply. But now it would be better to use the baby rather than the pump - she will get more out anyway. And I would also use yourself as her "dummy" - lots and lots of babies like to suck on a near-empty breast. It increases milk supply and comforts them, so everyone wins (assuming that her attachment isn't causing you damage or distress).

No one has a supply that varies by 300 ml from one day to another (unless you are pregnant or taking sudafed or there's something very funky going on) - that's over 1/3 of what she needs. So at least some of her "hunger" is just a desire to suck rather than a desire for food.

[HotI]

i like Kmn's idea. my dd was a slow grower, and i would feed her and then 'top up' 30-60 mins later by offering the breast again. much nicer than pumping, and often more efficient.