Demand and supply?

DS is 12 months. Recently his feeds has increased in length (feeds can be up to 45 mins now) and he has been squeezing my arm and whacking my chest a lot as he feeds. I'm wondering if he is not getting quite as much as he would like or if he is going through a growth spurt and wanting more (he has not grown hardly at all over the last 3 or so months).
He still wakes in the night for a feed - anytime from 3 -5 am, and really seems to want the feed as he gets very upset if we try to settle him without milk and when he is given the breast he feeds very well.


Whats going on? Do I need to make more effort to keep my milk supply going strong? Is this just a stage they go through? I really dont know, but would be happy to keep breast feeding my son for longer.

I've been thinking about this - It may be that he is sucking for ages because he wants to be near you - a separation anxiety stage rather than an actual food-related thing.
My DS will flap at me when he is really tired - maybe try feeding a little bit earlier?
The reasons for low milk supply at this point that I can think of are: less feeding (i.e. after he's been having a few days of feeding frenzy it will fix itself); pregnancy (so he's going to have to get used to it!); return of period or taking sudafed (which should fix themselves in a few days).

Also - he may not want to feed lying down any more - is he any better sitting beside you, or with you lying on your back and him on top??

good luck
Kate

Hun, the best way to improve your supply is to feed him more often. It might be that he is wanting a little more, or perhaps he's been drinking a bit less with all the chaos at this time of the year and your supply has dropped a bit. Either way, more frequent feeding will increase your supply, but it might take a few days.

kmn also has a good point - perhaps with all the change of routine at this time of year he just needs some extra closeness and comfort.

Thanks guys for the advise. I have been trying to get a supply increase etc, but now he has starting to bite on my nipples a bit. Just gently (ish), and not sucking. He looks me directly in the eye and cries after he does it (sort of fakey). We have begun giving him cows milk or formula in a bottle when he does this and he seems much happier with that option and drinks away without any more fussing. DH thinks DS must be keen to have the bottle because its quicker (DS feeds before sleeps, not after) , so if he is tired perhaps he wants the bottle because he can fill his tummy sooner and then get off to sleep. He has always been fed before sleeps not after, so I am not sure about changing that now...?
Im ok if DS wants the bottle over me, but not sure at 12months thats really ok ? Is it ok for a 12month old to want to self wean onto a bottle?

Salsa, at that age many mums find that it's easier to introduce a cup rather than a bottle. By introducing a bottle now you have the added problem of weaning him from that too. Also, the use of a bottle at that age does increase the risk of tooth decay.

Now that he is 12 months, there is no need for formula. Cows' milk is a better option nutritionally at that age.