This could go in either the Breastfeeding or bottlefeeding.
Well, apparently I've been hit with supply issues again - I've worried about it on and off over the months but generally DS has continued to thrive so I've put most of it down to me worrying too much. But I really was starting to wonder recently if he was getting enough at his 11am and 3pm feeds (7pm is a bottle) because he didn't seem to nurse for long (despite my best efforts to keep him on longer) and was still waking at night for a big feed - and despite some initial signs that it was creeping closer to morning, last week it went into reverse and he was waking sooner. THis is despite him starting solids.
So, just for interest sake on tuesday I offered him 100ml of formula after his 11am feed - he drained the bottle!, then again after his 3pm feed - 100ml gone! and he still ate his solids at 4pm and a 200ml bottle of formula at bedtime!
So yesterday (Wednesday) I offered him a 200ml bottle after the 11am and 3pm breastfeeds and he drank 180ml at 11 and drained the bottle at the 3pm feed!!!!! And still ate his solids and still took a full bottle at bedtime! He woke a bit later this morning -5am (last week he'd gone back to 2am).
So this has me quite shocked! Has he been going hungry these past few weeks?? Why has my supply dropped so badly - I know it's supply and demand but short of turning DS into a snacker by offering him the boob every 2hrs I've been very consistent with 4hrly feeds (except bedtime bottle) - he's just SO distractible that I can't get him to nurse any longer. Thing is, he hasn't been any fussier - crying or finding it hard to settle for naps. I guess he was just making up for it during the night. I haven't had him weighed since he was 5months so I don't know if he has slowed in weight gain.
Does it sound like he's drinking too much at the 11 and 3pm feeds- Should I offer as much as 200ml after the BF? Can I trust him to tell me when he's full?
I'm quite sad that breast feeding seems to be winding down although I really glad I've made it as far as 6months - I'm going to continue offering the breast before any bottle and keep that going for as long as possible. Hopefully the breakfast feed will keep going well for a while longer. Plus I'll try the nursing tea again and make sure I'm drinking enough fluids. Unfortunatley I don't really have the time to pump after each BF on a regular enough basis to make a difference that way - and it gives me sore nipples.
FYI our routine is:
7am BF (big feed - can hear him swallowing big and fast and he nurses for about 10mins on each side)
8am Solids (just 1.5 icecubes worth - baby museli and fruit)
9-11 nap (1.5-2hr)
11am BF (very distracted, only nurses for 5min max on each side before he isn't swallowing much and is quite frustrated)
(no solids at lunch yet)
12:45-3 nap (1.5-2hr)
3pm BF (distracted, only nurses for 5mins max - not swallowing v frequently)
4pm solids (2icecubes worth - vegies and babyrice)
4:30 catnap (45min)
6:30 bath
7pm Bottle (200ml)
7:30 bed
somewhere between 2-5am - BF (big long drink on both sides)
