6 mos - how to get him to take more milk during the day?

[NewMommy724]

Hi, BF moms!

Before you read, here are my questions:
1. How can I get ds to nurse better during the day?
2. How can I get my milk supply back up?

Here is my situtation:
DS is 6.5 mos. He has been either a really fast nurser (and squirmy) nurser since 3 mos. At 3 mos, I was worried about the short nursing session so I talked to the dr, nurses, lct consultants, and we decided I just had an abundant milk supply and/ or he was very efficient. (Also, he has reflux.) Still, ever since he reached that age when he started noticing the world around him, it's like he tries to finish nursing quicker so he can look at other things -- the light and the window are his favorites. ARGH! I even started nursing with the lights off, but it doesn't help. He was gaining weight fine, though, so I figured he was okay (though he has never slept through the night without eating).

Four about a month now, however, I have noticed that he is very hungry in the evenings. He was suddenly fighting us at bedtime, and he hadn't really ever done that before so we knew something was up. He is on a four-hour routine (7, 11, 3, and bedtime plus DF sometimes and one or two night wakings, depending on if we do a df). He has solids (up to 4 Tbs each meal or as low as 1 Tbs). After the 3pm nurse, there is a meal of solids at 4:30, and then he's tired and wanting bedtime by 6:00. Well, since I nurse at 3:00 and also after the 4:30 solids, I don't have much milk for the 6:00 bedtime snack, and I started wondering if that was the cause of our new bedtime battles. So one night I decided to use a bottle to see how much he would take. He took 4-5 oz. at 6:00, woke at 7:00 and took 4 more, woke at 9:00 and took 6 more! Fifteen oz in a three-hour span! He refused his 11:00 df that night and slept until 4:00 and nursed again for a full feed. So I have switched to a bottle for the 6pm feed to tank him up, and he still wakes up an hour later for more. He still wakes an hour later for more.

He doesn't nurse very long at his day feeds -- 7 minutes at the most, and sometimes just two sucks' worth after solids, which is probably okay since he might be full. It seems like maybe he's going all day on just a little and then is really hungry by evening and during the night. He nurses really well in the middle of the night -- longer and harder than in the day, it seems. I'd like to take away his night feeds so he nurses better during the day, but he absolutely will not sleep if he's hungry. He is capable of putting himself to sleep -- so it's not habit. I switch sides during the day, more for the purpose of keeping his attention than for any other reason, so I don't know if he's getting hindmilk or not.

I also feel like my supply is decreasing because of his daytime short feeds. I can hardly pump two ounces from both sides together, when I used to be able to fill a 6oz bottle or more.

My questions again:
1. How can I get him to nurse better during the day?
2. How can I get my milk supply back up?

I've been trying to pump a few ounces at different times during the day so I have a bottle to give him after each nurse (to "top him off" and get him used to more milk), but I just don't have time most days because he's also not a good napper, and I'm trying to fix that so I spend all my "Y" time in his room attempting sleep extension and intervention methods. I absolutely do not plan to switch to formula, but I know that's the advice I'd get from people around me. I thought about calling the LC to check on those supplementer things you wear around your neck.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Samuel's mum]

Hello
You talk about a lot of things but here are a few thoughts:
1. The most reliable way to build up supply is more nursing and pumping. This is way our bodies get the signal to make more milk. You can drink water and take ancient herbs forever but more nursing is the answer.
2. I'm assuming you are giving EBM in the bottles but if you are giving formula this will have reduced your supply automatically and it may take a couple of days to build back up. The 15oz you talk about sounds like a lot for EBM. Every mouthful of formula means less milk produced for you.
3. By giving a bottle of EBM to finish a feed you are telling your breasts 'not to make any more milk' and there will be an immediate knock on effect. It's important to let him feed for longer at the breasts so they know what his needs are (more hindmilk, greater volume or whatever). I know I'm talking about breasts like they are little people but they are really like mini-boob computers. When he stops feeding to take the bottle they 'think', 'Oh, he doesn't need that last bit. He's stopped. I must make less next time.'
3. The amount you get pumping is not a reliable guide to how much milk is being produced. You breasts are now used to his sucking action and sometimes get fussier about 'letting down'. I found I had more luck moving to a hand pump at that age. Some people have better luck hand expressing. Pumping is also a less reliable way of stimulating the breasts to make more milk.
4. The distractable, wriggly day time feeds is such a common problem at this age. You could experiment with positioning yourself so he can look out the window etc whlie nursing and talk to him softly at the same time or sing. Some people swear by nursing necklaces.
5. My suggestion would be to completely off-schedule for 2 or 3 days and feed completely on demand to focus on your supply improving. You could reintroduce schedule gradually after a few days (say, offer at 2.5-3 hours) and eventually move back to 4 hours when it seems right for him. I would avoid using all bottles during that time. Have a 'baby honeymoon'! A LC could talk to you more about this.
6. The SNS you describe which you wear around your neck is used by some people with very very low supply but I'm not sure that's your problem. (e.g. people relactating or trying to feed an adopted baby)If he is a very fast feeder he will get the milk from the little tube and your breasts may not get the 'true' signal.
7. Finally bedtime battles may not be hunger related. This is another common thing when a baby discovers the world is exciting. It may also indicate he is overtired and it's time to move to a new earlier bedtime. By giving bottles to solve the problem you may have subsequently affected your supply.

I hope some of this helps!

[JacobMarksMummy]

You could try giving him water instead of milk at after his initial bedtime feed, you might find that he wasnt doing it for hunger after all. Also it will fill him up for a while so if you can get through one night doing this he will obv eat lots more in the morning and subsequent day. HTH

[daisymelan]

I would try pumping at the same time everyday... and after you finish feeding.  I know I know, easier said then done. 

[TimTam]

I dont know if you have tried this  but I found when my baby gets distracted from feeding I take her to my bedroom and lay on the bed in the dark and feed her.  I also make sure I drink LOTS of water or I simply do not have enough milk.  You are doing a great job at persisting a lot of people would just give up.  Good on you.