Where has my milk gone?!!

When you were formula feeding did you replace with a pump?? X

Sounds like bottle preference. Bottles are far easier to feed from so babies will take the easy way out if given the choice. They're not silly.

I wonder if you might be hitting the 3 month breastfeeding crisis! A lot of babies get fussy at the breast around that age because they’re waking up to the world, or because your milk supply is regulating and they have to work a little harder to get milk, or because their suck reflex is going away. My kiddo got much harder to feed around that age — we had to nurse in a dark quiet room, and I actually needed to offer the breast a bit less often, because she’d gotten to be such an efficient eater and she was maybe a bit bored to spend so much time in my lap nursing. Is there any way you could see a lactation consultant to check how much milk she is getting and troubleshoot? Even if you didn’t initially have a supply dip, now that you’re supplementing with formula, you may now have a real supply issue, but it hasn’t been long and you can come back from this!

I really want to emphasize that shorter feeds are normal at this age too — she might have wanted off after a few minutes because she was done, initially, and then drunk a bit more from the bottle because it’s easier, and then not been hungry enough to remove as much milk from your breasts at the next feed. Here’s a resource that describes a method to stop formula supplements gradually so your milk supply can build back up and your baby gets enough: https://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/decrease-formula/

Oh no, please don’t panic. Your milk supply is likely absolutely fine! Have a read of this, same thing happened to me and it was the worst breastfeeding time for me. It’s about 2weeks or so, you’ll have a happier baby soon!! https://www.instagram.com/p/C9mmCPutCNr/?igsh=MWZ4MnpxdzV3bGx3ZQ==

@Nicole I’m putting her on my breast every time she needs a feed. It’s only when she gets frustrated (about 5-8 min after feeding) that I’m giving her formula and at that point, I’m not sure if I’m meant to pump. It’s all so confusing because just last week she’d feed on me and be completly satisfied 😢

@Kirsten i saw your comment and tried to get her to remain on my breast for longer but she was NOT having it: she was gagging at the breast basically 😢 I even tried to give a small break in between but when I put her back on she was frantic, like I’d starved her all day lol i don’t know if it’s bottle preference only because the feed she takes at 6am and subsequently at 9/10am she’s not getting frustrated on my breast - she’s satisfied. And I can hear the gulps and her getting what she needs. During the day, it’s not like that. She’ll feed for 5 minutes and I can hear her gulping the milk down but then after that point, it gets silent, it’s her suckling more before swallowing and when she swallows I can barely here it after the 5-8 min mark. Is it normal for the milk to taper and need more effort as she continues to drink?

@Julianna thanks for your response girl 💕 I appreciate it! Teh only thing that makes me feel like it’s a supply dip is that the 6am feed and the 9/10am feed, she’s not getting frustrated, she’s drinking for 15 minutes and coming off content and happy! Where as during the day, she’s feeding for 5-8 minutes, I can hear her getting milk, gulping it down and then, it slows down! She’s suckling a lot more before swallowing and I can barely hear anything going down at this point: do you think that after the first 5 min or so, my milk is coming down much slower and as a result she has to work harder and maybe doesn’t want to?

@Moon thank you for this! I really hope so 🥹 I’m just worried as I’ve been giving her formula now to supplement and keep her happy! She’s taking it, a lot of it, so it’s making me feel like it’s not a phase and it really is lack of milk at this point. If she was satisfied she would refuse the bottle too, but she’s not 😢

@Mona they do get more efficient over time too. I'd definitely be cutting back on the bottles and allow baby to be latched for as little or as long as they want.

Maybe try slower flow bottle so it is not as easy to get milk from it? As mentioned above, it sounds like a bottle preference, they are smart enough to know it is easier. I had to top up after every feed since my son was 6 weeks (also had a tongue tie), managed to breastfeed for over 6 months when he completely rejected the boob 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Mona I get that, just got to keep in mind that the more baby drinks from the breast, the more you’ll make. But seriously this was the only ever phase where sometimes not offering was what worked best as my baby always so agitated at the breast (though nights were better). One day he just latched like normal in the evening again and drank for 2h straight and then was normal again 😮‍💨😮‍💨

@Mona It does sound like she’s having to work harder at those later feeds. Do you offer both breasts at every feed? A couple other ideas that I think might help are starting breast compressions before she starts fussing (or when she starts fussing) to try to help her get milk out and stay focused, or offering the first breast again (and then the second breast again) as long as you can keep her engaged in feeding. At this point she is most likely taking less milk from your breasts and so your body isn’t getting the signal to produce everything she needs. Pumping when you give her formula could help your body know to produce more than it is. Maybe this page could be helpful? https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/low-supply/ It has a whole section of ideas for increasing supply. I also want to point out the part where it says that taking a bottle after feeding at the breast doesn’t necessarily mean the baby was hungry. Are you pace feeding when you offer bottles?

I recommend reading the resources available on La Leche League website. As well as seeing a lactation consultant. You need to let her suckle, after it has slowed down. That faster suckling stimulates the breast and tells your body to produce more te next feeding. Plus the hindmilk has the most nutrients so each little gulp is nutrient dense while the foremilk is more watery which helps with hydration. Maybe try a supplemental nursing system to keep her suckling on the breast when you top her off. It’s a feeding tube you tape to the breast. Just be sure to let her do the fast suckling without supplementing, as soon as you add to tube the suckling pace will change. Anyone feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!

@Mona I really think you can get back to exclusive breastfeeding during the day! Maybe some of the suggestions here can help, or maybe a good IBCLC would be helpful. I’m rooting for you!!

@Mona we went through this but I wouldn’t top up with formula . Keep trying and you can even pump a bottle and give her that instead of formula as the more formula you give the more your milk will dry up . I think it will get easier for you over time don’t give up! X

Oh, another thing that helped us for daytime feeds at that age was feeding when baby was a bit sleepy, either right before a nap or right after when she wasn’t all the way awake yet. Not sure when you feed in relation to sleep, but that could be worth trying!