And the tears fall...

[Shell31]

Why did I do it? Why did I offer Daisy a bottle of formula? I sat here tonight listening to her & I know deep down she is hungry, I know she is a good little girl who really doesnt cry unless there is something wrong. I know for the last week I've not had alot of milk in the evenings.. So I offered her a bottle tonight out of I dont know what & she guzzled it down & my tears were falling as she looked up at me & sucked so so hard on that bottle. I took it off her after 60mls frightened she wont ever want me again.. :no:
I feel like a failure.. How can you want something so much & still it not be enough for your baby :confused:

[cassvanm]

There is nothing I can say, so I'm just sending you these:
:hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs::hugs:
:hugs:
By the way, you are a good mummy, and you can perservere with the BF. Look throughout this thread area to get heaps of useful hints. And, if for some reason you cannot produce enough milk, then you have done the best you possibly could.
Good luck

ETA: maybe you haven't had less milk in the evenings, maybe your milk supply is just settling. I know that after approx. 2 months with Piper, I felt like I'd run out of milk, but it was just my body doing what it knew needed to be done, and settled into what it naturally made for my daughter. Really, just perservere with the BF if that is what you really want. As long as she's having wet nappies, a moist mouth, and is gaining weight, then you are making enough milk!

[Mathermy]

You are not a failure :no:

[UmmInayah]

If it makes you feel any better, bubs have a reflex where they will suck no matter what is in their mouth.. A lot of the time it might SEEM like a baby is hungry cos they're "guzzling" down a bottle, but in actual fact, they're just sucking because there is something in their mouth.

I guess that's why it is easier for them to stop when they are no longer hungry when breastfeeding, because once they latch off, the breast isn't touching the roof of their mouth so they suck!

Also bub is 8 weeks, prime time for a growth spurt :)

ALSO i just re-read your post.. MOST women feel like they don't have milk in the evenings! And if bub is constantly wanting to feed from you, it's called cluster feeding, and she's most likely doing it because she wants to help you UP your supply in preparation for a growth spurt.

You're doing wonderfully :)

[NibbleCurlynBub]

:hugs: :hugs: Oh I'm so sorry you feel that way.

Maybe look at some ways to increase your supply via diet and whatnot, seeing as you really sound like you want to continue.

Rowie has a point, I stopped BFing my DS at 4 months (he is my first baby) because I THOUGHT I had stopped making milk. I really did, but turns out that wasn't the case, my supply was regulating itself. I no longer FELT full at all, but I was.
So that could be what is happening?

[NibbleCurlynBub]

If it makes you feel any better, bubs have a reflex where they will suck no matter what is in their mouth.. A lot of the time it might SEEM like a baby is hungry cos they're "guzzling" down a bottle, but in actual fact, they're just sucking because there is something in their mouth.
:iagree: Also, bottles flow even if bub isn't sucking.
Like when your boobs let-down and spray milk, bottles flow continuously so bub swallows because the milk is flowing.

[gizmoduckus]

You are not a failure :no:

:iagree:

:hugs:

[SPC]

I've started using a dummy with Esme, at 4 months because she just likes the comfort and kept crying, all of a sudden, having been a very content baby for weeks. She's not hungry [she's a FAT baby!], just wanting to suck. Don't beat yourself up about one bottle of formula. If you think your supply is falling you could try pumping to increase it, but most likely it's just fine and she's just becoming a more lively, more demanding baby as she grows.

[misskittyfantastico]

NOT a failure!:hugs: Your bub guzzling that bottle has absolutely nothing to do with your breastmilk. Bottles are bubba-easy, no work required!

If you want to continue breastfeeding then do so, one bottle isn't the end of the road. Breastfeeding is HARD sometimes - I found it bl00dy awful at times, but it's also the best thing in the world.

There is so much misinformation around about supply and hungry babies etc. Both my kids fed 2 hourly round the clock for four months, and that's normal.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is that if you want to keep breastfeeding, then do it - you can, and there's so much support and info out there. The ABA is a one stop shop.

Good luck:thumbsup::goodvibes:

[Shell31]

Thank you ladies,

Im feeling a little calmer now.. amazing what a big hug from DH when he got home from work can do. Ok so tonight was a learning curve & I will try & look for the positive which is.. I know she will take a bottle should I ever need to leave her. So thats good I guess.

I just had a shower & from my least full breast squeezed 4 times & got a triple spray 4 times straight up so I obviously have milk. It's just so hard when they are chomping away on you & pulling away & crying. You immediately worry that you are not satisfying your baby. The guess work in breastfeeding is only filled by confidence in your ability. I should listen to myself a little more & stop stressing.

Daisy has been a speed feeder since day 1. She literally doesnt feed for more then 5-8mins & that is enough to see her through.. usually. The last couple of evenings have been hard but I'll keep it up as it is something I dearly want to continue. I think she is impatient and doesnt like working at it so I will not be giving her anymore bottles.. (mental note to self to re-read this post next time I feel like this) I also need to remember she is just a wee little thing & that unsettled evenings are normal as is cluster feeding.

Sigh.. its been a long week..

Again.. thank you so much for your posts.

Rachelle x

[FullSteamAhead]

Shell31 I could of wrote your OP myself. I too have a 8 week old - our bubs share the same birthdate :yes: I have worried over the past days in the late afternoon/early evening that my Bub is not getting enough, especially when he is restless, kicking and irritable while on the breast and crying. I was thinking that I am warn out and it had now affected my supply. I agree with with what a few have said already, your bub like my bub is going through or about to go through a growth spurt, and is trying to up the milk supply. I just make sure my bub has wet nappies, and read that as long as the baby is having atleast 4 full disposables (sorry can not remember for cloth nappies), then most likely bubs getting enough!

[NibbleCurlynBub]

Sounds to me then, like she is just impatient and wanting let-down to happen without waiting for it.

Maybe you could have a shower or twiddle your nipples for a few minutes before offering her boob so that she gets milk sooner. :)

[SuperGranny]

hi, just another thought, also the evening time, is your busy time, cooking meals, getting things ready for tomorrow, that sort of thing, means you are perhaps a little anxious, and so bub is bit unsettled because of the goings on. Try to get let those things wait till later in the evening, and just focus on feeding bub. If you can, get the evening meal ready in a slow cooker. Arrange to have your shower then so you are relaxed and feeling better able to cope if you need to spend a little longer with bub. It is all a learning journey, each day is a new day, so dont stress about one bottle, you will fine your way along. Lots of expert breast feeding mums on this site, make use of all of the advice you can find, Marie.