My doctor called up today about booking an appt a week earlier than she said because she's worried about my baby's weight gain. I REALLY REALLY really don't want to supplement and want to breastfeed exclusively (expressing my own milk to supplement if necessary) but my mum's stressing me out by offering me EVERYONE's opinion on how I can supplement with formula, or goats milk, or from a milk bank and it's sending me a little crazy.

Just had it out with my mum and we both cried and she said she's more worried abotu me stressing and being worried than about baby's weight gain but at least three or four times a day she'll either tell me how aunty so and so or my brother or someone else told her I could add a formula bottle or get some milk from a bank or she'll ask me whether I have researched the harm in doing so and it's SOOOOO demoralising.

I feel she doesn't believe that if I keep feeding and pumping and looking after myself and eating and drinking and having herbs that my supply will catch up and its making me doubt it too.

But the theory is true right?

And also, when I go to the doctors tomorrow, when shoudl I seriously think about supplementing? Is it if she's lost weight or is it if there are other symptoms. She's a really healthy and alert and interactive baby. The only warning signs are that its a STRUGGLE to get her to sleep and stay asleep and she doesn't poo too often. Today will be day three of not pooing. She has enough wet nappies in the day.

And lastly: Does me having an infection affect how much milk I can produce?

Sorry to go on and sincere thanks for all the responses and support on this forum. You guys have kept me armed and going the past week.

I have no advice as I am struggling with exactly the same things + a VERY VERY active toddler boy.

Just giving you hugs - I know what you are going through because I am in exactly the same situation

Firstly, you need to identify if you have a supply problem, if it is something else. Call LLL tomorrow, and ask about how to find someone who can do some test weighs for you. You should be able to find a IBCLC who has special scales. They'll weigh baby before and after a feed, to see how much milk is being transferred.

In the mean time, what is your pumping schedule? I had a low supply problem (less than half normal supply) and boosted it with a strict pumping regime.

Who was it who checked your latch? Has LO been checked for tongue tie, and who by?

You are doing everything you can to increase your supply and if you can manage to remain relaxed (hard I realise) your supply WILL increase, it just takes TIME.
You say yourself your baby is alert healthy and interactive, she has plenty of wet nappies. Sleep problems and fewer dirty nappies are common and not indicative of a problem.
Ask your mom to give you support and encouragement, remind her that you will never compromise your babys health but right now you need all the support you can get and you need to stay as relaxed as possible so you can focus on your baby.

Many babies weight gain is different from the charts and graphs provided, whats important is that there is *some* gain. If baby is gaining and is otherwise healthy there IS NO PROBLEM and there is absolutely no immediate need to rush for a bottle of formula or anything else. Increasing supply and increasing weight gain is a GRADUAL process, it takes WEEKS to see a big difference, the difference day to day and after a week or even two can be negligable but thats no reason to panic.

Give yourself a break sweetie!

Also everything she said

look at my son in the pics , does he look healthy?? yes and he is apparently under weight to. They arnt worried about him as he is active and breastfed babies when they start to get active burn off fat far quicker than forumla. He is just right they say despite the growth chart saying he is under as its apparently not based on bf babies! this is what my doc and hv said. Breast milk has more calories in it anyway, when they get older you know they say bf cuts down on obesity well thats it, your baby is apparently under weight as fat burns faster where as other babies who arnt so active will store fat. I wish my body would do that.

I don't know about your GP but I have seen a few who know NOTHING about breast feeding, and have given me some pretty rubbish advice (saying that thrush doesn't cause pain, telling me it was OK to take lemsip when BF, I could go on) so if your GP does seem to be putting pressure on you to supplement, I would not make any decisions until you have talked to some experienced BF counsellors. Do you have a local BF group or and NCT BF advisor? They will be able to help you get your supply up. I am sure that if your baby is healthy and alert, then there is no need for you to worry. I hope the drs appointment goes well. xx

keep going hun you are doing great

Aw hun, I want to give you some massive

If you are doing all of the things you said, and offering LO the boob regularly (short frequent feeds are fab for helping supply) there is no reason to suggest that your supply wont catch up very soon.

I agree with all of the advice the girls above have said, and would deffo agree you should give LLL a call. Even if you just get to see someone, have a good cry, get it all out and have your latch checked. Have you seen the 'itty bitty babies club' in the groups section? http://www.babyandbump.com/bnb-group...w-gainers.html

Liv has become a bit of a slow gainer of late, but to be honest I have learnt to avoid getting her weighed, and go to self weigh sessions where I can! I know she is healthy and happy, and I know she is doing fine. A worrying amount of healthcare 'professionals' know so little about breastfeeding, and they only add to your stress at a time like this.

Keep your chin up, and keep us updated xxx

I would just tell mum straight out that you don't want to hear anymore about supplementing, thank you - you have already considered it and decided there is no need for it at this time.

Your instincts are right. YES, if you keep going as you are, your body will catch up. You said yourself, she's alert, she's producing wet nappies, she's gaining some weight...all indications that you are both doing perfectly fine. You KNOW this, you just don't trust yourself!!

Keep in mind that all babies grow at different rates.

Struggling with sleep is a common issue in lots of babies, bf AND ff. It's not a reason (on its own) to supplememt.

Days of non-pooing are common in bf babies and nothing to worry about. In fact, it's a benefit of bfdg, IMO! Less dirty nappies is a good thing for mum, on a purely selfish level, am I right?

Just think about it: you KNOW that BM is the right food for your baby. It is precisely designed to meet her every nutritional need; it is the food her body is DESIGNED to receive. There is no food for humans that is more nutritious, more balanced or more digestible than BM. It makes sense that MUCH of what she is ingesting is getting USED in her body, rather than being pooed out! You see the same in dogs; when switched to a better quality, more digestible diet, they poo less and the "quality" of each poo is better - smaller, less gas, less constipation/diarrhoea....

Keep at it and don't let anyone get you down.... our mums didn't have the info we do, in their day bfdg was even less encouraged and even more marginalised than it is now. Smile sweetly at her, thank her for her concern and then go ahead and do exactly what you know is right for your kiddo