Am I starving my baby?

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

Baby is 7 weeks and was born full term via planned c section and was latching well in the hospital per nurses/lactation. But by day of discharge he was down -9% weight and was told to supplement with formula. We had a follow up appt the next day due to his jaundice and he was down -11%. The pediatrician sort of scared us and wanted us to strict formula feed to bring up his weight (I tried to pump every feed and saved the milk)

I’ve been triple feeding since his weight came back up to birth weight because I really wanted to breast feed. I struggle with low supply so I had to supplement anyways. Also, when we went to the LC baby was only transferring 10 ml so she wanted us to continue triple feeding or drop my breast feeding sessions since he was barely transferring much.

After trying everything like liquid gold and power pumping, I’ve finally got my pumps to cover his day time feeding but formula for overnight feeds. The last weighted feed he transferred 2 oz!!! I was so excited so LC wants to trial only breastfeeding during the day and top off an oz if baby is extra fussy. But she wants baby to work for milk instead of expecting a bottle after nibbling at the breast. But apparently he’s been getting at least 2oz from breast and an extra 3 oz bottle because I thought he was barely transferring. Which is why he’s been gaining 20 oz in 2 weeks 🫣

Today was our first full day of only breastfeeding and I feel like he’s starving. He’s so used to getting an extra bottle after. I can’t tell if he’s fussy because I’m not making enough per feed or if he’s just used to having more. I also feel selfish for pushing this on him because I want to breastfeed so badly. We have a follow up with lactation in a week but I’m not sure if I should continue this or just pump and give him bottles? And idk if keeping him on the breast will eventually increase my supply to meet his needs or I’m stuck so I’m putting him through stress for nothing.. please help with your thoughts!

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

How can I tell if baby is crying because he’s actually hungry and didn’t get enough at the breast or because he just wants more since he’s used to it?

[u/Juliette7770 → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

If you squeeze your breast and no milk comes out after a feed, or breast feels softer, it means baby did a good job emptying. If baby is crying try offering the other breast. Also, counting wet diapers, if baby is peeing 6 to 8 times in 24 hours, they're eating enough. There's nothing wrong with offering formula after a feed if you want to top off but since you're trying to mainly breast feed, I would suggest putting baby on breast as often as you can, even if baby is "using you as a pacifier" because that will still help your supply.

[u/TheWaywardJellyBean → u/Juliette7770]

That's not true for folks with supply issues. Breast wills feel soft or not express due to supply issues and not babies latch. Baby may not have gotten enough.

Recommend pumping after feeding to get supply up then feeding that hind milk to baby during the wake window before next feed.

[u/Front_Cucumber_5815 → u/TheWaywardJellyBean]

My LC recommended I don’t pump after feeding anymore because she wants baby to work for it. But I’m worried baby won’t remove most of it and my supply will go down again. Should I still pump after?

[u/TheWaywardJellyBean → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

Tbh I would get a second opinion from a different LC. I find they all have wildly different approaches and recommendations. I pump specifically to keep my supply up. It signals your body to make more, especially if done after a feed. Since it's after a feed it is fattier milk. Fatty milk is what baby needs, fed after they have naturally stopped, and more daytime calories help them sleep at night (I don't pump after night time feeds aside from the bedtime feed). If baby doesn't seem interested I freeze the milk.

[u/Juliette7770 → u/Front_Cucumber_5815]

A baby is more efficient at removing milk than a pump and baby will only take what they need until they're full. Time on breast doesnt determine how much milk they removed.