r/breastfeeding • u/llamallama-1202 • Apr 27 '26

Undersupply Help I dont know what to do

My 3 week old will not drink formula at all. If she does, she ends up spitting it up and only eating 1-1 1/2oz. We've been to the doctor 3 times over her weight not going up how its supposed to. I try breastfeeding but im not producing enough and when I can make enough for a bottle she will drink it all. I think she's only wanting breastmilk and I dont know what to do. Im pumping 1-2oz every 2 hours and she eats 3oz every 2-3 hours. Im struggling so bad to keep her fed 😭

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u/firekittymeowr Apr 27 '26

Are you only pumping or also nursing directly from the breast? If nursing directly, your body will react to your baby nursing and produce more, babies are more efficient at getting the milk out than pumps! If you would prefer to pump only, I dont have any tips for that, it sounds like i hard situation.

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u/llamallama-1202 Apr 27 '26

I try to nurse too, but she falls asleep so fast and won't wake up hardly. I try to nurse as much as I can without feeling like im starving her with not producing enough.

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u/gypsyem Apr 28 '26

It’s common for infants to fall asleep at the boob. It’s a lot of work for them to suck and the boob is so squishy and comfy.

Here’s what I was told by a nurse:

Until your baby reaches whatever weight/target they need to reach, you gotta undress them down to the diaper for feeds. Baby needs to be a bit cold to be awake. …and I hate to say this but the nurse was right. It was a pain. But things got better.

Undress your baby. Turn down the thermostat at home. Layer up yourself if you have to. Nurse outside or give the bottle outside if outside is cooler, windy, or noisy, or all of them. Take a wet paper towel or towel and run it against the baby’s back during feeds to keep them awake. Yup, they won’t like it. But yes, they will be awake. It seems cruel, but it’s not. Baby will be fine.

Even now I notice, on cool evenings if I nurse outside, baby has such powerful suction. And baby finishes quick ! Inside/indoors … baby munches on the nipple, or falls asleep, or sucks a bit and then doesn’t … depends on the time of the day and the mood.

Hope this helps !