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I think cluster feeding is normal for that age for sure..

Giving formula and not pumping is going to decrease supply. If she is gaining ok keep putting her to your breast. Good luck!

As long as she has enough wet and poopy diapers I wouldn't worry! That's the best indication for whether or not she's getting enough. If you don't want to supplement long term I would pump anytime you give formula. If you do want to supplement that's ok too! All that matters is that baby gets fed.

At that age I just let my son nurse as long as he wanted, as often as he wanted. The more stimulation your boobs get, the better your supply. So if you're going to suppliment, try to do it after nursing, rather than instead of nursing. And maybe consider talking to a lactation consultant, they can be super helpful. But, try not to stress, it'll work out one way or another. As long as baby is having good diapers, I wouldn't be too worried. You got this mama!

Just because you can't express doesn't mean you don't have milk.

Cluster feeding is normal and that's natures way of stimulating to establish your milk supply.

I'm not saying don't supplement but it sounds like everything is going normal.

Is she freaking out when at your breast and you're thinking they're empty? I went through a bit of cluster feeding in the early weeks and thinking I was empty and maybe I was, but I would just keep alternating to each breast when I thought they were empty or getting there so that she was helping my body figure out they needed to make more milk.

For the most part I pushed feeding stop be at least every 1.5 hours (but not until she was probably at least two or more weeks older, I don't exactly remember) so I could feel like she was actually hungry and the breastmilk had digested and also so my breasts could catch up. Then for the cluster feeding periods from 4-7 for me, I didn't mind her eating more often. She was never really upset though so I am not sure what to do if she is angry and not soothed by being at your breast and suckling even if very little is coming out. Your supply should catch up to her needs though if you keep her there. It might take a day or two of cluster feeding at those times which can feel stressful! There will always be a little coming out that the baby can get at better than you can or a pump can. You could try helping get more milk by doing breast compressions when the suckling has slowed down and you feel you're emptier and are using both breasts. I still do that to try and help her get as much milk, especially hindmilk, out as possible.

Please see an ibclc! She should be able to help you sort this out and do a weighed feed.

Maybe you have a slow let-down and she's fussy because it takes a while for the milk to come out. Kellymom.com has some good information about helping with let-down. Seeing a lactation consultant would be a good idea too. I agree with everyone who said to pump if you give formula. It's not about getting milk out, it's about telling your body you need more milk. In fact, you could add in pumping after she's had a good feed and that should boost your supply as well.

I had low supply (I never made more than 24oz in a day and my son needed like 30oz at his peak with his weight issues) and we supplemented with a bottle of formula everyday until I weaned at 10 months. For me, my supply didn't really start kicking in until 6 weeks and it wasn't fully established at 12 weeks. I pumped for hours 3-4 a day and let my son clusterfeed but yeah it just wasn't enough and I made peace with supplementation being part of our journey. I'd rather have a baby that's happy and full and not stress about my supply than try to get some EBF goal. He still got 90% breastmilk for 10 months and he never had issues with breast or bottle, BM or formula, and it was great to have others help feed him.

I just wanted to chime in a say this sounds a lot like me with J. We would cluster feed and eventually I was sure I was empty, he wouldn't stay latched on either side and I've done this before with L, I knew when I was drained. At first I objected to supplementing having heard it will affect my supply, but my DH read articles that said it's really all based on supply and demand and if there's no supply, letting him suck wasn't helping anything. I gave him formula (1-2 oz, just a few times) in the first couple days and eventually he just didn't need it anymore. DH even went out and bought more formula and we never used it, I just donated it to a shelter. I'm still breastfeeding and pumping at work at 10.5 months with no problems with my supply, I know that he'll be on breastmilk until WCM. Maybe I'm an anamoly, but not everyone who supplements due to baby's hunger has supply problems because I didn't. Hang in there!

I'd call a lactation consultant. It sounds normal as far as cluster feeding/crying in the evenings goes and I wouldn't jump to the conclusion is low supply. You kind of need to fight through that though and put baby on the breast all the time to get yor supply up. The more you supplement, the less you're going to produce, which might wind up sabotaging things for you in the long run. I definitely don't think anyone here can tell you if its supply or just normal and I wouldn't want to advise you to do anything that may end up harming your baby, hence why I'd call a LC. As long as diapers are good and weight gain is good, I'd say supply is fine.

@Mrs D: I would also let her cluster feed even if you can't get anything out. It's so hard. I remember one time that H was cluster feeding all night and my boobs felt so empty. Then she spit up all that milk on me and started screaming for more and I just started crying while feeding her. I had started pumping a bit to relieve my engorgement, so I had a bit in a bottle she could have, but if I hadn't I would have sent T to the store for some formula.

Hugs. It's so hard when they are cluster feeding.

@Mrs D: Hang in there! Those first weeks are SO hard. You are not alone! I cried and cried and cried (out of pain, out of uncertainty, out of lack of sleep...). It really does get better and you will fall into a better routine soon!