Breastfeeding question

My daughter is now 5 weeks old and was formula fed at birth due to medication I was on. Since she was just over a week old I have been off the meds so trying to switch to breastfeeding, she is now latching on and breastfeeds for 10-20 mins before topping up with a bottle (normally 2-3oz). Problem is after 5-10 mins on each breast she starts to get really fussy, constantly letting go and crying. She is always clean, dry and burped and I know there is still milk left as I express after each feed to try and build up my supply. Does it sound like there is anything i'm doing wrong to make her like this? I'm persisting but its getting really disheartening when i've tried so hard to build up enough milk for her and now its there and she doesn't want to take it  
My health visitor can't come for another two weeks so would really appreciate any tips you ladies have x

<blockquote><b>Quoting Steph.Walsgrove:</b>" My daughter is now 5 weeks old and was formula fed at birth due to medication I was on. Since she was ... [snip!] ... want to take it   My health visitor can't come for another two weeks so would really appreciate any tips you ladies have x"</blockquote>



My little boy gets like that sometimes, he's hungry but gets really fussy, I found just patting his bum and talking to him to distract him helps. He also gets really overwhelmed by my let down and pulls himself off until the flow slows otherwise he just starts choking and coughing.
Hope this helps. Is there a baby centre or sure start near you? They usually do clinics where you can weigh baby and speak to a health visitor. It's weekly here although it may not be your own health visitor any advice helps!

Quoting Steph.Walsgrove:" My daughter is now 5 weeks old and was formula fed at birth due to medication I was on. Since she was ... [snip!] ... want to take it   My health visitor can't come for another two weeks so would really appreciate any tips you ladies have x"

My daughter does this some times i switch sides and then go back to the other side. It could mean she can not get anything. Its harder to suck from the boob then a nipple. My daughter got a bottle because i went into the OR for 4 hours and then needed blood. But I would suggest talking with a LC asap so u can get help and so u do not dry up. As a breast feeding mom i was told by LC never use bottle's just keep offering the boob.

I agree babies get instant gratification from bottle where as they actually have to work for it to get it out the boob. She's probably getting frustrated she isn't filling up as fast.

Try and get to a health visitor, they are all trained in breastfeeding just like the LC's in the states.

Is it possible to cut out the bottle? If baby is not full afterwards, try spoon feeding or syringe feeding. Anything but the bottle. Also, have you tried pumping after nursing, to help increase your supply?

It is awesome what you are doing for you baby! It can be very frustrating to try to get baby back to the breast, but it is amazing what you have accomplished already.

slso, have you tried switching sides when baby fusses? Switching back aand forth will trigger a faster letdown, which is essentially what baby wants. Many women find that the baby gets fussy & wants to switch back & forth when wanting to increase supply, like during a growth spurt.

Quoting Kara-lynn:" Is it possible to cut out the bottle? If baby is not full afterwards, try spoon feeding or syringe feeding. ... [snip!] ... women find that the baby gets fussy & wants to switch back & forth when wanting to increase supply, like during a growth spurt."

these are all great suggestions! OP are you still using formula to top off or are you pumping after feedings to increased supply. formula stays in the gut longer and keeps baby full longer, which is bad for stimulation and supply.

Quoting nursemaya -mommy to 2:" these are all great suggestions! OP are you still using formula to top off or are you pumping after ... [snip!] ... to increased supply. formula stays in the gut longer and keeps baby full longer, which is bad for stimulation and supply. "

I'm using formula at the minute as i'm not producing enough to fill her up, I only manage to express about an ounce after each feed (which I give her before formula) but she still then wants another ounce or two after that. I do switch breasts when she gets fussy too but it doesn't seem to make a difference, she just seems to decide when she has had enough and will scream until she gets a bottle no matter what I try to calm her down

Quoting Kara-lynn:" Is it possible to cut out the bottle? If baby is not full afterwards, try spoon feeding or syringe feeding. ... [snip!] ... women find that the baby gets fussy & wants to switch back & forth when wanting to increase supply, like during a growth spurt."

Thank you for the lovely comments, so exhausted it has made me tear up a bit reading that   I will try a spoon or syringe and see how she gets on, I think shes just so used to the bottle though she wants it more for comfort than anything else.

Quoting Steph.Walsgrove:" Thank you for the lovely comments, so exhausted it has made me tear up a bit reading that   I will ... [snip!] ... and see how she gets on, I think shes just so used to the bottle though she wants it more for comfort than anything else."

it is totally normal for them to want the bottle, after they get used to the fast flow. When you are really overwhelmed, focus on what you HAVE accomplished! You ARE producing milk, baby IS nursing!!! you are great!!!
I just want to throw in that pumping an ounce is GREAT! I had to deal with over supply in the beginning, but did not produce for the pump hardly AT ALL!
Any nursing at the breast is good for increasing supply, so try offering more frequently. I don't know if you are feeding on demand or more of a schedule, but demand is best for milk supply, and you can even try offering when she is not hungry, and allow her to comfort nurse, and that can help stimulate supply! Good times to offer when she is less likely to be frustrated is when falling asleep, or when just waking up, and offering before she is really hungry, so that she is not so anxious for the faster flow  

Quoting Steph.Walsgrove:" Thank you for the lovely comments, so exhausted it has made me tear up a bit reading that   I will ... [snip!] ... and see how she gets on, I think shes just so used to the bottle though she wants it more for comfort than anything else."

I remember when my boy was going through a growth spurt, literally for a few days he was on either boob, one day I didn't even bother putting a bra on. Breastfeeding is tough and I have broken down many times at the start, but it's so worth it.
Now my supply is really good and my little boy occasionally unlatches to give me a smile before carrying on. Try to cut the bottle/formula out as it will stop your supply matching her needs & pumping doesn't really tell your body to release the same hormones that help stimulate milk production as it would if she was nursing, but if you have to mix feed at least she is getting some boob milk and getting all your mummy goodness! Keep going breastfeeding is hard but you've done a good job so far considering the rough start you've had  

ok, get ready, I did some searching, and here is a list of resources that may help you!
http://www.llli.org/faq/relactation.html

http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbrelactation.html

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/relactation/

http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/

http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/decrease-formula/

Quoting Kara-lynn:" ok, get ready, I did some searching, and here is a list of resources that may help you! http://www.llli.org/faq/relactation.html ... [snip!] ... http://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/back-to-breast/ http://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/decrease-formula/"

Thank you so much! I've read through all of them and feel much more positive about things. It's so easy to get downhearted over it and feel like giving up when she is so good with it one day and won't take the next but looking at this thats completely normal, just have to keep persisting so hopefully I can chuck the formula in the bin. That will be a great day  

Just to update Millie is now breastfeeding for 30mins at a time and has really cut down on formula, I also managed to express four ounces this morning so hopeful between expressing and feeding I can drop the formula today! Thanks ladies for all of your help and advice, really helped me not to give up when it was getting hard and so glad I didn't  

Glad to hear you're doing well   keep it up! You're awesome!

Quoting Kara-lynn:" Glad to hear you're doing well   keep it up! You're awesome!"