Feeding FAQ: 4-6 months – Breast Feeding

My 4.5 month old has slept through the night but now is waking looking for feeds

I have had a contented dream baby up until the last 5 or 6 days. He is waking more frequently, he seems starving, his hands are in his mouth etc. I would like to hold off solids until 5 months, and keep reading everywhere that he should be able to be sustained by breastmilk until then, but I feel as though my milk is drying up. Admittedly I am under some stress; my husband is away; we are due to move overseas in 3 weeks; our 18 month old is fairly demanding; I have no time to put my feet up! I have been feeding him at 7am, 10.30am, 2.30pm, 5pm (he has always been starving for this feed) and 6.15pm then sleeps 7pm to 7am. 2 nights ago he woke at 5am, last night at 1.30am and 4am for feeds; he was ravenous. I am expressing at 12.00 midday (all of 1 oz) then 8pm (1oz again) then 10.30pm (2oz max) is there any way I can increase my milk production further? I am not sure of his present weight, he was 7lbs 8ozs at birth.

The amount of stress you are under at present is beginning to affect your supply. Look on p52 of The Contented Little Baby Book to see Gina’s plan for an increased supply. This will involve more expressing than you are doing at present. You will also offer some top-up feeds to your son to help him settle better. If you are able to increase your supply over the next few days, despite your busy time at present, it could help the nights. Offer him a top-up of expressed milk in a bottle after you have fed him at 10.30pm to ensure he is receiving enough at this time.
Towards the evening many mothers, especially those with two small children [never mind the other stresses you are under at present], find that their supply is lower. Although you want to breast feed for as long as possible during these next few weeks you may need to offer one formula feed to help you and your son. It is better to continue breast feeding for at least 80% of the time and giving a small amount of formula on a daily basis than having to give up entirely through exhaustion and the low supply problems. If you do decide to do this, offer a formula feed at 10.30pm. This should help your son sleep through the night again.