My exclusively BF baby will be 5 months old next week. From about 4 weeks till 15 weeks she was very consistent in how log it took her to nurse - usually 20 mins, sometimes 15. For the past month and a half she has taken 60 mins (sometimes 90!) to eat at each feeding. She has started to reject my left breast (I'm right handed). I've tried nursing in all kind of positions, with/with out cover, at different times, etc. Yesterday she wouldn't even stay on my breast for more than a couple sucks and was so hungry. I had to use my hand pump and feed her a half oz at a time in a bottle. Is this normal? Shouldn't my milk supply have increased by now if that was the problem? On the rare occasion that I use a bottle (every 2 weeks as the most) she drink really fast. I'm worried that I'm not producing enough milk. She is literally off the charts for her height (26.5inches), and is good in her weight (13 lbs) according to the pediatrician. So she's long and skinny - couldn't she still be hungry even if shes okay weight wise?
Other factor that may or may not be contributing: I have always used a breast sheild b/c of her initial latch issues; I'm going through a lot of emotional stress right now; she naps for 20 min - 30 min 3-4 times a day; she sleeps from 7pm-6pm (we did CIO in the last 3 weeks and that hasn't seemed to change any of her habits, even the frequency that she wants to eat during the day); she is on a eat, play, sleep cycle that lasts 2.5-4 hours depending on the time of day (very inconsistent), although sometimes she is hungry before her nap so i feed her then too; she has plagiocephaly.
Advice please! I'm almost ready to buy a pump and switch to bottles, or if that doesn't work do formula! I dont want to but I'm not sure what else to do.
Thank you!