Baby Decreased Day Time Nursing, Making It up at Night

This usually happens closer to 12 months - but yes, this is normal. The distraction phase starts about 8 months so seems she has 2 phases in the same time frame. Once she finishes learning all the new things she will at this stage (cruising to walking, walking to walking well, etc) she will go back to more daytime feedings - but still at short sessions due to better efficiency at nursing.

If you can - allow her this time to grow and come back to you during sleepy times to re-charge, bond, relax and get all the best nutriotion from you she needs. This phase usually lasts until about 18-20 months. Keep offering your breast thru-out the day and before all meals. Give her the option to decline, don't assume she always will because a few months down the road, she'll be back to accepting it.

I would keep trying. She's probably as likely to be as distracted if you switch to a bottle as if you keep nursing, and then you really would run out of milk. Maybe when she acts like she wants to nurse, wait a bit longer so she is really hungry (unless she gets worked up). Keep up with the quiet room as much as possible, and don't give up right away. I remember my son going through this, and I just kept trying until he really settled down and ate.

As far as weight, is it a sudden drop to the 5th percentile or has she been there all along. If this is close to her normal, don't worry about it. If it's dropped recently from much higher (like the 30th or more), you might want to run it past the doctor, at least at your next appointment.

Try a bottle before she goes to bed to help fill her up

Does she use a pacifier? Would she take one instead of a feeding for one or two of your night wakings? Are you pumping at all during the day? Can your husband/partner who does not smell like milk respond to some of her night wakings? I am sure life gets exciting at 8 months, but like everything this won't last forever...it will be on to the next dilemma ;) good luck!

She might be reverse cycling. I would check her output. If that's still good, then annoying as it is, I would nurse her when you can and not worry so much during the day. You can try to top her off with a dream feed before you go to bed. I don't think your body will dry up for the daytime. I think your body will just adjust to going longer at different times, much like you got used to her nursing with longer stretches when she got bigger/slept at different times.

You might want to check out kellymom.com on reverse cycling.

I'd keep trying. Try breast feeding her more often. Is she eating solids? Make sure you're drinking plenty of fluids. Good luck!

Its not an efficiency thing, its a distraction thing. My son went through the same phase - I went from being able to nurse him anywhere, to only very controlled environments. It got better as he got older - completely over by age 1. This is what helped for me. Nursing in the same place - white noise, dim lights and a ready supply of rags to give his hands something to fidget with. Most importantly, I discovered that if I nursed him while I laid down, he fidgeted much less. I had some luck with nursing necklaces too. If I had to nurse in the car, I would put blankets around me like a tent - turn on loud static on the radio - and slap anyone who so much as cleared their throat. All of it was totally worth it - he's still nursing now at 21 months and I love it.

If you aren't having any luck - throw in a couple of pumping sessions until she settles down a bit.