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Pumping help? Trying to figure this out...

mreinke8289mreinke8289 member
in January 2013 Moms

My DH and I have come to the conclusion that I need to figure out pumping (now that someone got me the Medela hand pump) so that we can have a night to ourselves. 

I read while researching online not to put more in a bottle than your baby takes at each feeding.  I have no idea, though, how much she takes at each feeding!  Is there a way to find that out short of purchasing a baby scale?

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Re: Pumping help? Trying to figure this out...

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    this decaf lifethis decaf life member
    I would prepare a couple bottles. One with like 2.5 ounces and another with an extra ounce incase she's still hungry for each feeding you'd miss, at least until you get a good idea of how much she'd actually take.
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    SchrodingerSchrodinger member

    Start small.  Like, half an ounce.  If she's not used to taking a bottle, she may fight the first few bottles and only take in a few fractions of an ounce before "figuring out" a bottle.  DD really fought taking BM by a bottle and we lost quite a few ounces at the beginning.  Have a few plans for how to get her to take a bottle.  Nurse first, then introduce a bottle for the last little bit seems to be the easiest way, since they are pretty relaxed after nursing and less likely to fight a new thing.

    Once she has the hang of it, I would do what PP suggested and start with 2 oz bottles and have ~1 oz bottles as back up.  I think as long as you get close to about what she would take by breast, you're okay.  If she's not totally full, she'll likely just be hungry again sooner.

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    IncogNeatoIncogNeato member

    I'd just start with small bottles and try maybe once a day. Go slow and see if LO seems hungry after finishing. If so, just nurse and try a slightly bigger bottle the next day.

    You'll need to get LO used to the bottle at home before leaving LO home with bottles, anyway since that could be super stressful for the person watching her. At one month I would assume 2-3 ounces, FWIW.

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    DMG122183DMG122183 member
    I have a baby scale and my 4 week old takes a variable amount through the day. Up to 4 ounces in the early morning and later at night and then he feeds more frequently and takes 2 to 3 ounces during the day. I would agree with pp about the 2 ounces to start. Nothing is worse than wasting bm, and once they start sucking on the bottle you have two hours before you have to trash it. Therefore I wouldn't fill up a four ounce bottle just in case she's done after two.
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    emja0214emja0214 member
    When DH gives DD a bottle I have pumped she takes about 3 oz. She is 5 weeks old. I would try different amounts to see before you leave a bottle with whoever is watching your LO.
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    mreinke8289mreinke8289 member
    Thank you all!  Your suggestions are very helpful.
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