XP: Do you think she's getting enough?

starlettedir

I'm not even sure I'm going to make sense. I know what I'm asking in my head but don't know if I'm wording it right.

Right now the kiddo gets 5 oz of BM for her bottles.

When I pump at work I typically pump 6-7 ounces every 3 hours.  It decreases a bit as the day goes on.  I get more between 5-6 on my last pump around 3-4.

When I pump after feeding the kiddo I *maybe* get one ounce in the morning and almost zero in the afternoon/night.

I'm beginning to wonder if she's really eating closer to 6 ounces when she's nursing.

I asked SIL who watches her during the day how she is with her bottles. She said sometimes she'll cry/fuss when she finishes but it's very short lived. Like she wants a little more RIGHT NOW THAT SECOND but is fine back to happy baby about 2-3 minutes later.

She said she'd monitor a bit more these next few days.  What are your thoughts?

 

She's 13 weeks today and has consistently been in the 95% category for weight... 

darva

I've always been told 1oz per hour between feedings for BM kiddos.  So she's likely getting more than enough, she just wants to keep going. 

This might help:

https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

 

ayersfam20

When I leave DS with DH on the Fridays I work I divide 25oz by the # of feedings.  I nurse in the mornings and then he eats 3 times before I'm home so I make 3-  5oz bottles. 

As long as she's still going the same amount of time between feedings then I think she's probably ok.  If she is getting hungry sooner than usual then I'd feed her more.  

Suzi-G-

At work I always only pumped twice a day, when Cooper was that age I'd pump 10-12oz in the morning and 8-10 in the afternoon (yes, I'm a cow).  My supply tapered during the day like yours, that's really common.

If you're not sure and think she might want more during the day, I'd try sending 6oz bottles for a few days and see if she finishes them.  If not then you can revert or find somewhere in the middle.  We were never static with the amount we sent, we played around with it constantly, every night it was like "how much did he drink yesterday? all of it?   OK let's send 1oz more tomorrow"  or "he came home with 3 oz?  OK send a little less"    I also always liked to err on the side of "send more than he will drink just in case" because the thought of him being hungry and not having enough during the day made me unbearably sad. 

 

cali_girl92504

I always sent 6 oz and she usually took 4-5 oz so the remainder was moved to the first bottle of the day the next day. Try leaving a bit more and see if she takes it.

If she's gaining weight and has the 6-8 wet diapers a day, she's getting enough. She may want more during growth spurts  (with the first few months it seemed like every other week was a growth spurt according to the books) so perhaps she's going through a growth spurt. 

I wouldn't stress about it. She'll let you know if she isn't getting enough and it doesn't sound like she's upset that she isn't getting enough. I think you're fine.

kreeper611

I honestly don't remember how much we sent, but I know that I pumped less during the day than he ate.  I had to make up for it on the weekend by pumping during his naps and I pumped after the morning nursing session and got quite a bit then.  I pumped 3x at work.

With C, though, if I sent more he drank it.  He would NEVER leave milk in the bottle, but he did overeat (even on the boob) and we figured out quickly because it would come right back up.  If I had to guess we sent 3 6oz bottles to daycare, he nursed before school, after we got home (until he started solids) and then right before bed.

I think that if she only cries for a short second, then she's ok.  Do you pump after you nurse her during the day on the weekend?  If so that could be where the extra supply is coming from - you're telling your body she wants more.