Feeding schedules

daisy662

Hello!
FTM here! My little guy is 5 weeks old. He was born at 34 weeks. We have him on the feeding schedule that he was on in the NICU - every 3 hours. He is up to 2 oz of neosure. Sometimes he is sound asleep at feeding time and he practically sleeps through his feeding. Other times he is wide awake and acts like he wants more when the 2 oz is gone.

When we went in to his pedi 2 weeks ago, he said to keep him on the 2oz every 3 hours until we see him again at his 8 week appointment, but I am wondering what your experiences have been. I don't like waking him if he is sleeping comfortably, and I feel like if he is hungry we should feed him more.

Thoughts?

 

pathfindermon

The neo's at the hosptial and his pedi both said to feed on demand.  Basically as much as he wants and as often as he wants it.  When he was your lo's age that was about 2-3 ozs every 2-3 hours.  Now that he's older its more like 6-8ozs every 4 hours.  Hope that helps!

rels09

My 34 weeker is large and gaining well, as a disclaimer, but we feed her on demand. She sticks pretty close to the 3 hour schedule, but sometimes it's 2 hours and sometimes it's close to 4. Could you maybe ask to do a weight check and switch to on demand if baby is growing well?

ETA: I definitely think you should feed more if LO is still hungry! We feed breastmilk so I don't know if it's different with formula, but she naturally upped her feeds to 3 oz. by 4 weeks old. 

jcsntms06

The day we came home from the NICU was the last day that my DD was eating on the 3 hour schedule. We just feed on demand now. Some days she eats every 3 hours, other days it's more like 4 hours. And now that she's sleeping through the night, I don't wake her.

ijustcantthinkrightnow

We had to stick to the feeding schedule in the NICU for awhile my DS was on fluid restrictions and could only have so much per day because of CLD. We had to wait for the ok from the Ped before moving forward and increasing volume or going on demand, I would double check and ask the reasoning for keeping her to that schedule. I hope that helps.

Scorpgirl444

My twins are nearly 8 weeks old.  They are up to 4-8 ounces each feeding.  How much they take depends on how long they slept between feedings.  During the day they sleep anywhere between 2-5 hours between feedings.  At night they sleep about 3-4 hours between feedings and take 4-6 ounces.

When we took DS home from the NICU at 10 days old he was taking about 2 ounces.  He stayed on that for  a few weeks.  It's been about 3 weeks that he's been taking the 4-6 ounces.

As far as feeding as they want.  We do this.  We don't keep them to a strict schedule of ounces.  They're trying to catch up.  Don't over feed but let them grow and catch up.  My 8 weekers are just about 10 pounds and just about 8 or 9 pounds.  We have our appt next week so I'll know for sure but by then they'll be 9 weeks. 

WannaBAmama

my little guy was also born at 34 weeks and is also 5 weeks old now When we left the NICU he was taking 1.5oz every 3 hours. NICU said at home try to get him  to eat more and space the feedings out to 3-4 hours. He now takes 2.5-3oz but it's still around every 3-3.5 hours. He is also on neosure. He just had his first month appointment and has gone from 4.5lbs at birth to exactly 7 pounds! I was impressed with that gain! I'd say if he seems hungry give him more! I don't see what the big deal is about waiting until seeing the dr at 8 weeks.