How much does (did) your NB eat?

DrRx · May 2012

Adalyn eats anywhere from 1 to 2.5 ounces at a time. She usually does 1 ounce, falls asleep, and them wants to eat another ounce about an hour later. In the evenings she eats 2 ounces at a time and wants to eat every 1.5-2 hours until about midnight. She sleeps overnight waking up once for 1 ounce, sleeps for another 3 hours, takes another ounce, sleeps for 2 to 3 hours, and then starts the day again.

She is still eating her required amount throughout the day (13 to 17 ounces), but I'm curious if I should be concerned that she doesn't eat 3 to 4 ounces at once like I hear other newborns do. I don't know if her being a micro-preemie born at 26 weeks has to do something with it. Yesterday we weighed on on our home scale and she is between 7 and 7.5 pounds.

mrs+harlow · May 2012

I would think based on her adjusted age, that sounds about right. My son was starting to dip his toes into 3 oz feedings at about a week and a half though and his discharge weight was 6 lbs 11oz. Now he is up to 3-4 ounces every 2-3 hours...this morning he was cluster feeding an ounce every hour...oi vey.

elviebird · May 2012

DD is 3 weeks old, currently about 9lbs, and eats 2.5-3oz every 3-3.5 hours, except overnight when she'll sleep 4-5 hours at a time. I always wonder if this is the "correct" amount as well.

elviebird · May 2012

Also, I've heard BF babies eat less quantity than FF babies.

becketts · May 2012

DD is also a preemie (35 weeks - IUGR) and does a mix of breastfeeding and bottle feeding pumped milk. When she takes a bottle, it's usually 2-3oz. Her adjusted age is 2 weeks.

MrsWP · May 2012

my suggestion.. (and I know this is VERY difficult for that age) but try to keep her awake to eat a full feeding.. don't let her fall asleep in the middle - especially if your BF but I'm guessing your not because your measuring it in ounces. But if you can keep her from falling asleep her tummy will be fuller longer and she will be satisfied longer.. Try playing with her feet or burping her more often in the middle. Good luck!

DrRx · May 2012

MrsWP:
my suggestion.. (and I know this is VERY difficult for that age) but try to keep her awake to eat a full feeding.. don't let her fall asleep in the middle - especially if your BF but I'm guessing your not because your measuring it in ounces. But if you can keep her from falling asleep her tummy will be fuller longer and she will be satisfied longer.. Try playing with her feet or burping her more often in the middle. Good luck!

Thanks! We try to do this, but we don't want to push it too much because when we do, she bradys down and desats, which tuckers her out and she doesn't finish much more of the feed. She is getting 2 parts BM and 1 part Neosure. I do make it a point of waiting until she wakes up and gives us cues that she is hungry as opposed to keeping her on a strict 3-hour schedule like they did when she was in the NICU. I guess the most important thing is that she is getting her minimum and is gaining weight. I don't mind spending all day feeding her (DH and I tag team it) if that is what she needs for now, but I worry if maybe it's because of reflux or something?

DrRx · May 2012

mrs+harlow:
I would think based on her adjusted age, that sounds about right. My son was starting to dip his toes into 3 oz feedings at about a week and a half though and his discharge weight was 6 lbs 11oz. Now he is up to 3-4 ounces every 2-3 hours...this morning he was cluster feeding an ounce every hour...oi vey.

You know, I've read/heard about cluster feedings and how babies go through growth spurts--I wonder if this applies to Adalyn? Like, does it go by gestational age or actual age? I guess we'll see. Don't they say that there is a growth spurt at 3 weeks?

Pdxmom73 · May 2012

Morgan is almost 3 wks old and takes in about 3 ounces every 2.5 to 3 hours. She has never taken in more. She gets a combo bm(via breast feeding, when she will do it) bm in a bottle and supplementing w/formula. I can only pump between 2 ounces and 3.5 per session. She lost over 10% of her weight, and had not gained it all back at her 2 wk like they wanted. I am hoping she is still going in the right direction when we do our weight check appt on Monday.

bellelamb · May 2012

My middle son NEVER took more than 4oz at a time of pumped breast milk or formula when I had to supplement when I went back to work. For her adjusted age m3 or4 oz is a ton at a time, there tummies are still tinny and I'd think hers would be too.

My newborn is just over a week and I ebf but I'm sure he's not getting more than 2oz at a time and he eats about on the same time line as your saying.

hoping4sticky · May 2012

DD was a late term preemie and we had a similar problem but obviously not to the same extent. Feeding was really stressful the first few weeks she wouldn't wake III to eat and was losing weight. The thing that helped was stripping her down to a diaper and doing kangaroo type feedings. Pain in the butt but it seemed to help some.

Oyherwise if she is gaining I wouldn't be concerned and hopefully in a few weeks it will really start to improve.

mrs+harlow · May 2012

MrsWP:
my suggestion.. (and I know this is VERY difficult for that age) but try to keep her awake to eat a full feeding.. don't let her fall asleep in the middle - especially if your BF but I'm guessing your not because your measuring it in ounces. But if you can keep her from falling asleep her tummy will be fuller longer and she will be satisfied longer.. Try playing with her feet or burping her more often in the middle. Good luck!

She could be pumping since her DD was a micro preemie and they would be a little more concerned with her diet intake....

mrs+harlow · May 2012

DrRx:
mrs+harlow:
I would think based on her adjusted age, that sounds about right. My son was starting to dip his toes into 3 oz feedings at about a week and a half though and his discharge weight was 6 lbs 11oz. Now he is up to 3-4 ounces every 2-3 hours...this morning he was cluster feeding an ounce every hour...oi vey.
You know, I've read/heard about cluster feedings and how babies go through growth spurts--I wonder if this applies to Adalyn? Like, does it go by gestational age or actual age? I guess we'll see. Don't they say that there is a growth spurt at 3 weeks?

You migh want to ask your pediatrician but I would assume up would go off her adjusted age...I am sure eventually she " catches up" to other babies at a certain point, though. I bet she goes throu a growth spurt when her adjusted age hits 3 weeks.

My son had 4oz. At both of his afternoon feedings today .....I even did a stop and start after two and three ounces but he was still rooting.

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