EFFing question

babydawson · July 2012

We have decided to start EFFing. Beck is 6 weeks old. How much did/do you give you 6 week old?

Nicolewinsbingo · July 2012

I don't know for sure, but I think around 4oz per bottle is a general standard.

I wanted to reply to your earlier post but was on my phone so I waited until now. I wanted to tell you something I read in a breastfeeding book...

There was a woman who, because of medical reasons, could only get 1 or 2 ounces of breast milk a day. She proudly fed her son what she could produce every day and thought of it as giving him his "vitamins"...he was still getting immunities, vitamins, and great nutrition from the little bit of milk she could provide. I imagine she felt better about formula feeding knowing that she was giving him all the breast milk she could.

I am not trying to make you feel sad about formula feeding, it sounds like you are having enormous struggles with BF. I just wanted to encourage you to keep up the little bit of BF you can do, if you want to, because it is still a wonderful gift to your LO, even if you can't give him much.

Jess & Drew · July 2012

At 6wks, DD was going through a major growth spurt and was drinking 4oz every 2 hrs. Now she is taking on average 3oz every 2 hours. Usually in the mornings she doesn't eat the full 3oz (but I offer it just in case). She usually eats 1 to 2 oz for a few feedings, then as the day wears on she will drink the whole 3 oz. HTH

katiemrob · July 2012

My 7 week old eats between 3-4oz every 2-3 hours (typically closer to two hours), and has been like this for the past two weeks. I had the same issues you did with the breastfeeding and switching my girl to all formula when she was 4 1/2 weeks old. It is hard to give up, but do NOT feel guilty about it, and don't let others make you feel guilty. Do what is best for you and your little one. Happy mom = happy baby!!

k4slr6 · July 2012

Jess & Drew:
At 6wks, DD was going through a major growth spurt and was drinking 4oz every 2 hrs. Now she is taking on average 3oz every 2 hours. Usually in the mornings she doesn't eat the full 3oz (but I offer it just in case). She usually eats 1 to 2 oz for a few feedings, then as the day wears on she will drink the whole 3 oz. HTH

Same here

FirstTimePregnancy · July 2012

I just read your previous post and I have had a similar experience. My daughter lost 11oz. by the time we left the hospital (after 4 days for my c-section). At that time we were told that since she had lost 10% of her body weight, we had to supplement with formula or she would end up back in the hospital if she lost too much more. I was EBF at that time but it turned out that due to my PCOS and hormonal imbalance, I was not producing enouch breast milk for her. She did not start gaining her weight back until we started to introduce more and more formula. When I pumped, I never got more than 2oz. total and she would have starved without the formula. I kept BF for a month, giving her whatever I could in addition to the formula but eventually my milk production became even worse and I had to go to EFF. For some reason some women just do not have the milk production necessary to sustain their baby but it's not our fault. You have done, like I have and given your baby all you can during the most important time and that is what matters. As long as he continues to be healthy and gain, it doesn't matter where the food comes from.

As far as the amount, at 6 weeks my daughter could take no more than 3.5 oz. per feeding but the amount she wanted each time she ate has always varied. At 8 weeks she is now taking up to 4oz. at a time - but I never give her more than that. We use Similac Advance formula and you can sign up on their website to receive great discount checks and free formula! Best wishes!

Chelsey68 · July 2012

I do BM and formula (one day I'll get around to taking off ebf in my siggy) when I give him formula he usually eats 4 oz but my LO is defiantly a piggy I think most babies take about 3-4oz at our babies age. My pedi said defiantly no more than 4oz per feeding and no more then 30oz per day.

k8edgerton · July 2012

I would start at 3-4 oz. If your LO is still hungry give them more.

My DD is 7.5 weeks and we are just moving her to about 4.5 oz per feeding but sometimes she takes more and sometimes she takes less.

k8edgerton · July 2012

k8edgerton:
I would start at 3-4 oz. If your LO is still hungry give them more.
My DD is 7.5 weeks and we are just moving her to about 4.5 oz per feeding but sometimes she takes more and sometimes she takes less.

I guess... I should add that DD eats every 4 hours. It is rare that she wants to eat sooner than that. She started STTN this past week as well (fingers crossed, knock on wood, pray to God) that she keeps doing it.

You should not feel bad about formula feeding. I was unable to breastfeed because I had no supply (20ml per session). It took me a long time to come to terms with it. Just know that plenty of women formula feed. What maters most is that baby is fed and happy and that mom is happy too!

Heather2256 · July 2012

My DD is 5 weeks & she eats 2-4oz every 2-4hrs. But then she's been like that since we got home from the hospital. And here lately her eating & sleeping has been so unpredictable. Ugh.

meeko1985 · July 2012

FirstTimePregnancy:

I just read your previous post and I have had a similar experience. My daughter lost 11oz. by the time we left the hospital (after 4 days for my c-section). At that time we were told that since she had lost 10% of her body weight, we had to supplement with formula or she would end up back in the hospital if she lost too much more. I was EBF at that time but it turned out that due to my PCOS and hormonal imbalance, I was not producing enouch breast milk for her. She did not start gaining her weight back until we started to introduce more and more formula. When I pumped, I never got more than 2oz. total and she would have starved without the formula. I kept BF for a month, giving her whatever I could in addition to the formula but eventually my milk production became even worse and I had to go to EFF. For some reason some women just do not have the milk production necessary to sustain their baby but it's not our fault. You have done, like I have and given your baby all you can during the most important time and that is what matters. As long as he continues to be healthy and gain, it doesn't matter where the food comes from.

As far as the amount, at 6 weeks my daughter could take no more than 3.5 oz. per feeding but the amount she wanted each time she ate has always varied. At 8 weeks she is now taking up to 4oz. at a time - but I never give her more than that. We use Similac Advance formula and you can sign up on their website to receive great discount checks and free formula! Best wishes!

I could have written this whole post! Anyway, I agree with this (bolded). Making the switch to all formula was such a difficult decision for me to make, I wish pro-breastfeeding people in my life could understand that. Obviously fformula feeding isn't my first choice. But then I think about all of the weeks I was able to provide at least some breastmilk and am thankful for that. The important thing is now my LO is strong and healthy. I EP and started cutting out one pumping session a week a few weeks ago now.

At 6 weeks we were offering 4oz, but she drank closer to 3oz every three to four hours during the daytime.

babydawson · July 2012

Thanks everyone! I do feel better about it...except for my BOOBS! They are so sore! Last night we gave him 3 oz of formula and he slept 7 hours! That definitely helped

BTW, I wanted DH to read your replies and he said "Why in the world did you write EFFing?" I explained it to him and he said that isn;t what it looks like. I never would have thought it looked like cussing. I don't ever cuss so it was even funnier.

Want a personalized experience?

EFFing question

Re: EFFing question

Choose Another Board

Search Boards