Topping out at 5 oz

jmo823 · March 2013

I've posted twice about DS's weight gain issues at 6 months. He nurses 5-6 times a day and has solids twice a day. When I work he gets 3 5oz bottles. Although I'm not sure if he has gained any weight yet (we don't go to the pedi for weight check until the end of the month) I am still being a freaking out FTM. BTW I opted against getting a baby scale per everyone's advice that it would probably drive me crazier than I am right now.

When we had his 6 month well visit, pedi said to add more solids and if that wasn't helping after a month then we would talk about trying to increase my supply. I generally get around the 15 oz I need every day when pumping...some days its a little less, some days a little more, but no where near say pumping 18 oz for 3 6 oz bottles. I already do oatmeal for breakfast and have 3 or 4 lactation cookies per day to keep everything in check. I haven't taken fenugreek since the beginning of BF and now thinking back I don't think I really needed it then.

Pedi by the way is supposed to be a certified LC, however, everything I have read and seen on these boards says that BF babies typically top out at 5 oz per feeding. Has anyone had to up their LO's bottles over 5 oz and if so at what age? I'm starting to question whether Pedi really knows anything about BF...

darleenmonroe · March 2013

Here's my suggestion - every baby is different. My DS would take 8 ounces around 7 or 8 months - maybe a little younger. He was a hauss! My DD was good at 5-6 ounces and she's 11 months old.

I would gage it based on these few questions:

Is he happy when he finishes his bottle or is he fussy? If he's fussy after his bottle and his solids feeding then it's time to offer a little more. There's no way to know how much he drinks when you nurse him so watch him for signs of fullness.

Next question is does he have a wet diper every 2 - 2.5 hours? If yes, then he's getting enough.

Last question is does he have at least 1 poop a day to a day and a half? If yes, then he's getting enough.

Try not to worry and love him love him love him.

jmo823 · March 2013

He pees like crazy...I counted 8 wet diapers in 24 hours. He typically poops every day but sometimes he will skip a day...usually when we are out and about all day. DH and sitter say that he will fuss a little when his bottle is done but he usually chugs them down. If given his paci right after he is fine for another 3 hours.

I want to say he is fine but his drop in weight scares me. Sad

jmo823 · March 2013

oh and if one more person tells me how little he is and how they can't believe he isso small when his parents are so tall ( I'm 5 ' 9" and my DH is 6') They are getting my fist in their face...no joke

jennyelf · March 2013

Agreed with the PP that every baby is different.

That said, my LO is 10 months old and takes 2-3 6oz bottles a day at DC (over 10 hours) plus solids, plus 2-3 nursing sessions with me (first thing in morning, home from daycare / bedtime).

jmo823 · March 2013

Did you find it difficult to pump that much Jenny? Like I said, I generally get just enough or maybe slightly more/less for 3 5 oz. bottles. I could dip into my stash but I know doing that will just make it disappear very quickly.

jillyjill1026sr · March 2013

My 6 month old will drink 7-8 ounces of pumped milk if DH is bottle feeding her. She has been eating that much for probably two months. (She gets solids twice per day.)

cmhicklin · March 2013

Sometimes I get annoyed with the advice that BF don't usually eat more than 5 oz. Obviously, looking at pp, this is not the case for every baby. My DD was on the smaller side at 9 months, and eating 6oz bottles (started around 6 months). I would try giving 1/2 oz more at a couple of feedings, and see if he doesn't need the pacifier to be happy. IMO, that bit of info makes it seem like he is still a bit hungry.

dmathis10 · March 2013

cmhicklin:
Sometimes I get annoyed with the advice that BF don't usually eat more than 5 oz. Obviously, looking at pp, this is not the case for every baby. My DD was on the smaller side at 9 months, and eating 6oz bottles (started around 6 months). I would try giving 1/2 oz more at a couple of feedings, and see if he doesn't need the pacifier to be happy. IMO, that bit of info makes it seem like he is still a bit hungry.

I have to agree with this. Do you use a slow flow or medium flow nipple?
When I posted last week about whether or not I should up DS's 5 oz bottles at daycare, I was told by several people that I needed to go back to a slow flow nipple even though DS gets frustrated with slow flow. I was told it should take 20 mins to finish a bottle because it takes that long to start feeling full, but I don't understand how that works because DS nurses in less than 10 mins.
I think the idea of giving a half oz more at a couple feedings to see how it goes is a good idea. I've thought about doing that myself.

kcircell · March 2013

You could also add 1 formula bottle. I have a tiny Lil gal, 16 lbs at 9 months and I was at my peak before starting solid sending 16 oz BF as 4 x 4oz bottles to daycare. We decided to add 1 bottle of formula before bath time to our routine we kept it at 4 oz so to not stretch out her stomach. I was right there with you it would take me 6 pumps a day to make the 4 bottle plus I was nursing 2 to 4 times as well. She has been happy with just this 1 extra bottle formula it has been 5 months now. formula didn't take over our house it just gave be a little breathing room. I guess I just put my story out there incase just to say it is ok to do a combo too.

nickschick! · March 2013

My DS took 6 oz bottles from 5 months to a year. Dd is 5.5 months and is at 4.5 to 5 oz. DS ended up getting one formula bottle a day starting at 7 months because u had to pump too much to get that amount and it was making me crazy. It's amazing how life changing it was to decide to supplement. I hope to avoid supplementing with DD but know now it's not the end of the world!

jennyelf · March 2013

jmo823:
Did you find it difficult to pump that much Jenny? Like I said, I generally get just enough or maybe slightly more/less for 3 5 oz. bottles. I could dip into my stash but I know doing that will just make it disappear very quickly.

I'm probably not the best person to ask on that front. I had pretty massive oversupply in the beginning and managed to freeze a lot then. So going to 18-20oz a day was actually a purposeful drop for me from the 32-40 I was pumping previously. I've been able to hold pretty steady at 18-20 most days right now and because I have a large enough stash to supplement, I don't worry if I come up short any given day.

henrytviii · March 2013

Are you pumping 15 ounces in an 8 hour work day? I can't imagine that could be low supply. I pump 11 ounces at best, usually 89. Is you LO more active? It is normal for weight gain to slow in a bf baby and loss or plateau would make sense if a baby is crawling or very active. This is the case for my son and pedi is not concerned. I'd focus on the other signs as pp listed. I also second the supplementing if you are still worried. Don't know why I was so afraid of this. Started one bottle a day at 7 months and it was no big deal. It didnt harm the bf this late in the game and we don't even need to do it everyday. We feed on demand, BM if available and formula if not

jmo823 · March 2013

I don't think I have a low supply...just to give him more would require an extra pump probably after he goes to sleep. He is very active...constantly on the move...even when he nurses he kicks his legs. Thanks ladies for clearing up a misconception on bf babies topping out!

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