Community› The Bump Message Boards› Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding
New Discussion

now that he's gaining weight again....

PipSqueak0313PipSqueak0313 member
in Breastfeeding

I've rented a scale to do weighted feedings.

If he can transfer 3oz one feeding but only a quarter of an ounce another feeding -- is that more likely due to him being too tired to suckle properly at times since he did have problems latching as a newborn due to weak mouth muscles or is there something else that it could be?

I want to continue to nurse to sleep at night and all feedings before I am ready to get out of bed in the morning at a minimum; but with the variance in how much he transfers and the fact that if I don't bottle feed when he doesn't nurse well he doesn't even come close to consuming the minimum ounces per day to gain weight/grow, should I plan to just pump and feed all feedings during the day or can I let him try nursing and then bottle feed whatever I pump after he is done nursing?  Quick review of his intake log indicates that he is only nursing about 6-10 ounces per day (including estimates for motn/early morning) the remaining 10 or so ounces are from bottle feeding.

 

YBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker

Image and video hosting by TinyPic



I'm a fan of The Cloth Diaper Tech Support group on Facebook
Report Reply to Post

Re: now that he's gaining weight again....

  • CLLDLLCLLDLL member

    No experience with this, but I think if it were me I'd let him try to nurse first and then pump if you feel he didn't transfer enough milk.  That will help keep your supply up by giving that mouth to nipple contact.  Plus it will help you make antibodies for any illness he may be fighting!! 

    You could buy a scale and continue the weighed feedings a few times a week if that would ease your mind. 

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    image imageimageimage


     
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • VitaLunaVitaLuna member
    When my little one was having trouble with weight gain and transferring enough, they'd have me feed her at breast first, then pump to empty.

    I always fed her what was left from pumping the last session, and then what I pumped right after she ate went in the fridge for the next session. That way your baby can go straight from breast to finishing the bottle without having to wait for you to pump. (I hope that makes sense).

    We didn't do this for very long because she began to gain weight appropriately (despite being a 10 minute nurser), so your situation may be different .

    image

     

    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Report Reply
  • PipSqueak0313PipSqueak0313 member
    theresat858 said:

    PipSqueak0313 said:

    I've rented a scale to do weighted feedings.

    If he can transfer 3oz one feeding but only a quarter of an ounce another feeding -- is that more likely due to him being too tired to suckle properly at times since he did have problems latching as a newborn due to weak mouth muscles or is there something else that it could be?

    I'm not sure...is there a difference in time of day/nearness to nap time/etc around when he transfers more or less?  Is he possibly just comfort sucking on those times when he doesn't take in much? Or does he seem hungry when you give him the bottle after that?

    I would maybe try nursing during the times of day when he seems to have the most success with nursing if there is any pattern, or a few times a day, in any case, and pump/bottle feed for the other feedings.  Do you have a setup where you can give him a bottle while you pump? (I found this to be a huge time saver). 


    The times he has only gotten the 1/2 ounce feedings from nursing he has downed a full 3-4 ounce bottle after attempting to grab it out of our hands when he sees the bottle. I want to say it happens more during the early afternoon which is nap time....he might transfer more if I nursed and napped with him but I haven't figured out how to weigh that kind of long drawn out feeding.  He will nurse and nap for 2-3 hours.

    Not sure how to give him a bottle and pump at the same time, but fortunately I can feed him his bottle and then put him in his rocker and pump while I play on the computer or talk to him since he's right next to me.  I'm working on teaching him to hold his own bottle.

    YBaby Birthday Ticker Ticker

    Image and video hosting by TinyPic



    I'm a fan of The Cloth Diaper Tech Support group on Facebook
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"