EBF - how many oz per bottle feed?

lolob45 · January 2014

This past week was my first week of work. I have gotten into a good rhythm with pumping and have been producing around 9-11 ounces per day. Before I returned to work DD would not take any more than 2oz per bottle but the nanny mentions she seemed hungrier this week so I've been making bottles that are 2.5-3oz. I usually have about 2oz extra per day which i keep for the night shift or freeze. DD has been waking up more at night so DH has been giving her some bottles to let me sleep, usually 2-3oz. I'm kind of shocked at how much she is eating since my LC told me that EBF babies don't need more oz as they get older since our milk changes nutritional needs as they grow; so she told me to stick to 4 2oz bottles per day. I'm gone for 9 hours.

I'm wondering if she is wrong and if I should be preparing 3-4 3oz bottles each day instead.

How much is your LO consuming while you are at work? Has the oz per bottle changed/increased over time?

EmJ&B · January 2014

DS eats four 4 oz bottles in 9 hrs while I'm at work

[Deleted User] · January 2014

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MissLauraPants · January 2014

I usually send 20 ounces to daycare with him and he is there 8-9 hours. It is usually gone or he has 2-4 ounces left. I usually put it in 2 8 ounce bottles and 1 4 ounce. He won't take the entire 8 ounces at once- maybe 4-6 and she just feeds him that bottle the next time to start.

lefnc82 · January 2014

The first week back to work LO wasn't eating much more than 2-3oz about three times each day. I think now that he's gotten used to the bottle (and realizing I'm not there for the boob) he's about 3-4oz 3x day (I'm gone about 9hrs). He never does more than 4oz, normally 3oz is enough for him.

lorelaie10 · January 2014

I EP and closely track how much LO eats vs what I produce. I'm a little OCD about it. He is currently 14 weeks and, due to some spitting up issues, eats 3oz every two hours and STTN from 9pm - 530am. So about 21-25 oz a day. However, this has been a hell of a GS week and he ate 36 ounces on Thursday. I have been wondering if I should up his amounts to 3.5 ounces during the day once this GS is over. The spitting up is much better now that he is older. It is my understanding, like pp said, that BM changes over time and you don't need to increase the volume but I'm not 100% clear if that happens for moms who EP.

MrsShankly1012 · January 2014

DS is 4 months & takes 2- 5oz bottles while I'm at work. I usually feed him around 8am then he gets a bottle @ 10:30-11 & the 2nd @ 2:30-3. I usually get home around 5-5:30. I pump between 11 - 13 oz with 2 sessions (timed at when he eats) at work.
d
DS1 only did 4oz bottles but he ate more frequently.

huntjul · January 2014

My LO eats three 4.5oz bottles during the 8 hours I'm at work.

PixiesDust · January 2014

DD takes 4 oz 5-6 times per day. I always send four 4oz bottles with her to daycare and there is usually one left over.which she'll normally eat shortly after we get home. She also eats about every 2-2.5 hours during the day, but STTN

jessjhh · January 2014

I give DC 4-3.75oz bottles. Occasionally one of them is 4oz. I continue to nurse when he is home. I don't want him to get more than that in bottles and start refusing my boob. So far it's working out ok. Any more than that and my LO spits it up.

Inn2 · January 2014

Mine has 1 4oz bottle that is half and half in the just over 4 hours I am gone.

emmylou78 · January 2014

I send five 3oz bottles. She eats between 12-15 oz during my 12 hour shift. They said she's never acted hungry after

spanx21 · January 2014

I work from home so I nurse all day but I give him a bottle for the MOTN feeding and I always put 5oz in. Sometimes he wants more than that and I have to give him the boob, other times its a struggle for him to finish the bottle. Depends on the day.

meghan7319 · January 2014

I'm happy to be reading these posts. The last time we went to the ped she said lo would need 6 oz every bottle while I'm at work. Doesn't this seem like a lot?

Welshgirl12 · January 2014

huntjul said:
My LO eats three 4.5oz bottles during the 8 hours I'm at work.

Exactly this.

spanx21 · January 2014

I can't remember where I read it, but in one of the books I was reading it said if you take your babies weight and double it, that's approximately how many ounces LO should be drinking in 24 hours. Don't hold me to it, but its at least something to go by...

alyshamarie007 · January 2014

Ds takes 3 4oz bottles and I nurse him on my lunch.

Slap8out · January 2014

We send 4/ 4 ounce bottle and sometimes she drinks all 4 sometimes only 3. The daycare sends home a. Sheet that tells me when and how much she ate. Usually between 2-4 ounces and she eats frequently, I feed her when I get home, I give her my right boob cause it produces less then she gets another 4-6 ounce bottle around 8-8:30
Edit spelling

BRooke Christina · January 2014

We send 4 - 5oz bottles. She's at DC from 7am until 4:30.

Lesley0228 · January 2014

DS eats most of his 5 oz bottle every 3 hours.

MtnChickaD · January 2014

LO eats five 3oz bottles between 2p-8p when he goes to bed, I get home at 11p.

SnoopyLuv · January 2014

4 oz three times a day. She eats at 5, 9, 12 and 3.

Emilyraymond · January 2014

LO takes 3 5oz bottles in the 9 hrs she's there. I always send a 4th but she never touches it.

Edited due to fat fingers

drcolleen · January 2014

meghan7319 said:

I'm happy to be reading these posts. The last time we went to the ped she said lo would need 6 oz every bottle while I'm at work. Doesn't this seem like a lot?

Neither of my DDs ever took more than 5oz/bottle and I expect the same from DS, it's uncommon for a BF baby to need more at one sitting but if they eat less frequently it is possible.

Christine&Chris · January 2014

MrsShankly1012 said:

DS is 4 months & takes 2- 5oz bottles while I'm at work. I usually feed him around 8am then he gets a bottle @ 10:30-11 & the 2nd @ 2:30-3. I usually get home around 5-5:30. I pump between 11 - 13 oz with 2 sessions (timed at when he eats) at work. d DS1 only did 4oz bottles but he ate more frequently.

This, except DD only takes two 3.5 oz. bottles while I'm gone.

SnoopyLuv · January 2014

meghan7319 said:
I'm happy to be reading these posts. The last time we went to the ped she said lo would need 6 oz every bottle while I'm at work. Doesn't this seem like a lot?

Yes your doctor is confused. Bf babies rarely take a larger than 5 oz bottle. FF babies on the other hand increase ounces as they get bigger. Kellymom.com has good info on this.

SnoopyLuv · January 2014

spanx21 said:
I can't remember where I read it, but in one of the books I was reading it said if you take your babies weight and double it, that's approximately how many ounces LO should be drinking in 24 hours. Don't hold me to it, but its at least something to go by...

That's for formula feeding.

Mama2be12345 · January 2014

My LO is a tiny monster and strangely enough will randomly take 5-6 ounces when offered. Then another day only want 2-3. I'm not back to work yet but I think to make myself feel better I'll leave 3, 5 ounce bottles for the nanny. Fingers crossed pumping goes well at work.

mominwaiting29 · January 2014

My 4 m old takes 3 4oz bottles (eats every 3 hours) and on occasion wants a 5 oz bottle at his 3rd feeding. I pump at least 12 and up to 14oz at work so I'm pretty confident that's what he's been taking. I did a weighed feeding right before going back to work and he gained a little over 4oz per bf session

casey820 · January 2014

DH works 10 hr days and I work 12 hr days so LO is at day care for 10 hour days 1-2 times a week. While there the first week he was eating four 4 oz bottles. DC asked that we pack a fifth bottle which would make 20 oz for the day. And then another 4 oz at home with DH. I've been able to pump 17-19 oz during my 12 hours so I pump before bed to make up the lost oz. My kid is a total chunk. 3 months now and is 15 lbs.

spanx21 · January 2014

SnoopyLuv said:

spanx21 said:
I can't remember where I read it, but in one of the books I was reading it said if you take your babies weight and double it, that's lapproximately how many ounces LO should be drinking in 24 hours. Don't hold me to it, but its at least something to go by...
That's for formula feeding.

Ah, good to know. Thanks

Kessho · January 2014

My LC told me that babies will take different amounts at different times. I used a scale at different times and sure enough there were a couple feedings where he ate six freaking ounces.

Teresa1489 · January 2014

Kate101080 said:
I EP and closely track how much LO eats vs what I produce. I'm a little OCD about it. He is currently 14 weeks and, due to some spitting up issues, eats 3oz every two hours and STTN from 9pm - 530am. So about 21-25 oz a day. However, this has been a hell of a GS week and he ate 36 ounces on Thursday. I have been wondering if I should up his amounts to 3.5 ounces during the day once this GS is over. The spitting up is much better now that he is older. It is my understanding, like pp said, that BM changes over time and you don't need to increase the volume but I'm not 100% clear if that happens for moms who EP.

It does change actually! I EP too and can definitely see a difference in my milk.. I asked on the breastfeeding board too and they said that it does change as well.. My LO is about 14 weeks and she takes between 3-5 oz at a time every 2-4 hrs just depends but she definitely increases her intake as the length of time she sleeps at night increases. Lately she's been taking 4-5oz at a time, I think we're in the 3 month GS

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