Logging feedings

TJ1979 · June 2014

Did you log your newborn's feedings? I did with E for months and months because she had such slow weight gain. But P is gaining weight great! At 4 weeks she is 9.5 lbs, and transferring 4 oz per feeding. I've been logging her feedings on an iPhone app just bc that's what I did with E. But do I really need to keep doing it? Do I need to know how long she is going between feeds, or should I be 100% on demand?
What does SAIF think?

Ok, I took the weekend off from logging and of course was nervous the while time. I'm going to try to not log till Thursday, where I can do another weight check and a weighed feeding at mommy & me at the hospital. I'm sure everything is fine, but need that reassurance you know?
Any tips on remembering which side you're on? Lefty always feels fuller so I can't tell by feel.

pb_bride · June 2014

I certainly did for M. And for a LONG time - pen and paper (in a notebook). Honestly, I did it more for me than for him towards the end. I just had a hard time letting go. I also did a log for his naps & sleep times, again, for a LONG time.

mdiblasi10 · June 2014

I did not. I always fed on-demand. G did have some weight gain issues during the first two and a half weeks, but I just added in pumped bottles between breast feeds until he caught up at about 3 weeks of age. I would say if things are going well and you feel comfortable, no need to log them

Cwhitaker27 · June 2014

I logged feedings with DS for a couple months but I think as a second time mom you could prob manage on demand esp. if P is feeding well and gaining weight on track. I think the logging was more for my comfort anyway.

ccam · June 2014

I logged everything with DS but we also had a really hard time BFing and he was losing a ton of weight. If she is feeding well and gaining weight like she should, I would personally stop logging.

I'm hoping to be less worried about stuff like that the 2nd time around!

Jenny935 · June 2014

I logged until it got to the point where I was spending my middle of the night feeding trying to recreate the day in the log. Then I figured there was no point anymore. Like everyone said, I think it was more for me than him once we got him on the road to weight gain.

TJ1979 · June 2014

I'm definitely doing it more for me than for her. I'm traumatized by my experience and fears with BFing E. It is kinda nice when P gets fussy to look at the log and say ok, she ate 30 minutes ago, it must be something else bothering her, or it's been 2 hours, she's probably hungry.
It's also nice to have a reminder of which side I'm on! Lefty always feels fuller, so I'm always tempted to start there.
But I don't want to waste time I could be cooing at my newborn or talking to E with unnecessary logging of data. I do enough of that at work, haha.

wille2b · June 2014

If she is gaining weight than I would stop. For the first 2 weeks that the babies were home I sort of kept track but once they started to fill out I didn't bother. I always just fed on demand and as long as they pooped and peed I didn't mind much after that

imoverit · June 2014

I stopped after 2 weeks. It was driving me crazy. I feed on demand and it has been so much less stress.

TJ1979 · June 2014

imoverit said:
I stopped after 2 weeks. It was driving me crazy. I feed on demand and it has been so much less stress.

Why do I feel like I need it then? Mh thinks I should just quit. And I want to. But I'm so hesitant!

imoverit · June 2014

I feel like it has a lot to do with your experience with E. I had a lot of feeding issues with DS so I logged a ton but with DD i felt better stopping because she is gaining weight and eating well just like P.

jesselayne8 · June 2014

I used that "itz been" timer for DD for 6wks. With DS, I only logged pees and poops because he ate 24/7.

BabyKsMommy · June 2014

I guess I'm in the minority that I never logged anything. The hospital even have me sheets to do it but I bf on demand and ds ate a lot so I just figured he would be fine.

I've been thinking about logging stuff for the twins because since there is two I might forget which one I fed or pooped. Plus I'm thinking I might be even more of a zombie.

laura1 · June 2014

I logged DS's forever. I logged DD#1's feedings for about 10 days - in the papers that they sent home from the hospital. Then I was on my own with the 2 kids, and we would be out and about and I wouldn't ever have the papers to write it down. I would usually look at the clock, and do some quick math to figure out when she was likely to eat again, and remember that (eating at 9am, likely to need to eat again around 11-12). Then I would try to work my day around it. We would go to the playground after her feeding, stay for an hour+, then come home for lunch and to BF the baby. Then DS would go down for his nap, DD would dose in her bouncy seat, and she would eat again about 2-3pm, etc. I pretty much got on a routine and didn't have to write it down.

I tried to do an iphone app for DD#2, especially because she wasn't gaining weight well, but couldn't ever remember to do it with the other 2 kids running around. Her issue with weight gain was that she would fall asleep at the breast and not eat for long enough. I finally had to make a conscious effort to look at the clock when she started and finished and if it hadn't been more than 30 minutes wake her up to keep her going. But never logged anything - I would totally forget to do it. If you like logging it, keep going. If you don't, then stop. There are no rules here

CarrieB. · June 2014

I must be a lazy mom. I only logged for 2 weeks for each of the girls.

I fed on demand and as long as there was regular wet and dirty diapers, I wouldn't worry about it.

TJ1979 · June 2014

Updated in OP. Thanks for sharing your experience ladies!

Jenny935 · June 2014

@tj1979 I didn't try this trick, but I heard something about having a hair band or something similar on your wrist to keep track of where to start next time. Good luck! I lived for those weighed feedings in the beginning!

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · June 2014

I use the hair band or a breast pad. If the breast pad is on the left side (to catch a leak), then I must've fed off of the right.

TJ1979 · June 2014

Haha, left ALWAYS leaks so always has a pad. What's up with lefty?? I'm try the hair band trick, but my scar is still pretty sensitive from my wrist surgery. I'm not sure if I can handle it or not.

CarrieB. · June 2014

I heard of putting a hair clip on your bra strap as another way to keep track. I can always just tell because one side feels more full or leaky.

TJ1979 · June 2014

Oh I forgot about that one @CarrieB.‌ that might be easier than the hair tie.

laura1 · June 2014

I was always bad about that too - never had any tricks and just started feeding on the side I thought was right. Might be why one breast always had more milk than the other! I probably always fed that side first

Good luck!

mcgeeva · June 2014

I use the free Similac baby journal app - I just save which boob I used last since that I never remember. I only feed on one side and this time around I don't get engorged so I have to. The app is simple to use and I love it. But I also feed on demand when I am home and it seems to be going good. Much chunkier kid

But sleeps better!

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