@sboston06- my LO was a month old on Monday and she is eating about 4 oz every 3 hours plus boob (which is probably an ounce between both, but idk). As long as she's gaining and healthy I wouldn't worry about it! My first struggled with weight gain at the beginning and barely ate anything for a long time, but is currently off the charts for height and weight at 2. Oh, and this LO is 9lb 3oz as well.
@HoneyBear40- I'm pretty open about my struggle with supply and my journey of figuring it out with DD1. I remember feeling the exact same way at the beginning with my first, so please don't hesitate to ask questions or reach out for support! I am also a working mom and would bf and supplement in the mornings and in the evenings and pump what I could during the day. I did this until I switched over to formula permanently when DD1 was about 10 weeks old. For me, mentally, I had to stop because it was healthier for both of us... But it's totally doable and I'm doing it all again with DD2.
@sboston06 My LO was 8 lb, 1 oz at his 2 week appointment and is now 4 weeks. He takes about 3 ounces at every feeding, sometimes a little less if it's an "off" day
Kate will be 8 weeks tomorrow and is eating 3-3.5oz at every feeding. She usually goes 2-3 hours between feedings during the day, and anywhere from 4-6 hours between feedings at night.
I'm thinking of increasing her bottles to 4 oz now that she's at the 2 month mark, but not sure my boobs can keep up. I'm giving her BM during the day when I'm home and can pump and formula at night when my supply is crap.
How many ounces should their bottles be at 2 months? 3 ounces at a time seems to be working - she's gained lots of weight since birth after dropping too much.
I had to laugh at your responses...I was right! She is a moose I've given her 3oz from time to time and she's hungry earlier and less satisfied than with 4oz. It's just so surprising that she's eating so much but cest la vie! She's a growing girl! I'm going to start putting a bit of formula in each bottle to stretch out the breast milk. I'm making about 24-26oz a day which is slightly less than what she needs.
Is everyone's LO on a feeding schedule? At 7 weeks I'm still just feeding on demand that doesn't seem to have any real consistency. During the day she eats whenever and at night she usually wakes at 12-1am and 3-4am to eat and then again when we wake in the morning (between 7-9am).
@Heathereaddy DD (7 weeks old) is kinda on a schedule come 6pm at night. During the day I go on demand but I usually feed her at 6pm then again at 10pm then she sleeps for 5-6 hours (sleeps until 4am or 5am) feeds again and sleeps for another 2-3 hours (roughly 7am-8am) then I just go on demand until 6pm-ish. I didn't really force the evening schedule I just kept trying to feed her around the same time at night to see if i could get her to sleep longer and it just works.
It would be nice to have some idea of when she might eat and I thought everyone had it down at this point. It's nice to know I'm not the only one still mostly on demand lol. Also, I'm not sure how many bottles to send to daycare and if we had a schedule down at this point it would be easier to know.
LO is kinda on a schedule. He eats every 2-3 hours, he usually has eats between 12am-1am, 3&4am, right before 6am, then around 8:30, 11, 1:30, 3, 4:30/5, 7, 9. But he isn't forced on that schedule. Just what I've noticed he likes (7 weeks today)
Well I haven't noticed anything except the nighttime feedings. I feel like she eats all the time still which makes me think she's not getting enough but she's up at least 3 pounds from birth at 7 weeks and she's mostly breastfed.
@Heathereaddy 8 weeks and still on demand, though he's pretty consistent evening/night with his times now. During the day it honestly feels kind of random and depends on whether he's having a sleepy day or an awake day!
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
@Heathereaddy 8 weeks here and still 100% on demand. Some days he doesn't go more than two hours between feedings. But he's gaining weight and has more than enough wet and dirty diapers so I know he's getting enough. I like to think of it like some days he's in a grazing/snacking mood and some days he wants big meals.
My DD set her own schedule. She eats 2 times a night between 1-2 and 4-5 then 7, 10, 1, 4, 7, 10. These times aren't exact and of course we have some sporadic days where it isn't perfect but pretty consistent at 4 weeks old. She goes to bed after the 7pm feeding. I get her up to feed at 10pm. I can't wait till she only wakes once to eat because by the time I am done at her last 10 feeding it is 10:30 so I get 3ish hours and then again after her next feeding and I don't really feel rested. I know it could be much worse but a longer stretch of deeper sleep would be lovely. I have been thinking of trying to pump a bit and not wake her for the 10pm feeding and see how long she goes. I just get nervous if I pump too much there won't be.enough if she wakes earlier than I suspect, but I can't sleep with it being so full either....which would defeat the purpose.
@mrsmommya You can pump a bottle at 10 and put it by your bed so if she does wake up earlier you could start her off with the bottle you pumped. Or you could just pump a little to relieve some pressure to hold you over until she wakes up. I've had major engorgement issue since he was born, and the longer stretches at night was a rough transition for my boobs (love the sleep though!) and I found doing that pumping method super helpful. I started by pumping the full bottle and gradually went to pumping just enough to not feel too full and now I don't have to pump before bed most of the time unless he has a weird evening and hasn't eaten in awhile.
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
DS had been spitting up quite a bit. He eats well and is gaining weight but sometimes I really worry. The spits happen throughout the day or night, sonetimes with no milk in it. He coughs and gasps for air sometimes because he eats so rapidly. He's 4 weeks old so I know he's still learning and developing. There are no signs of pain or discomfort. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm a FTM so this is all new to me.
@DachshundMomma mine was like that. Her pediatrician said she had reflux and prescribed zantac. In the week she's been on it, she's only spit up once. The main reason we treated it was because she was miserable.
DS had been spitting up quite a bit. He eats well and is gaining weight but sometimes I really worry. The spits happen throughout the day or night, sonetimes with no milk in it. He coughs and gasps for air sometimes because he eats so rapidly. He's 4 weeks old so I know he's still learning and developing. There are no signs of pain or discomfort. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm a FTM so this is all new to me.
This sounds exactly like my LO. I asked the doctor and he said it was fine so long as they are gaining weight and don't have any signs of pain. My LO is also 4 weeks.
@mrsmommya Do you have a hand pump? I pump a little bit to relieve pressure during the night for the same reason. It's a lot easier than dealing with the electric pump.
So...Elijah had been taking bottles of thawed breastmilk with no problem for about 6 weeks but lately has been refusing them. Yesterday I tasted milk from one of his bottles, gagged and threw up a little... I thought maybe it was too old? Today I made another bottle. The frozen milk had been in the fridge for almost 3 hours so definitely not old. He refused it and my husband said it tasted bad. Is anybody else having problems with their LOs taking thawed breastmilk from the freezer? I'm really trying to figure this out!!! Any help is much appreciated .
@hreed7289 Yes I do have a hand pump! It has come in handy sooo much. I think I am going to try the pumping just for relief @winnie1122 tonight....
New issue...My DD is 4 weeks old and basically sleeps all day (I wake her to eat every 3 hours) then she sleeps at night but wakes to eat about 3 hours....however she has cried inconsolably from 5-7 for the past few evenings. My first concern is that she really doesn't have very much awake time that she isn't fussing, maybe 45 min max. My next concern is that maybe she has been wanting to cluster feed during this time? Or maybe overstimulation from the entire day? I have finally given in to feed her around 6:30 and she doesn't usually take the breast very easy at that point...not sure if it is just her already worked up or what.
Ok after a quick google search....I am definitely trying the cluster feeding tomorrow. I figured if she wanted to eat then she would just do it....however the great Dr. Google says that they will seem like they are fighting you, pulling on and off, and even fuss in between latching. I am attached to her during this time anyways so it wouldn't be different if she was suckling away!! Wish me luck!
So...Elijah had been taking bottles of thawed breastmilk with no problem for about 6 weeks but lately has been refusing them. Yesterday I tasted milk from one of his bottles, gagged and threw up a little... I thought maybe it was too old? Today I made another bottle. The frozen milk had been in the fridge for almost 3 hours so definitely not old. He refused it and my husband said it tasted bad. Is anybody else having problems with their LOs taking thawed breastmilk from the freezer? I'm really trying to figure this out!!! Any help is much appreciated .
I have read that for some women, their Brest milk gets a weird flavor after being frozen. It doesn't happen to everyone and there doesn't seem to be any specific reason it happens to one person and not another. Maybe try a different batch from a different time period. But there's a chance that they may all be like that and you may not be able to freeze any.
@austinjl with DS1, I had high lipase in my milk which gives stored milk a soapy metallic smell. i was able to store breastmilk after it had been "scalded" with a bottle warmer; unfortunately, it's a terribly annoying process. i haven't tried storing any for this LO yet, but I'll probably be in the same situation.
DD is fighting sleep as usual and won't stay on the breast. She sucks for a few seconds then pulls off rooting and burying her head in my boob or the Boppy then cries for the boob again. Has anyone experienced this? It usually happens in the evenings. She's only had two 20 min naps today so maybe that's related? I'm in tears trying to get her to nurse. But now DH gives her the bottle and she's fine so I'm feeling super rejected.
@Heathereaddy Yes I totally have. She will get frustrated while eating and pull at my boob and get herself off and then immediately cry and root for it back. I also notice it a lot with evening feedings (though I have had it in the day too) I used to attribute it to fast let down, which it may be. I also thought it could be because she needs to burp so I let her burp, she usually does, but if I put her back on the breast she does the same thing again. Lately I think it's more that she wants to suck on something but doesn't want to deal with the milk (she's a comfort sucker big time) so I usually finish the feeding and give her a pacifier and she falls immediately asleep. I'm still experimenting with what's going on but that's what I have for now. I definitely understand your frustration though. FX you get relief soon!!
Thanks @tennisbabymama That's makes sense on some level bc when I gave her the bottle she even sucked on it for a while without getting any milk out but eventually she drunk some because I kept putting it in and wiggling it a little. She also put her fists in her mouth and started sucking them which could be for comfort but it makes me paranoid that she's starving and not getting enough from the breast. Also she does not love her paci which would help a lot with the comfort sucking she likes to do.
@Heathereaddy I experienced this very early on with LO and I started freaking out. That paired with readmitted him for jaundice, I ended up giving him formula and pumping. Of course when I was helped with a lactation consultant both in the hospital and in the pediatrician's office, he was fine! I admire you and others that keep up with BF no matter how crazy it gets...I wish I didn't give up so easily but I needed my sanity back
I feel like my supply is decreasing!! Ugh. Most mornings I'd wake up and NEED her to eat. The past couple mornings I've felt fine and I don't feel like she's overly eaten during the night feeding. She's also only gotten up once! By evenings I feel totally drained. Has anyone had any luck with the supposed increase supplement tricks?
@Heathereaddy@tennisbabymama i thought this was clusterfeeding??? DS has done this the past few nights. It's worse if he slept a long stretch the previous night. Last night I woke him up after 7 hours to feed him and hopefully avoid this tonight. The time he slept 8 hours in one stretch overnight, the getting on and off breast and fussing the next evening was terrible.
@Heathereaddy@tennisbabymama My LC said that they pull the nipple, they actually are looking for more milk. Kind of like stretching out a straw so that you can get a faster flow. My LO also does this when he needs to burp.
@TiffRox81 how old is your LO? Why do you think your supply is decreasing? I know that my boobs started to get soft because my milk supply regulated around week six. Now they are only hard and leaky when I'm super full and miss 2-3 feedings. I have heard that lactation cookies work very very well. And I also know that I gave myself an oversupply problem by pumping too much.
@austinjl YES! My LC said babies do clusterfeed at night to prep for a longer stretch of sleep. I wish I got 7 hours. Max I get is 4...
I feel like my supply is decreasing!! Ugh. Most mornings I'd wake up and NEED her to eat. The past couple mornings I've felt fine and I don't feel like she's overly eaten during the night feeding. She's also only gotten up once! By evenings I feel totally drained. Has anyone had any luck with the supposed increase supplement tricks?
Mine started that a couple weeks ago, I'm trying to pump more often to increase. It's super annoying!
These are the cookies I made and they not only work (at least I believe so) but they taste relatively good. Next time I'm going to add some cinnamon and nutmeg. They are pretty easy to make too.
@FTM53 Jusr based on her frustration when nursing and my feeling as if there's really nothing there to offer anyway! This is typically the case by the end of the night. Once I get up for the most part, things seem refilled. Yesterday she was also virtually a non napper and did a lot of nursing because she was awake so much. I'm having more nap success today. At least so far. Hoping that helps.
Those recipes look good! I'll have to try the cookies. I have almost all those ingredients.
@FTM53 I don't think that's the case with my LO pulling at the nipple just because she will pull away when milk is spraying so I don't think she's wanting more.
My baby commonly pulls away to pass gas. That seems to be her biggest issue. She sounds a lot like what most of you are describing! We take a break and I bicycle her legs. Then I continue feeding her
My LO clamped down hard on my nipple earlier and let it rip. It got on me, the couch and him. Let's just say we had to cut his onesie off of him because it was not worth it.
Ok here's another question....during the day, are you timing baby's feedings or letting them let you know when they're hungry? Personally, I've always just gone off her alert but I was starting to think I might start waking/feeding her every 3-4 hours during the day. My biggest question is how do you know how much they may need to eat? My little piglet doesn't know when to quit so I've found if I try and feed her outside of her queuing me, it comes with a lot of waste and spit up.
@tiffrox81 I do a bit of both! She is 9 weeks old. We are now on a schedule. I noticed during the day she can sometimes go 3 hours without eating, but sometimes can't. So we are on a 2.5 hour schedule. I always feed her after a nap without fail. I try to get 8 feedings in a day (including her nightly feed). This is what I read is an average amount of feedings for her age. To get in 8 I have to dream feed her after putting her to bed. I don't let her sleep more than 2 hours per nap. She commonly does 1.5, but if she's extra tired I let her sleep 2 hours. This is working really well for us right now!
Re: Feeding Your Baby
@HoneyBear40- I'm pretty open about my struggle with supply and my journey of figuring it out with DD1. I remember feeling the exact same way at the beginning with my first, so please don't hesitate to ask questions or reach out for support! I am also a working mom and would bf and supplement in the mornings and in the evenings and pump what I could during the day. I did this until I switched over to formula permanently when DD1 was about 10 weeks old. For me, mentally, I had to stop because it was healthier for both of us... But it's totally doable and I'm doing it all again with DD2.
I'm thinking of increasing her bottles to 4 oz now that she's at the 2 month mark, but not sure my boobs can keep up. I'm giving her BM during the day when I'm home and can pump and formula at night when my supply is crap.
How many ounces should their bottles be at 2 months? 3 ounces at a time seems to be working - she's gained lots of weight since birth after dropping too much.
It would be nice to have some idea of when she might eat and I thought everyone had it down at this point. It's nice to know I'm not the only one still mostly on demand lol. Also, I'm not sure how many bottles to send to daycare and if we had a schedule down at this point it would be easier to know.
think she's not getting enough but she's up at least 3 pounds from birth at 7 weeks and she's mostly breastfed.
New issue...My DD is 4 weeks old and basically sleeps all day (I wake her to eat every 3 hours) then she sleeps at night but wakes to eat about 3 hours....however she has cried inconsolably from 5-7 for the past few evenings. My first concern is that she really doesn't have very much awake time that she isn't fussing, maybe 45 min max. My next concern is that maybe she has been wanting to cluster feed during this time? Or maybe overstimulation from the entire day? I have finally given in to feed her around 6:30 and she doesn't usually take the breast very easy at that point...not sure if it is just her already worked up or what.
Anyone have these periods and find a solution?
see kelly mom here: https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/lipase-expressedmilk/
and scalding instructions here: https://http//simplyrebekah.com/2010/05/03/excess-lipase-scalding-breast-milk/
That's makes sense on some level bc when I gave her the bottle she even sucked on it for a while without getting any milk out but eventually she drunk some because I kept putting it in and wiggling it a little. She also put her fists in her mouth and started sucking them which could be for comfort but it makes me paranoid that she's starving and not getting enough from the breast. Also she does not love her paci which would help a lot with the comfort sucking she likes to do.
@TiffRox81 how old is your LO? Why do you think your supply is decreasing? I know that my boobs started to get soft because my milk supply regulated around week six. Now they are only hard and leaky when I'm super full and miss 2-3 feedings. I have heard that lactation cookies work very very well. And I also know that I gave myself an oversupply problem by pumping too much.
@austinjl YES! My LC said babies do clusterfeed at night to prep for a longer stretch of sleep. I wish I got 7 hours. Max I get is 4...
ETA:
I think I'm going to try this
Married March 2016
DD: born 7.22.16
DS EDD: 6.23.18
Those recipes look good! I'll have to try the cookies. I have almost all those ingredients.