How much in bottles? *4 month update*

[kdmalk]

DS has been taking only one breast (most of the time) when home and eating every 2-3 hours. Depending on the time of day, I usually pump 2-3oz per side (more in the morning, but he doesn't drain me, so he is still probably taking about the same amount or just a little more).

I am sending him 3.5oz bottles to daycare and he is draining them and wanting more, but I feel like he can't possibly be eating more than that at home, so I don't want to overfeed him. I don't want to starve him if he is really wanting more, but I feel like he just hasn't realized he is full yet since the bottle comes out faster. He will still wait 2-3 hours between bottles, so I am thinking that it just takes him a minute to realize he isn't actually hungry??? Daycare said he still seemed hungry, so I experimented with sending 4oz for a while and he always finished that as well and still wanted more, but his teacher mentioned he seemed to be spitting up more around that time, so I am thinking that he was overeating and then spitting up the excess. But we also switched bottles around then, so it could have been him adjusting as well.

My friend had her baby on the same day and her baby has taken 6-8oz of breastmilk from like 3 weeks on, so I don't really have anyone to compare with to know if what I am sending him seems reasonable.

He is 3.5 months. I know every baby is different, but does 3.5oz seem reasonable, or should I be more in the 4-4.5 range? I am just terrified that I am not sending him enough. But I also don't want to overfeed him! He is growing/gaining really well, but has always been small for his age, so I just want to make sure I am doing everything I can for him. We EBF when he is at the house and will usually nurse 3-5 times between 5pm and 6am. He eats four 3.5oz bottles at school. Am I on the right track?

Sorry for the novel (as usual).

 

[Mississippi03]

Babies get a lot more from the breast then we think they do.. And take a lot more when it is by bottle. At that age I believe my little was taking 5oz by bottle maybe 6. But he is a good good eater lol

 

[crownest]

My boy feeds from only one boob at a time. I can pump up to 5 oz from my right boob but only 2 -3oz from left but he feeds the same from both pumping doesn't indicate how much they feed. My DS just drank 7 oz for his bedtime bottle but usually 5-6 oz if he had one during the day but he only has 1-2 bottles a week. He is 17 weeks

 

[kdmalk]

Interesting! See, I would send more but I kept reading that breastfed babies take like (approximately) 25oz a day from one month all the way up until they start solids at 6 months. So the advice was to just divide how many times a day they eat by around 25 and that's how much you should give them per feeding. And that's just over 3oz if he eats 8 times a day (which is the norm for him). So 3.5 seemed.... reasonable? I will definitely start sending 4oz again if I can get that much each day. I'm curious how much he would drink if I just let him go on and on and on. The last time I tried this he was probably 2 months old and he would consistently drink 3.5 (even though I always offered 4), so I went with it. I guess he is wanting more now!

 

[crownest]

Well I cut my DS off sometimes because he is used to having to work at the boob he will drink whatever is in the bottle as he drinks it so quickly he doesn't realise he is full. He sleeps through the night 10 or so hours so I don't mind him having a big bottle before bed during the day if he gets one I limit it to 5 oz

 

[icegurl470]

This is how much I produced with my first baby and it was enough. Your supply is bbased on baby's demand so if you've always produced around this amount it's probably okay. There may be times that they will want more and your supply may fluctuate a little bit but unless he starts falling on his growth chart I wouldn't worry about it. With my second baby I've been able to pump a little more about 4-5oz (3oz from the right 1-2oz in the left). If you are worried your not producing enough bring it up to your Dr they may prescribe supplements to aid in lactation. It's also important to feed on damand when with baby and stick to a strict pump schedule while away from baby. You may be able to get some extra oz in the morning by pumping on the other side

 

[noon_child]

Do the daycare do paced feeding. Taking a breather every now and then can give their tummy a chance to register if they are still hungry and give them a chance to burp.

 

[kdmalk]

I know they burp him at least once in the middle of his bottle. I think they are doing a good job because there have been a few times where he hasn't taken the whole bottle, so that makes me feel better about pace.

 

[justplay91]

My four month old daughter takes about 3 oz when we offer the bottle. That seems to be what I can pump when she skips a feed, too, so I think that's about what she gets when she nurses.

 

[kdmalk]

Update: He has been on the breast all weekend, so I just gave him a bottle upon returning home from a trip. He was a good eater all day and now he has drained a 4.5oz bottle as fast as he could get it out (and screamed bloody murder through burping while we tried to slow him down) and then threw a fit like he wanted more. What do people do in this situation? I felt awful while I held him for about 15 minutes after he finished his bottle and he was so upset like he really was hungry. I finally put him back on the breast and he gulped for a couple minutes and fell asleep.

Maybe the 4 month growth spurt? If so, should I temporarily increase his bottles? And to how much? Advice really needed!

 

[mac1979]

Around 4 months is a big developmental leap, so that may be what is happening. It should straighten itself out.

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Babies nurse at the breast for lots of reasons than just food. It could very well be a cognitive or physical growth spurt, sounds like he needs more milk and more cuddles! You're doing fab mama, just follow his lead as much as you can

 

[icegurl470]

I agree with the above, just trust your body and try not to worry about it. As long as your not suddenly producing way less than you normally do, baby will be okay!