New to FF - failed BF please help with amount x

[annanouska]

Hi everyone

had our first baby on 10th july weighing 8 lb 10. he is a strong little boy and took to the BF right away we made the decision to FF today after i BF him for 9 hours (no lie) last night. he was getting the colustrum but he jsut wasnt satisfied and became very agresive with his BF and wouldnt settle at all without sucking again on the breast. i know this is normal for BF babies but i ont feel we could sustain it with him so we made the tough decision and moved to FF so we can get more routine with him. plus i ahd a very bad labour and am physically exhausted and in a lot of pain I feel terrible about this and have cried all day long

what we are a bit concerned with is the aptamil milk we have purchased states he should take about 3 oz at each feed. so far i have fed him 3 feeds 31/2 to 4 hrs apart and he is only taking 1 oz. he is a lot more settled than was on the BF but just worying is he ok on so little? as i was so adamanet to BF i had no info on FF during pregnancy and im so sleep deprived right now i have no idea xxxxx

 

[Lady_Bee]

I've found the age/weight/feed quantity guidelines on the box to be complete rubbish personally... my LO has NEVER taken what it says he ought to be taking. Mine took 3 oz per feed at 3 weeks so that sounds like a lot for a 3 day old? I know 1 oz every 4 hours doesn't sound like much but he is sooo little and his tummy is still very tiny, and they grow so fast at this time he will probably start demanding more quite soon. Keep an eye on his nappies to make sure he is doing plenty of wees and poos - if he is, you're golden. Usually babies are pretty good at demanding food when they need it and refusing it when they've had enough.


It's REALLY frustrating that there is so little information on FF given during pregnancy. (Actually it makes me quite angry that FF is neglected so much because I was terrified when I had to move to formula, I hadn't a clue what I was doing and wished I had some basic guidance, you know?)

The sleep deprivation is awful isn't it? Trust me it does get better... but I had a horrible labour too and was in agonising pain for a long time due to problems below so I sympathise

 

[vintage67]

As far as the formula goes, it is best to just feed on demand when they are so little and let them determine the amounts and how often.

As far as the breastfeeding goes, your baby's only 2 days old and you are probably out of your head with exhaustion. Be sure you are ready to walk away from breastfeeding or even combi-feeding. And trust me, I am saying this with your best interest at heart. It can be very emotionally painful as well as socially stigmatizing these days to formula feed.

Congratulations on the new baby!

 

[HellBunny]

I changed for similar reasons (15 hour stretch feeds at night just abut did me in and i have a toddler to see to aswell) when we changed to formula Finley was only taking tiny amounts and well under what the guide says, my midwife told me to change to size 2 teats ( i was concerned it was too early since he was only 1 week old!) but when i changed he started taking around what the guide says. I think before we changed teats he was only totalling 7oz in the 24hours but once we changed he was fine xxx

 

[HellBunny]

Also another indicator is wet/dirty nappies, if he is having 6ish wet nappies a day then he should be ok also weight gain when you next get him weighed (though babies sometimes lose a little at first, thats fine too) x

 

[Vickie]

Rhys was a small and often eater for the first 5-6 days of his life. He would only take an ounce or two at a time. By about a week old I guess he moved up to 2-3 ounces but even at that there were feeds he would only take an ounce/ounce and a half. He didn't really settle into having 3 (or more) ounces per feed until 3-4 weeks of age.

 

[ClairAye]

My LO only took 20ml for the first 2-3 days then days 3-4 he only took 90ml on very rare occasions!

 

[vintage67]

Please let us know how you are doing Anna. Rough, sleepless days and nights at first!

 

[ceejie]

My DD only took 1.5 oz per feed up to 4 weeks old. Then she went up to 4 oz per feed very quickly but is still only at 4 oz per feed at 11 weeks.

Just let your LO eat as much as he wants as often as he wants. As others mentioned, if you find he has fewer dirty/wet diapers, then there is cause for concern.

 

[annanouska]

awwww you ladies are nice over here- its an area of B and B i hadnt ventured to before.

we have got up to 2 oz on feeds now. i offered three this morning but he didnt want it so i will continue offering 2 for another day and then offer more. i would rather him take what he needs than force him.

he must be content as seems very settled and we still seem ok on the nappy front and had our first little boy wee fountain experience last night

it broke my heart moving to FF esp so early but i think it was right for him. he doenst cry non stop and is much happier and as weird as this sounds his wind is actually better- he brings it up easier with a bottle than breast.

i have severe PCOS and was told i wouldnt have children. my hormones def went even more mad after delivery and ive recently found out PCOS ladies sometimes cant produce the right milk so maybe i was struggling but it doesnt really matter the main thing is he is happy.

we go 3-4 hrs between feeds at the moment and I do give him it earlier if he is wanting it but he seems to settle on this at the minute xxx

 

[bubbles123]

Hey, as others have said the feeding guide on the side of the box is a work of fiction, ignore it. My son took way more than the guide said for the whole time he was on formula. My 8 week old daughter didn't take 3 ozs in one go until she was nearly 6 weeks old. Before that she would only take an oz or 2 and would feed 10+ times a day. It does pass and they go into a pattern. She has about 6 5 oz feeds a day now. And I do sympathise with you about the early cluster feeding. My Lo did 9pm until 5am constantly on the boob first night. Quite normal of course but absolutely exhausting at the same time. I hope you can reach a decision that you are happy with and congrats on your new baby! X

 

[Kage76]

feed what your baby needs- disregard the tin- if your baby is not finishing a bottle drop it down an ounce- if your baby is finishing every bottle without fail increase it by an ounce. The ideal in my opinion is to aim where they have a little left over in the bottle- it means that they have eaten to their appetite.