I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

Hi ladies, My feeding schedule and sense of when DS is hungry got a little thrown off when I switched to formula for a week b/c I was on antibiotics. Now, I am nursing DS, feeding him pumped bottles and giving him 1 bottle of formula a day and have been doing this for a little over a week.

I do NOT think that DS is getting enough food with the BM. Many times he seem hungry around 2 hrs, but then quickly fall asleep and will go 4 hrs without wanting to eat but then when he hits 4 hrs he is RAVENOUS - gulping down the bottle but still only drinking from 3.5-4 oz. Other times I have to wake him and he will fall asleep half way through the bottle and I will only get him to take 3 oz. When I nurse him he will nurse through with closed eyes for a while (usually from 25 to 30 min total) but I have no idea how much he is actually getting. Also, at night, he will sometimes go 6-7 hrs without eating (which dr. said was fine but not sure it is fine if he is not eating enough during day).

Point is - at the end of the day he is really only eating 5-7 times and when I count up the ounces that I know for sure I do not think he is getting anywhere near enough.

My q is at 4 weeks - how many oz is typical at a feeding and how many times a day? Should I be more agressive about feeding him and waking him.

Thanks so much - this is making me crazy. I am def. going to take him to the peds office to get weighed this week for peace of mind.

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

i just want to say that, after reading many of your posts, it is obvious that you have been working so hard through a lot of difficulties with bfing. you are really doing great, sticking to it!! i hope you feel proud of yourself, because it's easy to give up!!!

making sure our children are well fed is probably one of the biggest concerns for every mom, but i caution you from getting yourself panicked about it. of course, you should be sure he's eating, but if you are approaching each nursing session with a timer, schedule, measuring cup, etc. then you are not allowing the natural process to happen. at one month there really isn't an exact schedule. it can be 1 hour or it can be 3 hours.

here's some info from the kellymom site

try to not think so much in ounces. since breasts are not calibrated, it's really hard to judge how much they are drinking. the real key is the amount of wet and dirty diapers and the weight gain.

also, my babies are just now nursing with their eyes open at times (4months). don't assume that your dc is sleeping when nursing, even though his eyes are closed. try to listen for sounds of swallowing and look back at his jaw and throat. if he is falling asleep while nursing the best thing to do is breast compressions. my lact consultant taught me how to do this, but you can also find instructions on the kellymom site.

please feel free to fm me when you are feeling overwelmed and need a bfing friend to talk to.

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

First, I think the rule of thumb is that if a baby is wetting several (how many I'm not sure) diapers a day, that he is well-fed.

Also, at his age drinking 3-4 oz. at a time 6-8x a day is the norm. This information comes from my own experience as well as a chart I received from Similac.

I think it sounds like he is doing fine, but if you're freaking out it can't hurt to take him in for a weight check.

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

i was always a big fan of reading my DD.....and that was it...sometimes she went 4 hour naps and would only BF for 10 minutes upon wake up....im very hands off- i knew i had plenty of milk, had wet diapers, and was gaining weight with every visit to the dr....sometimes she ate a lot, sometimes she didnt----and i always siad this- shell eat when shes hungry- she isnt going to starve herself...

im sure ur DD is fine- as long as she is gaining weight and everything, dont worry about the number of ounces....she wont starve herself...

ps- i EBFed too, so i NEVER knew how much she ate....

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

Always go by the number of wet diapers.

Here's a guideline

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

I know it must be nerve wracking to you since you were used to being able to measure ounces from a bottle, but, in my experience breastfeeding is not like that. Trust the natural process, feed him when's hungry. If he's wetting diapers and gaining weight he's just fine. Honestly, one of the things that makes breastfeeding so easy is that you don't have to worry about ounces or schedules. If you're concerned you could ask your doctor if you can bring him in for weight checks, but I think counting his wet diapers is fine. As long as you are responding to his needs and not trying to enfore an artificial schedule on him he'll be fine.

Congratulations for continuing to breastfeed! You should be very proud of yourself.

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

Posted by halisa

i just want to say that, after reading many of your posts, it is obvious that you have been working so hard through a lot of difficulties with bfing. you are really doing great, sticking to it!! i hope you feel proud of yourself, because it's easy to give up!!!

making sure our children are well fed is probably one of the biggest concerns for every mom, but i caution you from getting yourself panicked about it. of course, you should be sure he's eating, but if you are approaching each nursing session with a timer, schedule, measuring cup, etc. then you are not allowing the natural process to happen. at one month there really isn't an exact schedule. it can be 1 hour or it can be 3 hours.

here's some info from the kellymom site

try to not think so much in ounces. since breasts are not calibrated, it's really hard to judge how much they are drinking. the real key is the amount of wet and dirty diapers and the weight gain.

also, my babies are just now nursing with their eyes open at times (4months). don't assume that your dc is sleeping when nursing, even though his eyes are closed. try to listen for sounds of swallowing and look back at his jaw and throat. if he is falling asleep while nursing the best thing to do is breast compressions. my lact consultant taught me how to do this, but you can also find instructions on the kellymom site.

please feel free to fm me when you are feeling overwelmed and need a bfing friend to talk to.

Re: I am constantly worried I am starving my 4 wk old...Need some guidelines from BTDT BF moms...

Thank you to all you ladies for your help!