Milk question for Newborn

[sarahdavid]

Hi all,

I am absolutely gutted to say that I have put Ruby on the bottle!! I so desperately wanted to feed her for at least 6 months but feel so guilty to admit that for selfish reasons she's on formula now, I have been so exhaused, I've been ill on and off since she was born and with Finn being ill the past few weeks and Ruby feeding 2 hourly and sometimes not even satisfied on that (hourly some nights) I just reached breaking point!

Anyway, theres my guilt making me feel I have to justify myself which I know I don't, especially to you lot, but struggling a bit at mo!

Anyway, she's fine on formula and bottles but she's still a bit of a snacker, now on formula she is tending to go 3 hours between feeds, she goes to bed about 7.30pm and will then go til about 12 or 1ish, other than that shes 3 hourly, sometimes just before but she's only taking 2-3 oz at each feed (she's 7 weeks, 8 weeks on this coming fri).

I'm a bit worried she's not getting her quota of milk, what amount should they be taking at this stage? I know it's going to vary for each baby but just a rough guide?

She weighs 8lb 14 at last weigh and is following 25th centile but that was last week before I switched, will have her weighed again on wed to see how she's doing.

I've kept one breastfeed first thing in morning which is uisually about 7.30 ish.

Think the main prob is quite often she just can't stay awake long enough, was the same when BF, it's as if the sucking is sending her to sleep, praps I need to try faster flowing teats but don't wanna choke her.

Bloody hell, you wouldn't think I've done this before would you, lol! Finn was BF for longer so didnt need to worry about bottles etc and oz taken.

Sorry!! I've rambled!! Ahhhhhh! x

[ladybug]

Ach cut yerself some slack hon bottles make for a sane mummy

Ummm does she need water too??

Why don't you go on Ellie's blog and post a message? She knows a lot about how to feed formula properly.

Hope you get a wee break soon
xxx

[Bubba82]

You only need to give the additional water when the weather's hot LB or if the formula is causing constipation, perhaps she's not always hungry & is using the bottle as a substitute dummy to go to sleep? X

[rachaelmae]

I just used to feed Jessimae when she wanted it, sometimes 1oz then other 3-4 ozs, she was not a big milk drinker.

During the day i would try everything to get her keep feeding and take as much as possible but it did nt always work!!

xx

[sarahdavid]

Ok, think I need to just stop stressing about it, she's happy and content and having plenty of wet/dirty nappies so she's obviously taking what she needs. Finn was never a big milk drinker either so maybe she's following him.

Will be taking her to clinic tomorrow to be weighed.

Thanks all xx

[hiann]

Originally Posted by ladybug

Ach cut yerself some slack hon bottles make for a sane mummy

exactly! Better for baby a well and mentally healthy mummy who bottle feeds than a stressed out, ill one who breast feeds. I moved to formula feeding Cara as I was getting exhausted and low cos of the toll of breast feeding and its esp hard when you have another kid there too to look after.

At the risk of starting all the "the only way is breast feeding" people out there, the BEST milk for your baby is what works for you and your baby. You and the baby (and rest of ur family) are the most important things in this equation, not what you feed the baby. A lot of the midwives I have encountered at the hospital I was at would do well to remember that....

[wickypop]

hiya lovely, all sounds pefectly healty to me. I ff both mine and i would say so long as she is going 3 hours between feeds then she is getting enough milk. x x x

[sarahdavid]

Hiann, that is sound advice, thankyou!

Well, worry over, she was weighed and is now 9.10 so obviously taking what she needs and strangly enough she weighs exactly what finn did at same age! x

[cole]

now stop worrying u are a fab mummy with 2 beautiful babies xxxx

[sarahdavid]

Originally Posted by cole

now stop worrying u are a fab mummy with 2 beautiful babies xxxx

Bless you lovely, Thankyou xx