ounces per feeding

[klh9368]

I am getting ready to return to work my son will be 12 weeks old and weigh around 15 lbs he nurses every two hours and I don't know how many ounces per feeding he will need. I appreciate any answers that anyone can give me. Thanks

[crystal555rose]

I am not sure exact amounts but I would recommend providing the breastmilk in small bottles- 2-2.5 oz. is what I used. BF babies will easily overfeed since the milk rushes out the bottle (even the slow flows) and to a certain extent comes out without any sucking at all. My mother cared for my son and overfed him with a bottle. I did not realize it until I spent some time reading threads on this site.

The recommendation I have seen is small bottles- 2-3 oz. with lots of breaks and burps so that they do not get overfilled with milk. As you know, there is a delay between filling up your tummy and feeling full.

Perhaps you can provide some info for your caregiver because they will need to bottle feed your BF baby differently than bottle fed babies:

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/alternative-feeding.html

[klh9368]

Thanks for the advice I am so worried that I will not give the daycare enough breastmilk. How did you realize your baby was being overfed (what signs did you or your mom notice)? I appreciate the help!

[crystal555rose]

The main sign that my baby was overfed was that he was hugely fat. Like, off the charts, but my pediatrician was not concerned. Looking at pictures of him I realize how fat he really was. He did not roll over until 6 months old and I think it was because he was so fat!

I never was able to store up a lot of extra milk because whatever I left was consumed. My mother in law would do all her soothing with a bottle, so even if I fed him and was only gone for 3 hours, all the milk I left would be consumed. I think there are probably worse things in the world and since I was lucky enough to have enough milk, I did not consider it a problem.

I know there are calculators and I tried looking on kellymom but could not find it... I know Amy G has posted them on other threads. I will definitely post if I find one.

[klh9368]

Thank you so much for your help

[zediseot]

One of my kids drank about 4 ounces every time he had a bottle (sometimes 5 during a growth spurt). DD, otoh, generally took smaller bottles (2-3 ounces), but more frequently.
When we have someone else watch the kids (dh is a sahp now but wasn't when ds was an infant), we generally put the milk in 2-2.5 ounce bags and send the bags and clean bottles separately.

[Candi]

The recomendation is 1-1.5 oz per hour you are away. Less is OK because they will make up for it at home. My DD drinks 9oz in the 10 hours I am away. Some days she will take another 3oz bottle, so I leave some frozen bags at daycare just in case.

[klh9368]

Thanks for all the advice. I worry that he may need more or at least use to getting more because first thing in the morning after he has already ate I can pump anywhere between 5 and 8 oz within 15 minutes and later in the morning an hour or so after he has ate I can pump around 2.5 oz. He usually nurse for 10 or 15 minutes and I know the baby is better then a pump at removing milk so I wonder how much milk he is actually taking in. When he was born he weighed 7lbs 12oz within 2 weeks he gained 2 lbs and now at 10 weeks he weighs 14 lbs 2 oz.

[Candi]

Yep, I was able to pump a lot in the morning at first too. In fact, the first few weeks I was back at work I pump about 15oz a day! Everything has evened out now and I pump just enough to keep her fed at school- 9oz give or take. So I would start with the smaller amounts, because over time you will be pumping less, not more.