EBM: how much for a feed?

[Swizzler]

I've started expressing in the hope that giving DS a bigger feed last thing might help him settle - also would appreciate a break from 2-hr feeds occasionally! I've expressed 4oz so far - is this enough/ too much for a single feed? We don't have a freezer so don't want to express too much and have to throw it away DS is 6 wks btw.

[wishingchair]

If this is your first time giving him a bottle then I'd stick with the 4oz and see how he goes. You can always top him up with boob if you need to tonight, then try to express more tomorrow. Let me know how you get on ... DD is 13 weeks and I'm sure my milk supply is running low so was thinking about trying to express to (a) boost supply and (b) to give to her at that last feed cos a b/f at that time just sends her straight to sleep!

[Racers]

That's about the amount DD would have when I occasionally gave her EBM at around that age, if that's any help? It's worth noting that leftover EBM can be offered again quite a while after the first feed. There's some info here

[olivhohoho]

i was told 3 to 4 oz when dd was that age IIRC. she is now 12 wks and takes about 5oz of ebm.
good luck!

[BumpyMo]

My DD is 12 weeks and i BF but on a tuesday evening i go out for 3 hours so i express. I usually only manage to express about 3oz as she feeds quite often (2 hourly) and my partner said she took it well and was nicley contented after too. so I would say stick with the 4oz for now and go by how well ur LO does with this feed as to what you express next time x

[BumpyMo]

Olivhohoho- what does IIRC mean please? sorry, being thick!!! x x

[olivhohoho]

"If I Remember Correctly"

[BumpyMo]

How much does ur baby weigh, Olihohoho? its just my baby is 12 weeks and won't take that much milk!! she only just about takes 3oz, is that too little? x x

[olivhohoho]

oh no, didnt mean to panic you bumpy . I'm a first timer so everything i do is hit and miss!!

she weighs 11lb11 , but she is a greedy little thing (has her dad's appetite!). also that is a night feed so she goes for a long time on it. in the day she would take maybe 4oz.

I'm sure if your dd is content, thats all she needs. Racers link is a good one to reassure yourself.

[moondog]

I think when i expressed,one of those little Avent bottles (nearly full-would that be 5oz??) covered an absence of a couple of hours quite nicely.

[BumpyMo]

Oh ok!! My baby is 8lb9 as she was 4 weeks prem so that probably explains a lot!!! x x

[Swizzler]

Thanks very much! Have to say that expressing was easier than I thought - hope DS will now take the bottle...

[BumpyMo]

if its the first time you are trying a bottle, you may have to be patient. i BF my lo for a good 4 or so weeks before trying a bottle of EBM and at first she wouldn't really take it as she didn't know how to suck the bottle. She's been taking the milk for a good few weeks now but I still have trouble getting her to take it but she takes it from my partner brilliantly. I've heard somewhere that it can be harder for mum to give bottles as the baby can smell the BM and knows mum usually gives BM.

[Swizzler]

Well, he took just over 2 oz no problem! Only slept for 2 hrs as usual before the next feed, but hey ho

[BumpyMo]

That was ok then! i must just have a fussy baby!!!

[olivhohoho]

swizzler - can i just say, keep giving the bottle on a regular basis. when i started with dd, she took it and i thought that was that, left it a week or so, then she wouldnt take it. this happened a couple if times - i now give her some ebm every day so she remembers she can do the bottle!

[Swizzler]

Good idea - DS took 1/2 bottle yesterday then screamed until offered the boob - perhaps the novelty has worn off . I like having a gap in feeds as well so will keep it up. It may be a coincidence but DS also had a good long (5hr) sleep last night which is a record!