Is my 6 week old getting too much expressed milk?

[KayleyG]

Hello,
My little boy is 6 and a half weeks and for the past week or so I've been expressing so that my partner can pick up a night feed. Using online calculators it's saying he should have around 3oz, but he's happily putting away 5 or 6!

Is that normal? My HV told me I can't overfeed him as he'll either stop or spit up any excess that he takes on?

He's 10.5lbs (weighed 8.5 at birth but lost a lot due to tongue tie and jaundice). My partner and I are both tall, so we think he'll be a big boy!

When you say online calculators do you mean for breastmilk or formula? Breastmilk breaks down more easily than formula. If he's finishing 5oz then he's obviously hungry. Feed him what he wants and you'll both be fine. I seem to remember mine having a similar amount of breastmilk at that age (but less formula), I combi fed.

I should also add, you have no idea how many oz he has when you bf him directly. Could be 8oz for all you know.

I'm not sure what calculator you've been looking at, but as you dont usually measure breastmilk when feeding from the breast, I'm not sure why it says that. Arguably they can usually take on milk faster via a bottle teat, but they can't take on more than their stomachs can handle. I would carry on as you are personally, offering them and letting them drink what they want.

Thanks. It's a breast milk calculator, on a website called kellymom.com which a friend of mine recommended who's a breastfeeding counselor!

Kellymom is a really helpful site. I understand why she recommended it. Ask her what she thinks of calculators for breastmilk.