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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Newborn constantly formula feeding. Starting to worry me!

27 replies

Bluemonkeyspots · 29/04/2013 20:42

Dd is 3 weeks old and was 10lb 6oz at birth so obviously I expected her to be a good feeder but she is constantly starving!

She feeds every 2 hours and is on 5oz bottles (wont take any more than this)

Have given her water between feeds which she takes but it makes no difference to how much milk she wants.

She maybe goes one 4 hour gap in 24 hours (usually during afternoon sleep) but the rest of the day she feeds every few hours.

Example- last night at 9pm
she took 2 5oz bottles back to back (this was unusual as she would normally only take 5 and no more)

12.30am- 5oz
3am-5oz
5am-5oz
6.30am-5oz
9am-5oz
11am-5oz
1pm-5oz
3pm-5oz

The health visitor said she should have about 30oz a day for her weight and she has had 50 in less than 24 hours!!!

Don't know why I'm posting as obviously I can't not feed her but it can't be good for her wee belly having all that milk can it?

I bought a tin on Wednesday which was finished yesterday so had to go out for another. I'm sure a tin is supposed to last a newborn more than 4 days.

She only has one poo a day so it's not like its running through her.
Nipped out for Hungry baby milk at this point

6pm-5oz hungry milk
8pm-5oz hungry milk(starving at this point!)

OP posts:
Original poster
Bluemonkeyspots · 29/04/2013 20:52

Sorry post seems to have split.

Last few lines should be somewhere in the middle

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 29/04/2013 20:55

Have you tried a dummy? Could it be that she just wants to suck? That's a hell of alot of milk. Frequent feeding is normal but that's excessive.

Do you go straight for the bottle or do you try other things first?

Original poster
Bluemonkeyspots · 29/04/2013 21:14

We try other things, walking rocking shaking toys etc.

I give water but had not tried a dummy as was told not to till 6 weeks but am tempted to get one to see if it makes a difference.

She was only fed about a hour ago but just had her in the bath and she is throwing her head about looking for food!

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 29/04/2013 21:31

If your formula feeding there's not gin a be nipple confusion from a dummy :)

Is she sick alot? Refluxy babies constantly appear to wanna eat and drink because the swallowing helps.

Original poster
Bluemonkeyspots · 29/04/2013 21:40

No never really sick.

If she is its just a mouthful while she burps.

She will look like Hagrid by summer if she carries on like this Hmm

OP posts:
Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 29/04/2013 21:45

Has she always been hungry? Or is it recently ?

Summerlover · 01/05/2013 02:30

Seems a lot. May be all age wants is to suck suck try dummy if you like.

AdmiralData · 05/05/2013 22:26

I've got a similar problem OP, my DS(8 weeks) was born 9lbs and is now 14lbs 3oz. He has not stopped stuffing his chubby little face. Midwives and HV said not a problem, that I am doing right by feeding on demand and I know EXACTLY what the back to back feeds are like. When he screams after finishing a bottle, being burped, changed, cuddled, bounced etc you think surely to God he can't be hungry but yup ... he is. HV seems to think it will pass, so all I can suggest is wait and see? I know how bloody expensive it can be too :(

Original poster
Bluemonkeyspots · 06/05/2013 11:35

Thanks admiral, that has made me feel so much better!

I think (touch wood) we have calmed down a little bit, we are still feeding mostly 2-3 hours but there is a couple of times a day it will stretch out to nearer the four. We do feed constantly at night though. Seems to be routine now to down 3 bottles between 8 and midnight.

OP posts:
Lollypops22 · 01/02/2022 22:18

Hi so I have a newborn :) 4 days old.so it says to feed every 2 to 3 hours !but seems like within an hour and a half he's really hungry again we feed him 2oz !he will start to sucking he's fingers and moving his mouth!are we over feeding? I try to settle him but then will start crying and sucking his fingers more!

DaffodilDandilion · 01/02/2022 22:21

I was always told that newborns don’t know how to be greedy. If she’s not spitting it all back out then she’s obviously digesting it.

seaborgium · 01/02/2022 23:12

Is she very tall? Taller babies are generally hungrier. It’s also worth bearing in mind that most babies go through a growth spurt at three weeks.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 01/02/2022 23:14

@DaffodilDandilion

I was always told that newborns don’t know how to be greedy. If she’s not spitting it all back out then she’s obviously digesting it.
Yes,she's growing,she won't carry on like this ,she's just having a big growth spurt.Smile
Thatsplentyjack · 01/02/2022 23:18

My dd was the same 10lb 6oz at birth. She is a chunk and was always quite hungry. Did the same as yours during the day. She didn't at night though which is why her average was around 30oz a day at that point. Have you tried a dummy? Also could be silent reflux. That's when they're not sick, just have reflux. Apparently it makes them think they are hungry.

Thatsplentyjack · 01/02/2022 23:19

@Lollypops22 up the bottle to 3 or 4oz per feed.

Hdhr8jsj · 01/02/2022 23:31

Both of mine fed every 4 hours and had 9 to 10oz each time - 6 times in 24 hours. They were both fairly small babies and both had dummies.

A friend of mine baby fed 2oz every 1.5 hours.

They are all so different ! Try the dummy and I'd check with the midwife about the hungry baby milk as its not recommended for such a young baby.

Bells3032 · 01/02/2022 23:38

@lollypops22 what is the babys weight? Mines only 6lbs and takes 2oz every 3 hours so if the baby is on the bigger side that doesn't sound like a lot

Lollypops22 · 02/02/2022 01:10

Thank you everybody he is only 4 days old so he doesn't have a dummy yet!he weighted 7lb 7oz at birth he seems to be making every 1.5 hours for 2oz maybe ill up it for 3 ?another thing we keep waking up with wee all up he's back if anybody nows any tips

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 02/02/2022 01:17

My eldest was 11lb 2 when he was born . It was a long time ago but I remember him going around 3 hours and having about 8oz or more

He's always been tall but was a perfectly average weight as a toddler/child even though he never seemed to stop feeding as a baby. He's around 6"2 now

Bells3032 · 02/02/2022 04:47

Based in how weight he should be having 3.2 oz every three hours minimum. So yes I'd be upping how you give at each feed.

Bells3032 · 02/02/2022 04:48

As for the wee sounds like his nappy isn't fitting properly. Id try a different brandq

3luckystars · 02/02/2022 05:19

Why wouldn’t you give a dummy for 6 weeks? That’s the time they need it most. Maybe that’s terrible advice and rules have changed, it’s a long time since I had a baby. Am laughing at the Hagrid comment!

I don’t think you should give water though. All the best.

Bells3032 · 02/02/2022 09:58

The six week thing is only if you're breast feeding so they don't end preferring the teat and reject the boob

It's irrelevant for formula fed babies.

Bells3032 · 02/02/2022 09:59

Also never give a newborn water

Mrbob · 02/02/2022 10:05

Please don’t give him water!