Is 3.5 oz per feed normal for a 17 week bf baby?

[Orchardbeck]

My 17 week old baby is finally taking a bottle (yippee!) and I've been replacing the 7pm feed with formula and starting to do the odd daytime one too, but she's only taking an average of 3.5 oz per feed. I just tried an expressed bottle just now and it was the same.

We've just switched to the Mam 2 month teats now she is accepting them - do you think we need to move up to the 4 month ones, or does she only want that size of feed? Last night I ended up breastfeeding her again at 9pm but then she slept through to 7.30am.

She usually feeds at 7, 10.30/11, 1.30/2, 4.30/5 and 7ish. If she wakes in the night it's around 4/5.30, feeds then goes back to sleep, but this sets our schedule to about 8.30am. She is definitely a 'good do-er'. Should she be getting more though, or is she just a highly efficient feeder?!

Ps I only feed one side per feed as I have an oversupply.

Don't worry. The best advice I was ever given was they'll feed when they're hungry. You can't measure how much is coming out of your breast and they often feed for comfort not hunger. You could keep a diary to see? If that helps reassure you.
She might just have changed her feeding habits now she's a little older

I didn't read carefully enough about the bottles sorry. There is a guide in the contented baby book that helps or you can check on the side of the milk cartons. But if she is gaining weight and doesn't seem over hungry don't worry.

Yes, or less. Babies are designed to feed little and often. For months.

As long as she has SERPS that pattern herself, seems satisfied after a feed and isn't asking for a feed inbetween I'd say that pattern is fine.

Bf babies usually take on average an ounce an hour, unlike formula they don't increase the quantity they take as your milk will change to adapt to your baby's needs. So if she's having 3 floz, that's probably all her little tummy can take.

There's a guide here but that's for ebm.

Are you wanting to swap over to ffing completely? If so the current recommendation is to drop one feed every 2 weeks. This will reduce your risk of mastitis and help her adjust to the new milk and increased quantities she will need

Hey there,

Don't worry I have the same issue (also only feed from one breast) my dd is co fed, she has four bottles a day and only drinks 3.5 ounces at the most, I bf in between and all night, I asked my hv if it was a worry that she's only drinking some of her bottle but she assured me that she'll drink what she needs and that I don't know how much from the breast she is taking. Phew.x