Over feeding my baby

[MarniesHere]

Is this possible?

DD is 6 weeks and weighs 11lbs and was 9lbs8oz only two weeks ago!

Heath visitor doesn't seem concerned as she's only been weighed twice so not established a pattern on the centile chart yet.

Last night she nursed for 15 mins then an hour later had 6oz of formula. Then half hour later was still hungry and nursed for 20mins and half hour after that for 15mins!

It seems like a lot to me and I'm worried I'm over feeding her!

Help!

My daughter is also 6 weeks, was weighed today at 10lb 14oz, which is dead on the 75th centile. Her weight gain has slowed down now, but at the beginning she put on 2lb in two weeks, so I wouldn't worry too much about her weight.

Do you think she is definitely feeding each time she goes to the breast? Perhaps she is having a bit of a comfort suck?

Also, they say a growth spurt is meant to happen around this time, so quite possibly she really is just a hungry girl at the mo and is stocking up!

6oz of formula sounds like a lot for a baby that age. Does she have a lot of formula?

You can't overfeed a breastfed baby, but overfeeding is a risk with bottles.

Feeding 6oz of formula will prematurely stretch your baby's tummy as it takes longer to digest than bm & is more bulky. Giving formula will also drastically reduce your breast milk supply, as breastfeeding workson a demand & supply basis. It takes much longer to satisfy a bf baby because bm is so easily digested by the gut.

Perhaps you could lengthen the breastfeeding to 30 min each side, at least every 4 hours with 2oz of formula between bf, if you want to continue with the formula.

Also, your milk supply will take that much longer to settle/establish itself due to mixed feeding. Your baby might eventually favour the bottle as it takes much quicker to guzzle the milk due to milk dripping out the teat. It's very hard to overfeed an ebf baby because they set the pace of their feed & often the sucking is non-nutritive/to seek comfort from mum.

6 weeks is a growth spurt time! I don't think you can really overfeed a baby - they will either turn their head or throw up if they've had too much.

Research has shown that you can overfeed a baby using bottles Visualise. A baby that overfeeds to the extent that they vomit doesn't mean they haven't taken more than they need. Because a baby can take a large amount of milk much quicker through a bottle, it means they can overfeed before they realise they are full - just as adults who eat quickly tend to eat more.

I was thinking growth spurt!

I've been told I have oversupply of breast milk so I'm not too worried about it dwindling. I just feel as though I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm winging it as a she's my first! I was expressing and giving her a bottle so her dad and others could feed her but found it a lot to do all the time so settled on formula as (selfishly) it's easier when her dad takes her unexpectedly.

Do you think it's a comfort thing even though she has a dummy? She is a very sucky baby.

It's so confusing. I don't want to damage her but she seems happy with both its just the amount I can't seem to get right! i think ill give her less formula see how she gets on.

Is there a reason for giving such big bottles of formula? I'd try smaller amounts (maybe 3oz) and trying to make the bottle feed as much like a breastfeed as possible - so slow it down, switch sides etc. There's some information on bottlefeeding a breastfed baby here kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

Dummies are important for bottlefed "sucky" babies as they can't comfort suck on a bottle without getting milk - however if you are putting her to the breast it's fine for her to comfort suck as she can control the flow of milk.

Thanks ill have a look at that site. I give her that amount as I was told they have an ounce for every week they are! Is this not correct?

No, never heard that! Otherwise what will you give her when she is 10 weeks or 20 weeks?

On the formula box it should give a guide per age/weight.

6oz is a big feed for a baby that age esp a bfed baby.

I think it was a growth spurt. I've dropped down to two bottles of formula a day of 4oz and she seems fine with this atm and I'm expressing when she's not with me. Thanks for all your help hopefully it will be ok.