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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Bottle Feeding

31 replies

ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 20:39

My milk never came in despite all the great advice i got on here. So now we are formula feeding. I was so adament that I would exclusively breast feed that we know nothin about formula feeding. My midwife suggested we feed on demand but it seems a minefield some feeds she takes 40ml and others she takes 120ml, sometimes she'll go 4 hours between a feed and other times it's an hour and a half. We're worried we could be over feeding her. Oh before i forget DD is 14 days old, we get 5-6 wet nappies a day and she poos daily. Any advice?

OP posts:
alexw · 16/08/2006 21:08

I bottle fed out of choice (bad Mummy), but as long as your baby is over 7 pounds at birth you should leave at least 3 hours betwen bottle feeds so as to allow their systems to digest food - it's not the same as breast milk. Crying after 1.5 hours isn't necessarily hunger, try 3oz every 3 hours til 3 weeks (but make up bottles of 4 oz just in case). 3 - 6 weeks try 4 oz every 3 hours ( again make up a bit more just in case) then try 4-6oz every 4 hours from 6-12 weeks with a plateau of 6 oz by 3 months (but don't stress too much about amounts if they're going the time between feeds). HTH

hairymclary · 16/08/2006 21:12

I would feed on demand. only your baby knows how hungry she is.
I have breastfed, bottlefed and mixed fed and as you say it's a bit of a minefield.

You'll get a lot of differing advice, but I'd say do what feels right. If she seems hungry feed her, if not then don't worry about her not taking as much. All babies are different, and just think about if you were breastfeeding you'd have no idea how much she was having, you'd just go with the flow. So stick with that idea and you can't go far wrong

hairymclary · 16/08/2006 21:12

can i just ask though, how do you know your milk didn't come in. Have you only just started formula? If so what has your baby been living on for 2 weeks?

Original poster
ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 21:23

hairy my boobs never got sore. I expressed and got hardly anything. even midwife pointed out that baby was hungry and we weren't getting enough wet / poohy nappies. Initially i was told to top up after 10 days i conceeded to defeat and DD is much more content.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 21:25

Thanks alex that really helps.

OP posts:
Original poster
ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 21:30

Alex there is no such thing as a bad mummy I put myself through so much guilt for failing to breast feed, society does make you feel bad for not breast feeding. babies all think their mummy is the best!

OP posts:
alexw · 16/08/2006 21:31

Don't feel bad about the bottles. Your baby is getting the nutrition it needs coupled with cuddles from you. If baby starts draining bottles for a couple of feeds in a row make up next feedsa a bit bigger. Also, try to get 5 out of 6 feeds in during thr day (ie somewhere between 6/7 am-10/11pm) so tha will only mean 1 feed needed during night. Anything else, just ask.xx

hairymclary · 16/08/2006 21:33

Some people don't get sore boobs though, I never did. I also never leaked any milk. Also, expressing realy isn't a sign of how much milk you are producing. It takes quite a while to be able to build it up to a decent amount even when breastfeeding is well established (usually after 6 weeks or so). How did the midwife know she was hungry?
Sorry for going on, it's just that I gave up breastfeeding and I still regret that I didn't carry on and I hate to see people in similar situations.
If you haven;t been giving formula for long then you could always restart.

mogwai · 16/08/2006 21:53

perhaps she's happy with her decision McClary.

Joolstoo · 16/08/2006 21:55

mogwai

pupuce · 16/08/2006 21:57

Feed on demand....
All I'd add about what you posted Clare is that maybe Motillium (Domperidone) would have helped as it boosts supply big time (side effect of the drug is prolactin production). At least 1 mumsnetter tried after her 1st two babies did not get BF very long as for her too the supply just wasn't there.... her 3rd fed for over 2 years.... next time maybe

hairymclary · 16/08/2006 21:58

Perhaps she is. That doesn't mean I can't offer advice does it?

hairymclary · 16/08/2006 21:59

I never said that she shouldn't bottle feed. I have nothing against formula feeding at all, I've bottle fed my baby.
I juast saw that she had only just given up breastfeeding and felt that if I could give some advice that may help her continue then I should do so.

Original poster
ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 22:21

I was devasted that I couldn't breast feed. They checked my latch and it was fine. But she didn't get enough. She was feeding every hour and sucking for upto 40 mins. Resting for 10 mins and then crying again. She was more satisfied when I topped up with formula. M/W was concerned we weren't getting wnough wet nappies. I wish I'd been told about the drug though. It still makes me want to cry when she turns to feed.

OP posts:
pupuce · 16/08/2006 22:25

When did you stop?

hunkermunker · 16/08/2006 22:26

ClareWeeval, it's not too late to try again if that's what you want.

You need to get help from a bfeeding counsellor though - look here for the numbers of the different charities

It's very possible your latch wasn't right - midwives often don't know the right things to do to support breastfeeding

Of course, there is also a chance that you don't produce enough milk and won't be able to - but I think it's worth trying.

Good luck with it - and stay posting - perhaps start another thread asking for support to bfeed again?

And have a hug as I'm feeling huggy tonight and I think you need one x x x

laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:30

Clare, you don't sound like you are happy with your decision to me.
Why not get some advice from one of the helplines (NCT/LLL etc) as quite honestly alot of MWS talk crap.
I don't mean to say stop bottle feeding or that there is anything wrong with bottle feeding but just that it is not too late to start again and even do mixed feeding.
Was she losing weight at 10 days?

laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:30

crossed posts

pupuce · 16/08/2006 22:31

This article might help you....

hunkermunker · 16/08/2006 22:32

Also spend lots of skin to skin time with her - and let her nurse. Do you bath with her? Let her feed in the bath if she will.

laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:33

Clare also if you are going to consider starting again then please put her to your breast when she turns to it whilst you get some advice.
My milk never 'came in' either and I never lost a drop first time (bf for 8 months) but am a bit more milky this time. When you have your second get on MN within minutes of the birth and we'll talk you through it.

laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:34

and again HM

Original poster
ClareWeeval · 16/08/2006 22:39

Thanks I'm not happy about it but my husband got so frustrated with the whole situation with her seeming so distressed the whole time. She loves having a bath with me and I try to give her as much skin to skin as I can, she hates being naked except when in the bath!!! THanks for the hug. Will see if breast feeding drop in is running this week. I needed it last week and it was cancelled! Thanks for the hug

OP posts:
laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:48

What a pain about the drop in being cancelled. Why not phone one of the numbers off the link? It is difficult for daddies in the early days. I remember that DD1 was a nightmare for weeks but tell him that they do start smiling soon.

laundrylover · 16/08/2006 22:51

Just had a thought - if there is no drop in why not go to the labour ward as there is sure to be a couple of trained MWs on duty. I did this with DD1 (even though I had really only just gone along to the hospital drop in for chat) and got whisked in for one to one advice and support!