3.5 week old - how much expressed milk per feed?

[Ohfourfoxache]

Just wanted to gauge opinion really. Ds had problems with blood sugar levels when he arrived and ended up doing a short stint in scbu - so I'm paranoid about his feeding tbh.

I'm part BFing, part expressing (basically just so that I know how much he is getting, otherwise I'd be BFing exclusively). He's taking between 90-120mls per feed, approximately 4 hourly - is this normal?

If you have a look on www.kellymom.com there's a tool to use. I think though that it just divides 600ml up over the day so 600/6=100ml. That's roughly 4 oz per feed. So you're about right.

I think my lo was drinking that much expressed milk at that age.
If he is gaining weight now I would drop the expressing and just bf. Will make you life easier.
Enjoy your time with your new born.

We had a similar experience with blood sugar and then jaundice so I understand your concerns.

However, the joy of bf if that baby takes what baby needs, and that the milk is made based on what baby needs. If nappies are being filled and poo is the right colour (don't worry too much about regularity with a bf baby), and weight gain is ok, then just feed directly. Expressing and bf is the worst of both worlds.

Congratulations on your newborn

Thank you - actually I'm feeling quite reassured that he'll be ok just wih BF, think I'm going to try to express only for sessions for DH to feed him.

Nipple cream is at the ready and fingers firmly crossed!

Hi fox we had a similar experience to you with DD having jaundice and low blood sugar and being in Transitional Care. You are where we were two weeks ago after being discharged. I had lost confidence in breastfeeding- same as you, feeling I need to express as I didn't trust her to have enough. So when we were released I panicked and thought I was stuck with expressing forever! Two weeks on DD is feeding so much I never even get to pee!!!
My mum advised me to ditch the expressing and just feed her on demand. It was really hard to bite the bullet but DD picked it up immediately and only has one bottle of ebm at night so OH can give me a break. Sounds like you're doing the same as me-my DD is just over 3weeks too. Just go for it! It's horrible when your baby has been a bit below par because you become obsessed with feeding and there's no enjoyment.
Remember, the hospital wouldn't have sent your DS home if he wasn't healthy. Healthy babies tell you when they are hungry and they do lots of dirty nappies-that's what I kept telling myself. Good luck.