Am I feeding 12 wk old too much??

[Coramum]

Hi, does anyone else have experience of mixing formula and bfeeding? Currently I've moved from ebf to 5/6 bfeeds plus two 3 oz top ups with formula for the morning and lunchtime bfeeds, plus a 5oz formula dream feed, over each 24 hr period. Is that too much? I started topping up with formula as my dd didn't seem full in the daytime but my breasts felt emptied. She also had trouble sleeping during the day (she's a very light sleeper) and became overtired, constantly wanting to comfort feed (ie just latch on and suck but not feed). She seems happier since I've been topping up. She's only 50th percentile but I feel guilty for some reason for topping up, like I'm cheating her (ridiculous I know...).

What do you feel guilty about exactly? giving her more food?

I didn't mix feed, just BF but would just say that FF will decrease your supply which is why you feel you can't feed enough... your supply will diminish each time you FF your DD.

When your DD is 'comfort feeding', suckling but not feeding, what the clever little mite is actually doing is trying to up your supply! They latch on and suckle away and this sends a message to your hormones to produce more milk. (you are lucky yours does this in the day, my DS would only do this at night which was exhausting!) Your DD might do this for a couple of days and then, when she is getting the amount of milk through that she wants, will stop!

they do this for growth spurts too - which incidentally, occurs around 12 weeks.

sooooo you could either stop her suckling and carry on topping up with formula, or let her carry on, stop the formula and your supply will meet her demand :)

hth a bit, but someone will probably be along soon who can help you with what FF oz etc your baby might expect at 3mths as i know nothing about that!

My DD2 is 15wo and I exclusivey bottlefeed. She has around three 6oz bottles per day and two 3-4oz bottles. She averages 25oz overall through the day. She is on the 50th centile, too.

She's a lovely little sleeper; will go down for the night about 8pm and wake again at about 5am for a feed.

I also use a dummy for her comfort, rather than having her suckle more milk from the bottle (or my breasts if I was breastfeeding). She seems to need to keep sucking after finishing her milk.

Are you a first-time mum? I'm only asking because I was so fretful about DD1s growth: she's 3.6yo and on the 91st centile. She's taller than the average 3yo - more like the height of an average 4yo. It used to drive me NUTS when she went from the 50th to the 75th then 91st centile. I really wasnt overfeeding her! It bothered me that she wasn't on the mid-line, but then the HV explained that a long as weight and height correlate, then that's the right weight/height for the child. It would only be a problem if she was 50th centile height and 91st centile weight.

She's all legs; long and lean :) And that's just who she is! DD2 will probably increase from the 50th centile, but it's okay. I'm calmer about it this time.

There is too much focus on 'breast is best'. I'm sorry to say it, but thats how I feel. I breastfed both daughters for about 4 weeks each and really did not like it. As soon as I bottle fed, I enjoyed the feeds. So dont worry about 'cheating' your DD. I'm afraid this guilt is the result of a very strong -and almost bullish - breastfeeding campaign. As long as your baby is being nourished, she'll be fine, regardless of whether this is done by breast or bottle. Don't feel guilt, and enjoy your baby without this worry!

HTH,

MammaT

Thx all. I checked with a midwife and she said am feeding fine, not too much, so will keep the formula top ups. Also want to keep dd familiar with formula and bottle so weaning isn't a nightmare. Dd is definitely chubby but hope she'll burn it off once she's crawling!
The comfort feeding started at 3 wks and was constant and caused by over tiredness. No matter how often dd fed, she never slept during the day and rarely got 'milk drunk'. She's a lot more content these days...

Ps yes am a first time mum, probably shows!

I hope I didn't seem to be patronising you when I asked if you're a first-time mum. Parenting is a learning curve that is at it's steepest the first time you do it. It's only natural to ponder these things when you've no point of comparison.

And, you'll find most healthy babies are chubstrers! They need the fat for insulation. Love those chubby thighs and cheeks (both kinds) while you can; as they start toddling (13-15 months) it soon vanishes :(

MT