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Parenting

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Original poster

1 month old DD not feeding properly.. Help!

12 replies

Bubbless · 04/02/2013 09:28

M DD is now 1 month old, and we are formula feeding (I tried v.hard to breast feed, so don't suggest it!)
We are following the box instructions n how much she should be having and how often, but she is doing things her own way!

Advice is 150ml and to leave at least 3 hours between feeds, but she is leaving 60mls in every bottle and feeding every hour and a half-2 hours?!

She is putting on weight, but too quickly and the health visitor says we need to hold off on feeding her for the 3 hours, but if she's not taking a full bottle I don't want her to be screaming (not the problem) but also hungry (moreso my problem) for anything up to an hour and a half?

She also has colic, but not sure if this is related? Please help!!

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ilovepowerhoop · 04/02/2013 10:01

150mls is 5oz which is quite a lot for a 1 month old. At that age you should be feeding on demand as you would with breastfeeding so if she doesnt want the last 2oz then make the bottles smaller to begin with. It is normal to take little and often and when she gets older and her tummy gets bigger she will be able to take more at a time. HV is talking crap - there is no law to say that your dd must go 3 hours between feeds so if she wants feeding give her some milk.

SamSmalaidh · 04/02/2013 10:04

I would feed on demand - 90ml bottles sounds fine for a tiny baby to me.

What does the HV mean by "putting on weight too quickly"?

Original poster

Bubbless · 04/02/2013 10:29

I think I just needed someone else to confirm the health visitor is being shit, I asked if we should reduce the milk so she technically finishes until she wants more after a full bottle (even if just to save us money on formula!) and she said no as she 'needs' that much!

Sam; she was 8lbs5oz when born and is now 10lbs4, which means she's over the line, her percentile is off.. Blah blah, but tbh, neither me nor my partner are... Slender?! And so we expected her to be a little bit over until she can exercise and understand that always eating isn't always the best! But she's only a baby....?!

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SamSmalaidh · 04/02/2013 10:36

Babies don't often stay on their birth centile - for example, my DS was born on the 75th and dropped to the 25th in the first few weeks and is still there at 2.5 years, my nephew was born on the 50th and went up to the 91st and is following that now. Another friend had 2 children, one born on the 91st and one on the 25th and by 4 months they were the same weight It just takes a little while for a baby to find the line they are "supposed" to be on, and even then they can go up or down a line (or two) without it being a problem.

You don't have to see the HV by the way, after the first month and if you are happy your baby is healthy and gaining, then only get her weighed monthly at most.

SamSmalaidh · 04/02/2013 10:37

And of course, your baby knows what she needs better than the HV does!

Passmethecrisps · 04/02/2013 10:41

I agree with everything posted above.

My LO is 12 weeks old and weighs 11Ibs. She has only finished 150ml bottles in the last few days. She mainly takes between 80 to 130ml. In a day she has 6 feeds.

I feed on demand - she loosely follows a routine of feeding but she gets fed when she asks. Babies know what they need typically. Trust her and your instincts.

mattysmum09 · 04/02/2013 21:37

Well personally I couldn't go more than 3 hours without a drink!!lol so why should a baby! I don't actually know much about formula feeding but I'd probably do it on demand as said above....thats one thing I love about breast feeding you cant over feed them, but sometimes my little one cries because he has wind or tummy ache etc and its not always food he wants...but I ALWAYS offer the breast incase and it works for us... Go with your gut instinct because if your little one cant feed wen he or she is hungry she may then sleep through next feed and could end up losing weight or getting so worked up and upset that they get loads of wind and cant feed anyway wen that magic 3 hours is up.

debbie1412 · 04/02/2013 21:46

At a month old little and often 150ml my 13 wk old doesn't drink that much . Also don't look for problems that rnt there. I did it with my 1st and felt stressed for the first 5 months. Aslong as ageing weight steadily then all is fine x

Original poster

Bubbless · 05/02/2013 08:31

Thank you everyone, I think I was making it a life or death situation but she's fine and happy, just worry! Doesn't help when the Hv doesn't know what they are on about!

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Peanutbutternutter419 · 05/02/2013 11:51

I agree with everyone else...ignore your HVs advice. You obviously are tuned into your baby's needs so follow it. I wouldnt follow the formula instructions as every baby is different! My DS was also 8lb 5 when born and he weighed 10lb 2 by 1 month old but he is BF. He sounds like he had the same routine as your DD as when i used to EBF he would only have about 2 oz at a time and went every 1.5 - 2 hrs.

You sound like you are doing a wondeful job and going with your instincts. My DS has slowed down on the weight gain now he is 8weeks so i think he was just getting used to feeding outside the womb!

JiltedJohnsJulie · 05/02/2013 11:52

Totally agree with everything said, feed on demand, get her weighed once a month (at most) and just enjoy your new baby

Missingthemincepies · 05/02/2013 15:19

Agree with above and don't worry about centiles. DS was born just over the 2nd centile for weight. Shot straight up to 50th centile EBF, then on up to the 98th when I gave home solids and has remained 91-98th since (height and weight), now 2.7yrs.
She will level out on the right centile for her, but not yet. Trust your instincts.

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