Worried about over feeding infant

[BFwoes]

This is going to be long, sorry. Not sure what’s relevant, so doing an info dump.

Our baby is 8 weeks on Tuesday. We have been combination feeding since week 1. He typically gets 1 formula feed in the morning around 8am and another in the evening around 6pm (given by DH, to allow me a few hours’ rest). In between these periods, including through the night, he is breast fed on demand, which is pretty much every couple of hours.

At 1 month (weighing 4.7kg/10.5lb) he was typically getting 120-150ml (4-5 oz) of formula each feed, over the course of an hour or so. We do paced feeding so are withdrawing the teat frequently and letting him actively take it back in and pausing to burp him. He would typically get around 60-90mls (2-3oz) in the bottle at first, then get a couple of top ups as long as he continued to look hungry (which we read as actively squirming when being held, putting hand to mouth, waving his arm). After he had had around 120-150ml he would begin to look full (we took signs of fullness as when he stopped actively taking the teat into his mouth, started to gaze at nothing in particular)

Over the last week or two his formula intake has increased significantly, up to around 250ml (8-9oz) over the course of 90 mins or so (he now weighs c.5.7kg/12.5lb). His intake has increased through us still following the same hunger and fullness cues as described above. At the beginning of a formula feed he does not seem any hungrier than before. But he will continue look hungry after a number of top ups until he eventually stops around 250ml. We never give him more than 120ml in a single bottle and wait 10 mins or so to burp him before giving him a top up.

We don't believe there has been any reduction in breastmilk supply, as he will quite happily sleep for an hour or two or lie awake but contented when handed over to dad in the mornings before he gets any formula. We're worried that we are misreading the hunger and fullness cues and overfeeding him from the bottle. Any advice please?

Also he is very flatulent, but doesn't reflux very often. Generally only if he's put down flat too soon after a feed.

You can't overfeed a baby that age.

I'd suggest what is happening is baby is increasing demand on formula rather than breastmilk. Assuming you are happy mix feeding, I'd add in two extra bottles (equally spaced), I'd imagine you'll then get each feed down to 120-150ml

I think you are overthinking this. As PP said you cant overfeed a baby this age. I would personally just keep feeding baby until it doesnt want to eat anymore. Is there any reason it takes so long to give them a bottle? If it takes 90 mins you must be almost at the next feed by the time baby finishes.

Honestly, OP, I would not be at all worried about this..
Your baby is not gaining too much weight and you say yourself that he's contented.
He is getting older so it is normal for him to have bigger feeds.

How long does he sleep at night? If he's going for 6 - 7 hours, that'll be because he has plenty of milk during the day.

90 minutes is rather a long time for one feed though.
Have you tried a bigger teat? Most babies take about 20 minutes to have a feed.

Sounds like baby is hungry drinking that much milk tbh. 2 out of my 4 had much more than that by your ones age grew like mushrooms

I’d get yourself along to a local breastfeeding group or call the NCT infant feeding line to get some qualified support.

in the mean time. It depends on what you want to do re the formula and bottles. There’s no reason why you can’t offer him the breast after these bottles if he’s still hungry.

you cannot over feed a breastfed baby, but you can over feed a formula fed one.

Sorry I can’t offer any advice about why this is happening however many pps are wrong - you can overfeed a formula fed baby, esp if it’s not done in a responsive manner (but sounds like you are following cues etc).

If this is making you anxious, exclusively bf could eliminate the issue as it’s not possible to overfeed an exclusively bf baby. However, that needs to be balanced with your need for rest etc.

Thank you very much, everyone. Super helpful!

would second what pp said as depends what you want to do going forwards. you could continue to up the formula amounts and mix feed though perhaps it would be more formula heavy. or you could offer breast after the initial amount of formula. or you could offer breast after one formula feed and not the other (i.e. to still give you the break in the evening). or as the feeds get less intense, you could drop the formula altogether and ebf.

How long has this been happening? When babies have growth spurts they tend to drink alot more but it soon goes back down. Definitely do what pp said about support but also see if he's in line for the growth spurt