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Original poster

How much formula?

10 replies

lamppost123 · 17/12/2023 04:50

Little one is 4kg and generally has eight feeds a day, he's 3 weeks old.

He will take 90-120ml/3-4 ounces of milk a feed.

Health Vistor states it's too much and I was perhaps not holding the bottle correctly.

There is no way baby will drink less.

Thoughts?

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Lizzieregina · 17/12/2023 04:56

It’s been a long time since I had a 3 week old, but I’m pretty sure they would have taken 3-4 oz at a time by 3 weeks. I feel like they could do 3oz fairly soon after birth.

If your LO takes the bottle easily and isn’t showing any signs of distress after (too gassy or spitting up etc) I’m curious why the HV is concerned?

Original poster
lamppost123 · 17/12/2023 04:58

Lizzieregina · 17/12/2023 04:56

It’s been a long time since I had a 3 week old, but I’m pretty sure they would have taken 3-4 oz at a time by 3 weeks. I feel like they could do 3oz fairly soon after birth.

If your LO takes the bottle easily and isn’t showing any signs of distress after (too gassy or spitting up etc) I’m curious why the HV is concerned?

They say tinnnnnnnny stomach. Make him ill. They also don't let us make the formula at the start of the day, have to make it fresh every feed.

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Devilsmommy · 17/12/2023 05:01

@Lizzieregina makes good points. If baby isn't being sick or in discomfort then that seems fine to me. Is he on formula? If he is, if he keeps taking more then maybe try the hungry baby formula. I stopped listening to my HV because they just weren't helping at all. Not that that's what you should do, maybe ask GP instead if you're concerned

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PinkPink1 · 17/12/2023 05:04

Aww you have a big baby so I'd go off weight and not age. My baby is small so I go off the weight of my baby too. Try 4 or 5oz per feed and your baby might not need as many bottles. Your baby is too big for 3oz. My tub of formula says 3.9kg (2-4 weeks) for 4oz and 4.7kg (4-8 weeks) for 5oz bottles.

Original poster
lamppost123 · 17/12/2023 08:22

PinkPink1 · 17/12/2023 05:04

Aww you have a big baby so I'd go off weight and not age. My baby is small so I go off the weight of my baby too. Try 4 or 5oz per feed and your baby might not need as many bottles. Your baby is too big for 3oz. My tub of formula says 3.9kg (2-4 weeks) for 4oz and 4.7kg (4-8 weeks) for 5oz bottles.

I just don't understand the midwives stating he's got a small stomach v the formula states X etc.

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SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 17/12/2023 08:31

If LO is 4 kg they need roughly 600 ml of first stage formula a day.

Some babies do "catch up/down" though and will be born on one centile and move to another and stay there.

PinkPink1 · 17/12/2023 08:32

lamppost123 · 17/12/2023 08:22

I just don't understand the midwives stating he's got a small stomach v the formula states X etc.

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Ignore the midwife. You know your baby best. Try 4 or 5oz bottles based on your baby's weight. Babies drink what the want. He may or may not finish a 5oz bottle every time, but maybe you could try offering him that.

RidingMyBike · 17/12/2023 08:37

Go off weight - recommended daily amount is 150-200ml per kg body weight per day. Which the HV should know! So a 4kg baby could be having up to 800ml formula per day.

The tiny stomach size thing is based on very dubious outdated research. The HV seems out of date - the idea is to feed responsively, not some arbitrary limit!
fedisbest.org/2017/06/newborn-stomach-size-myth-not-5-7-ml/

Original poster
lamppost123 · 17/12/2023 14:42

RidingMyBike · 17/12/2023 08:37

Go off weight - recommended daily amount is 150-200ml per kg body weight per day. Which the HV should know! So a 4kg baby could be having up to 800ml formula per day.

The tiny stomach size thing is based on very dubious outdated research. The HV seems out of date - the idea is to feed responsively, not some arbitrary limit!
fedisbest.org/2017/06/newborn-stomach-size-myth-not-5-7-ml/

Thank you

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RidingMyBike · 17/12/2023 15:47

They also have growth spurts at various points when they appear to be ravenous! There is one at around 3 weeks and again at 6 weeks. You just follow what they want and it eventually settles down a bit.

Again, the HV should really be aware of this!

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