Drinking, worried about milk intake.....

[Natt82]

Hi girls!

I need some help!

Ewan is 7 months this week. We exclusively BF until 16w, when we brought in formula (nil weight gain) alongside. At 24w we introduced solids, and everything has been going really well. Until now.

I'm seriously worried about his milk intake and dont know where else to ask!

Today our routine was this (typical of a normal day, sometimes has a different cereal or finger foods for lunch, or homemade dinner, but this is the rough idea)

7am - wake, 5 mins each side.

9am breakfast (2 weetabix, 1 pear mashed, all with cows milk and 1/2 slice of toast)

12am - fruit and yogurt

2pm - 1oz formula (!)

4.30pm - couple of mins each side, then managed to get him to sleep feed for 15 mins off the right

6pm - 1 jar babyfood (7m size) and 1 banana, 1 yogurt

7.30pm - 1oz of formula!

I have offered boob and formula throughout the day, and he doesnt want it. He has munched a couple of rice cakes through the day, but really isnt interested in any milk, breast or otherwise.

(just to add he has only ever really fed for 5 mins or so from birth, so length of feed doesnt bother me, more frequency?)

Do you think in the two ten minute sittings he is getting enough milk? It seems to have changed consistancy - right from the ofset it now seems really full, creamy and white like my hindmilk - is my body making sure he gets all the calories in a short time?

His weight is fab (best its ever been, hes really solid now!) and his development is great, so I'm only worried about his calcium/milk intake.

He also wont drink straight water (Im worried about his kidneys) - what else could I offer?

Thanks guys

(just to add he still has no teeth but I can feel one under his gum, so he could be teething)

Sounds like he is just fine,gaining weight etc.He is getting lots of milk in breakfast plus yoghurt.DD bf til 14 mnths and your milk does change and get "creamy".I am sure he is getting enough She was bf 3 small feeds daily plus yoghurts fromage frais and cheese in meals.HTH

Have you tried diluted fruit juice eg apple juice with water as an alternative if you are really concerned about fluids,but honest they will drink what they need and he sounds healthy

Do you think I need to offer any water or anything in the day? He doesnt seem to drink anything between 7am and 5pm (and Ill be at work 2 days a week 8-5 as well) and I worry he will be dehydrated? Shall I just try each day with the formula or just try water? or something else?

You'd never believe this is my 2nd! But George (26m now) always drank loads of formula (wasnt breastfed) so I never worried!

you beat me to it on message!!

no, havent tried it - proper apple juice? would any fruit juice do? (we dont drink apple ourselves)

I'm sure any would do.I found orange juice,even dilute gave dd the runs so avoided it with her but it never bothered ds.

tbh I think if they are thirsty they will drink,and I'm sure that breastmilk is the best stuff really but you could offer juice/water/formula whatever

I gave a third juice to two third water as a rough guide.The only thing with fruitjuice is the sugar in it albeit natural fruit sugars ,so I tended to limit it to once a day and give water,however dd wouldn't entertain water alone though ds did.