New to formula feeding ....... couple of questions !!

[frumpymummy]

Am returning to work in couple of weeks and need to move DD (almost 24 wks)onto formula feeds instead of exclusively breastfeeding. Have already started swapping breast for bottle every other feed and am increasing gradually. Problem is I have a coupld of questions ....

1. How much milk should she be taking in each feed ? HV said about 6 ozs as she is only 11lb 13ozs still.
   
2. How can I get her to take more in each feed ? She generally takes about 4 ozs each feed (obviously don't know what she's having during bfs)
   
3. HV has said to start odd mouthful of puree etc but is causing her to take less milk than she should ? (I don't give them together, she has a bottle, then an hour or so later has some food)
   
4. She tends to go straight to sleep after/during the bottle and there is no waking her to get her to have more.
   
   HELP !!!! I really can't afford for her to lose any weight as she's only a tiny dot anyway.
   P.S. Unable to express at work and away from home for more than 12 hrs 4 days a wk, hence swap to formula.

[MKG]

I would say the easiest way to see how much she'll take is make a large bottle between 6-8 oz and see how much she takes. There is no general rule. Then you'll have an idea of where to start. Don't worry about her taking more at each feed. My nephew drinks 32 oz a day, but will not take more than 6 oz. at once. Where as my ds took 32 but had it in four 8 oz bottles.

Hope to be of some help.

Don't worry. Formula feeding is easy, you just need to play with the amount at first. It can be a waste of formula in the beginning, but you'll catch on to how she'll take.

[Twinklemegan]

Hi frumpymummy. If I were you I'd be looking at the total ozs for the day rather than each feed. Most babies take 4-5 feeds a day, but yours might need to feed little and often, especially whilst your switching her off breastfeeding. So I'd suggest working out what she should be having each day on average (useful link here ) and the number of feeds you'll need to give based on the 4 ozs she takes at a time. Put maybe 5 oz in each bottle in case she wants more. In time she'll probably start to get used to having more in one go, in which case the feeds may space themselves out a bit.

Re the solids - I've just started my 21 week old on solids for various reasons. I'm very worried about him reducing his milk intake so I try to give the solid food straight after his milk so he'll only take what he needs. I also have the problem of him falling asleep sometimes btw so sometimes it is 1/2 hour or so after the milk when he gets the solid food. I haven't noticed him reducing his milk by doing it this way.

What size teat are you using btw? If the flow's too slow it may cause her to wear herself out with sucking before she's had enough.

[Twinklemegan]

MKG's method would work too, but I used to get really mad at the amount of formula my DS wasted!

[frumpymummy]

Ah, I'd never thought about the teat.
I'm still using the one that came with the bottles (Dr Brown B Free), so may well need a faster flowing one. Will hunt some out from somewhere tomorrow.
Fingers crossed !!

[frumpymummy]

MAnaged to get stage 2 teats today. She guzzled an extra 2 ozs than normal, but still ended up asleep !!!!!! Never mind, at least she had more milk, so that might help with the weight issue if not the sleep issue !
Thanks for your help folks xx

[carolyn1]

My little 6 week old is struggling with his feeds, he's drinking 4oz almost every feed, but almost immediately after he is troubled for the next couple of hours with wind, colic, sick, what seems to be constipation, it's a wee shame, we are on Aptamil Extra, am considering changing to Hipp Organic or Cow and Gate Omnio, have read reviews on both, anybody any views on either, or other, all help would be grateful, feel sorry for little Max.

[Seona1973]

carolyn, is there any particular reason you are using hungry baby milk when your lo is only taking 4 ounces? I would switch back to aptamil first milk and see if that solves some of your problems. Hungry baby milk is harder to digest and could be what is troubling your lo

[ZoeNbump]

im due to give birth in a few days, hopefully!! im probably going to be bottle feeding instead of breastfeeding and just needed some advise on this as im new to it all and dont know much about it at all! any tips would be great xx

[carolyn1]

Hiya Seona
We started hungry baby as we thought he was hungry and the problems were that he couldn't cope with taking more than 4oz but needed more substance, to be honest it made no difference, we had the same problems in the end with Aptamil first and Aptamil Extra. I've plumped for HIPP Organic, and it seems to agree with him better, he is digesting it better, not in the same discomfort, doesn't seem to be pain, just the usual wind, but I do feel that there must've been something in aptamil that didn't agree with him, I would say we are well on the say to having a settled boy, thank goodness. thank you Cx