Advice needed from fellow expressers. My baby is 8 days old and is fed almost exclusively expressed breast milk. His consumption seems to be going up exponentially so my question is - how much is too much? He's confidently polishing off 100ml in a feed today, every 3-4hrs. At his last feed he had 100ml, seemed satisfied and then started furiously rooting less than an hour later. He seems to be really chunking up and I don't want to over feed him. Not due to see midwife again until Saturday. Thanks in advance.
Too much milk?
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I have been told by midwives that you cannot over feed a breast fed baby - basically they stop eating when they want and won't take anymore because their bodies know when enough is enough. Your boobs are producing to baby's demand.
My little girl is 6 weeks and when I express feed her she will take a maximum of 100ml in one sitting and will sleep for 3-4 hours after that x
My little girl is 6 weeks and when I express feed her she will take a maximum of 100ml in one sitting and will sleep for 3-4 hours after that x
Try not to look at the amount. If you were feeding from the breast you'd have no idea how much he was taking. If he's hungry, feed him. 
You're encouraged to breast feed on demand so almost ignore that it's coming from a bottle instead! Xx
You're encouraged to breast feed on demand so almost ignore that it's coming from a bottle instead! Xx
Sprout
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How often are you pumping and are you able to drain the breast when you do? Depending on how long you're pumping for and also how good the pump is, you may not be getting much hindmilk (the fattier milk which comes later in a feeding) and he may not be as satisfied if it's the less fatty foremilk he's getting - even if it's a good amount.
Are you at all able to put him to the breast? If so, it might be worth offering him the breast after you've pumped (when you think it might be drained) to see if he's able to get more out himself. If this happens then perhaps try pumping for longer or getting a different pump?
I'd been pumping for my baby, thinking I was getting the full feed out but then realised she was still able to get more out herself so I think I now have a freezer full of foremilk!
Otherwise, he is still quite young so it may simply be he's feeding more to help establish your supply.
Good luck!
Are you at all able to put him to the breast? If so, it might be worth offering him the breast after you've pumped (when you think it might be drained) to see if he's able to get more out himself. If this happens then perhaps try pumping for longer or getting a different pump?
I'd been pumping for my baby, thinking I was getting the full feed out but then realised she was still able to get more out herself so I think I now have a freezer full of foremilk!
Otherwise, he is still quite young so it may simply be he's feeding more to help establish your supply.
Good luck!
Thanks for the replies ladies. He's being weighed tomorrow so will see what they say. Interesting about the hinbd milk Sprout. The midwife recommended I express for 20mins at a time (10mins each side) and said not to bother trying to drain the breast. I do this every 4hrs (give or take) and produce anywhere between 100 and 200ml at a time. I'm already pumping more than he in drinking - my fridge is filling up! I have the medela pump by the way.
Wow, I'm surprised the midwife gave that advice. I'm currently expressing for my son who is in the neonatal unit, I double express on hospital grade pumps every 3 hours and up once in the night for 20 mins at the very least but definately until I've drained. I usually continue for 5 minutes after I've drained them too to keep my supply going.
It sounds like you're getting a really good amount but I've been told I really need to keep it up every 3 hours until at least 12 weeks to make sure my supply is well established.
How did his weigh in go?x
It sounds like you're getting a really good amount but I've been told I really need to keep it up every 3 hours until at least 12 weeks to make sure my supply is well established.
How did his weigh in go?x
Its interesting all the different advice people get. Weigh in went well. He has regained his birth weight and then some. He's also taking smaller feeds to say but with slightly shorter gaps between. Perhaps it was a growth spurt. The midwife today didn't seem bothered by the amount he had been eating and seemed to think how I was expressing was OK. Health visitor is coming Monday so will garner another set of opinions then! I managed to get almost 150ml from one breast in 10mins this afternoon. Lord knows how much excess milk we'd have in our fridge if I drained it.
I can totally see what your saying about the hind milk though. Perhaps I should experiment with how long it takes to drain a breast whilst my partner is still at home. Out of interest, how long does it usually take you? How do you know it is drained? Does it just 'stop'? I find that my flow starts and stops over the 10mins. I'll think its stopped and then suddenly get another gush.
I can totally see what your saying about the hind milk though. Perhaps I should experiment with how long it takes to drain a breast whilst my partner is still at home. Out of interest, how long does it usually take you? How do you know it is drained? Does it just 'stop'? I find that my flow starts and stops over the 10mins. I'll think its stopped and then suddenly get another gush.
That's great about his weight gain, sounds like what you're doing is definately working! It's always good to get advice from various people.
My flow usually slows down after about 10 mins and turns to drops rather than sprays of milk then the drops will usually stop after about 15-20 minutes. Everyone is completely different, some people have multiple let downs, it sounds like you might have if your flow stops and starts.
My flow usually slows down after about 10 mins and turns to drops rather than sprays of milk then the drops will usually stop after about 15-20 minutes. Everyone is completely different, some people have multiple let downs, it sounds like you might have if your flow stops and starts.
