How Much Does a Your Breastfed Baby Eat at a Setting?

Updated on April 27, 2009
J.B. asks from Denton, TX
11 answers

My 13 week little girl started daycare this week, and is exclusively breastfed. She breastfeeds at home every 2-3 hours during the day, and will go up to 8 hours at night. I am pumping at work and get anywhere from 7-8 ozs (first of the day)to just 3 oz at a time and I am sending bottles in 4 oz increments and she is eating every 2 hours at day care. According to kellymom this should be right, but need reassurance! She weighs about 12 lbs, and seems satisfied but she sucks down a bottle really fast.

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J.P.

answers from Dallas on

I was always worried about weight gain and if my little girl was gaining enough. I was told by a lactation nurse that they should gain about an once a day but no less than 1/2 an once a day. I had been to the doctor for a couple of weight checks and every time we went they charged us. Plano Pres. has a gift shop I think called A Mother's Gift and you can get weight checks for free. If they aren't busy with appointments a lactation nurse will talk to you. Also, if you don't already have one get the pumping bra. They sell them at the gift shop to. Life saver!!!! Good luck!

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M.S.

answers from Dallas on

Each baby and mom are different, so if she seems content and continues to gain weight, it's fine. I was always intimidated by the women who pumped 16 oz at a time, as I NEVER did. I exclusively breastfed four babies for a year each. I NEVER produced more than 4-6 oz at a time when I pumped, and they never ate more than 4 oz from a bottle, even when there was more to eat. They all gained weight normally and were fine. Everyone's milk supply is different. Some moms produce a ton and that's what their baby needs to eat to be full and some moms produce a little and that's all their baby needs. Just keep eating well and drinking lots of water. Good luck!

J.R.

answers from Dallas on

I have a 14 wk old and she eats about 8 oz at a feeding when I give her my pumped milk. She eats about every 3 hrs (average) and sleeps all night. She's average size too. Of course they will eat when hungry and turn their head when they're full. As long as you pay attention to that she should be satisfied. :) Good luck with your little girl!

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

J.,
I'm in the same boat my baby boy is 4 months old.
as with breastmilk it is not as thick as formula is so your baby will suck it down in a heart bet.
Warning pump as much as you can so you do not dry up i'm having to substitute three bottles a day.
If you start to substitute that's okay i asked my dr she says there longer you can give to your baby breast milk the better even if it is only a few ounces a day.
I did not have a very good pump so I had to buy a better one but in the process of trying to get enough money to buy the really good one (Medla pump) $320.00 later.
My milk stared to dry up quick so if you can try to nurse in the evening and weekeds great.

As with me he did not wnat to nurse from me any more he only wants the bottle sorry it happends.
Keep up the great work!!
Try taking Fenugreek tables they help your production I found them at the Sunflower Shoppe (Google Fenugreek)
If your baby sleep all night then the baby is getting satisfied.
Best of LUCK D.

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

I am at home with my second, but taught with my first and that is about what she did. If your baby seems satisfied you are good. It always seemed like my daughter ate more and longer for me than with the bottle.

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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

If your baby acts happy, full and is healthy, I wouldn't worry at all about how much she is getting. It is hard to know how much a breastfed baby is getting when they feed. My 20 month old was breastfed and would eat different amounts at different sittings when other people watched him, and my two week old son is breastfed and eats for up to 45 minutes still! I would just feed on demand and be proud that you are sticking with the breastfeeding! It is the best for your baby!

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M.C.

answers from Dallas on

I agree that every kid is different, and you should go by whether she seems satisfied, or wants more. At that age, my DD (who has always been a big eater) would BF for 45 minutes every 3 hours, then go about 6-7 hours at night. When on a bottle, she'd have about 6 or 7 oz, still every 3-4 hours. I'll be honest here--and I'm sure some moms will be upset that I say this--I bf'ed until 10 mos, went back to work at 4 mos, but had to starts supplementing pretty soon after I went back to work. I just didn't get enough pumping to keep up with DD's appetite. I think it's important to be okay with this--any breast milk you give her as great, and she should get as much as you can give her, but please don't beat up on yourself if she occasionally gets a few ounces of formula. GL with everything!

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A.M.

answers from Dallas on

It is normal for your daughter to eat as much as she does. As long as she is satisfied she is fine on how much she is eating. I breastfed my son and he ate every 2-3 hours during the day for 20-25 minutes on each breast (at each feeding). During the night he would eat every 3 hours. Girls are different though. If she does start acting like she is still hungry you can give her really runny rice cereal. It seems to help at night and in the mornings.

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E.C.

answers from Dallas on

Every child is really different. My first child sucked down a bottle really fast. Because of that I was able to get like 13 ounces at a pumping session by the time I went back to work at 3 months. My second was a buffet eater... it was so annoying. She would only take a few ounces at a time; no matter if I breastfed or fed by bottle. Because of that I had to pump more often and only get out 6 ounces at a session. She still does that and is almost 10 months old. Anyway, as long as your baby seems satisfied and gaining weight normally, things should be fine. I would just pump as often as you can and store up as much milk as you can. Good luck!

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J.H.

answers from Amarillo on

It is hard to know how many oz. a baby gets at a feeding whenbeing breast fed, but I seemed to have a lot of milk, and it must of been rich enough as fat as my baby got, but I only fed her every 4 hours by a couple or three months, so I am wondering if you could feed her more than 3 oz at a time and I think she would go longer in-between feedings, and the oz. per day would probably end up being about the same amount of oz. Just a suggestion.

M.D.

answers from Dallas on

That sounds about right for the age... I haven't had a 13 week old in a long time... One thing is babies go in growth spurts and sometimes will eat a lot more so always send more... I would think the daycare would know if she's still hungry, she might be a fast eater, it's hard to tell how fast the milk actually comes out of you when you're nursing. Mine must come out fast because my kids would eat 5 maybe 8 minutes at the most at that age.

Try to relax, you are a great Mother!

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