Hi Moms,
Help, again....please. I've raised two healthy kids and just had my third baby less than a week ago. Here's what's happening, maybe you can offer some advice or shed some light. Or maybe I'm just being overly postpartum here. My son was born a few days ago, full term at 39 weeks, labor induced, vaginal birth. He weighed 8 lbs. 6 oz. at birth. No problems, we got to go home the next day. Well, I had to take him to the pediatrician for the Hepatitis shot Friday. The doctor said he lost a few ounces of weight, which is normal, but that I have to feed him more. So, I'm bottlefeeding him (I cannot express out breastmilk, wish I could, but my body isn't doing a good job of it), every 2 hours he should be eating 2 oz. or better. Well, we went in for a weigh in today and he's gained 1.5 oz, but now we have to go back in 2 days for another weigh in. These weigh ins sound excessive to me. I could understand if he was a very small infant or a premie, but with his size, I don't get it. If I feed him like the ped says, he just sleeps and refuses to eat or spits it out. From what I've read in the baby books, bottlefed babies should eat every 3-4 hours, 2.5 oz. Am I doing something wrong here? I think that if I were breastfeeding, he'd be gaining less weight since it takes about a month for milk to come in, am I right? So, why are they being so stringent on weight gain for a bottlefed baby? Anyone have any advice or ideas even suggestions are greatly appreciated?
Thanks.
M
Thanks to all who responded. Well, doctor says my baby boy is fine and that he's gained .7 ounces which the doctor is happy with. So, our next visit is next month and doctor says I'm doing a great job with the feedings and his weight gain. Phew!
Hi M.,
I agree with what everyone else has said,feed on demand. Even though your milk hasn't come in,you still have the colostrum. Your baby needs that to build the immune system up. The more you nurse, the more milk comes in. It is purely supply and demand. Check in your area for LaLeche. They are a great help with this.
C.
It takes about 2-4 days for milk to come in...and actually babies who are breastfed tend to gain weight FASTER than their bottlefed lil' buddies :-D Because early breastmilk contains a lot of necessary fats that formula does not have.
Losing a couple of ounces in the first week is absolutely NORMAL. ESPECIALLY with an induced labor/birth because you and baby are pumped full of fluids during the labor which causes baby to be a little water logged at the first weigh in :-D
I think your pedi is being overly cautious and not realistic The general rule of thumb is that the baby gains back to birthweight by 2weeks of age.
When I was in the hospital the doctors and nurses told me to wake my daughter every 2-3 hours for a feeding, which just seems wrong to me. Once I got home, I would let her wake up on her own to feed. She would regularly sleep for 4-5 hours at a time and then eat 4 oz of formula.
As everyone else suggested, I would switch to feeding on demand. Let him sleep as long as he wants and then feed him when he wakes up. It seems like my daughter started out eating 4 oz almost right away but that makes sense for the amount of time she slept.
Oh man, of course your milk doesn't take a month to come in! It can take 5-7 days (especially with a c-section), but mine came in on day three. I am constantly amazed at how the medical profession fails our mothers. *sigh* If you want to breastfeed it is not too late.
That said, feed your baby on demand OR at least every 2-3 hours. If he doesn't want to eat, don't force it. It's very easy to overfeed a bottlefed baby so don't force the issue. I'm not sure why your pediatrician is so concerned but if I were you I would feed on demand; 2oz every time he roots or fusses or starts sucking on his hands. If he doesn't take it, then fine. But it can't hurt to offer.
I would actually do a combo of demand/routine feedings. I would let baby sleep, but wake him to eat no less than every 4 hours. If he is taking 2 ounces or more, he is doing okay. I'm not sure why your ped wants weigh ins but nobody on here can really say unless they know you and your baby personally (or your ped's reasoning). *I* think that it sounds weird, especially when he gained at the last visit. Babies always lose weight after birth. I had to bottle feed my babies until my milk came in but it should be a few days, not a month. My guess is that by now, you are engorged and have already figured that out! :) Is there a possibility that your baby was jaundiced? I can see the doc suggesting increased feedings for that, but even in that case breastfeeding is the best way to help.
I think you are doing fine...keep up the good work!
Like Nicole said... I would feed on demand. I know with my daughter I had to work hard to wake her up to eat at the very beginning. You'll get your supply established and you'll plump him up in no time. I never bothered with the formula. They tried to scare me into it at the hospital but luckily we never did and everything worked out :) Like you said losing a few ounces at the beginning is totally normal. It should only take a few days or a week for your milk to come in (thats what i always thought at least) I couldnt imagine a month. Theres tons of breastfeeding resorces but Im on my way out the door to work. Do you have the book http://www.amazon.com/Nursing-Mothers-Companion-Third-Rev... ? I know that had tons of info and was available at my library. Maybe also get in contact with a lactation consultant if you still have a hard time. Good luck! I'd stick with the breastfeeding. :)
My Pediatrician told me to feed on demand. I think I might consider looking for another Dr. are they even telling you why you have to keep coming back so often? My kids were all bottle fed and they ate about every 4 hours the Ped said if they started wanting to eat any sooner than every 3 hours that is when he put them on ceral and he did. I am sure your baby is perfectly healthy maybe it is the Dr. that has a problem.
K.
Nicole couldn't have said it better!
My kids were 6.12 and 6.6 when born and about 6 when we went home. They gained no where near 1.5lbs in the fews days between going home and to their first dr. apt. I was nursing. It takes about 3 days not a month for your milk to come in...maybe up to a week. I had issues with mine coming in and needed to supplement about 2 ounces a day...
Babies eat every 2-4 hours...my kids rarely took the whole 2 ounces. At 9 mos...my daughter barely took 4 ounces...
Depends on the kid. I would be more worried about rapid weight gain than loss!
I would feed on demand.... not force feed every 2 hours.
