Approximately how much breastmilk should my 10 week old take at each feeding? She is now 12 1/2 lbs. The lactation consultant told me breast fed babies only take 3-5 ounces per feeding, but based on how much I know I can pump I think she can take more than that (her diapers are always plenty wet too). She'll be starting daycare in 2 weeks and I'm unsure of how much to have for her at each feeding. She's taking between 6-7 feedings per day and will most likely need 3 while I'm away. Also, the dr. said she could easily sleep through the night by now, which I think she's starting to do with occasional 6 hrs between feedings. But the lactation consultant seemed impressed she could even do 4-5 hours between feedings. I get confused with the mixed opinions.
I'd appreciate feedback on amount per feedings, sleeping through the night, etc.
Well last night she slept for 10 hours! I fed her at 9 pm and she didn't wake up until 7am. I didn't sleep b/c I kept anticipating her waking up but we'll see if this becomes habit. Also, I'm at her Grandparents right now and some how I ended up under my Mom's user name of C. H. My user name should be Carrie M. I'll try to keep checking responses. Thank you for all of them. I should be grateful she went so long but then I get worried she should be waking up. Hopefully I'm doing the right thing by letting her go if she's not waking up to eat.
Carrie M
SOunds like you are on the right track. My son at 10 weeks (now 3.5 months) took about 3-4 ounces. BTW go you for breastfeeding!
Please don't take this personally but what planet is your doctor living on?? Most breastfed 10 week olds do not sleep through the night. I find it almost comical that your doctor is telling you this. Every breastfed baby is different but most of all I would tell you to stick to your gut and if your baby seems hungry during the night still you should feed her on demand. At this point though she should be spacing out her feedings longer. I would also listen to a LC way before the pediatrician. They deal with this closer at hand and have a lot more specialized experience with these issues or you also can call a LLL in your area and discuss your concerns - they are quite helpful as well. Good luck and congrats! I also just had a girl (my 2nd) 6 weeks ago.
Every baby is different and really only a week or two at daycare will tell you how she's going to be. I suggest putting your pumped milk into small bottles (like 2-3 oz) and that way if it doesn't all get eaten you're not wasting very much. She can always have more than 1 bottle at a feeding if she wants it. My son actually never ate more than about 3 oz per feeding EVER - but he would eat every 2-2.5 hours.
As for pumping, I suggest building up a small stash before you head back to work. If you pump one breast while nursing her on the other (esp. in the AM) you can get quite a lot and toss it in the freezer. At work you'll want to pump 3 times to start. You can drop back to 2x/day if you find after a few weeks you always have extra. Some weeks you may be a little short, some weeks you may have extra. It usually evens out in the end and a weekend of nursing will "recharge" your milk supply.
As for "sleeping through the night" - the official definition of this is that a baby sleeps 6 hours at a stretch. In other words, "through the night" isn't exactly what it sounds like!! I would continue to feed on demand - she'll naturally stretch out her nighttime sleeping and probably will go up to 6 hours or so on many nights. A baby this little is still too young to sleep-train, so do not try it. Wait until she's at least 4 months old before you consider it. And even then, don't expect her to sleep more than 7-8 hours at a stretch without nursing.
Good luck going back to work! It's challenging, but you can do it.
I have a 20 week old breastfed son, and he still does not sleep through the night. My doctor said it has nothing to do with feeding, it is with the central nervous system. Last night he slept from 11:30pm- 5:30am, which was a miracle and relief for me. But I know he is just teasing me. I try to only breastfeed him once during the night. When I go to work, he takes 3-4 oz bottles, every 3-4 hours. I tried to start him on cereal, but he gags and throws it up. So, I will try in another few weeks.
I'm always an over packer, so I'd say pack 6 ozs for each feeding, even though she'll probably only take 4. At least then you have the extra in case she needs it.
I don't know of many 10 week old babies that sleep through the night. In fact, I know some 1 year olds that don't sleep through the night! At this young, you should still be feeding on demand. I think your dr. is a little off base on this. JMO though.
I did this - and it really helped.
I went to the hospital's lactation consultant and weighed my baby before I fed her on one side - then we weighed her and fed her again and weighed her again.
She had eaten 3 oz on each side.
This was so reassuring and a nice objective measure.
Hope this helps.
C.:
all babies, just like all people eat different amounts - and different amounts at different meals... there is not way to definitively say she needs X amount. If she is breastfeeding she takes what she needs. With a bottle if it is passed properly she will take what she needs. It is easier to give them more than less.
Sleeping through the night is a neurological development piece not a "food" piece but what sooths her is nursing. Again, every baby develops differently.
She will likely wake more when you are back at work as a way to have more time with you.
P.,RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions.
www.breastfeedingandparentingsolutions.com
Drs are sometimes misinformed when it comes to feeding issues, so take everything they say with a grain of salt. 4-5 hours for a 10 week old is great. My son still woke up for a feeding at night until he was almost a year old. OH...and 6 hours is considered sleeping through the night.
I took my son to daycare at 10 weeks, I think I sent him 3 bottles of about 3 oz at first. He never went up past 5 oz-6 oz bottles even at the end when he was 14 months and taking his last few bottles and he is a big boy...was 8 lb 5 oz at birth. BF babies don't take as big of bottles as formula fed babies, and they eat more often. How much you pump is not nec an indication of how much the baby takes per feeding. It may be that you have an overabundant supply and she just stops when she is satisfied.
Good luck on the transition! I remember how hard it was to take him when he was that small!
