br: bm intake question

smtaylor1 · February 2012

Cate has never been a huge eater but it seems to shock everyone with how much she drinks. We get her to take maybe 24 oz per day. I pump and bottle feed. She eats about 5 times a day. Her last bottle is at 8 and she wakes up about 630. She has normal diapers and is gaining but everyone keeps telling me she isnt eating enough and I need to start food. I do cereal periodically and she gets the concept. But doesnt really want to eat much after a bottle. I am planning to ask our pedi at her 6 month appt. But any suggestions? Is it that bad? How can i get her to eat more? Thanks.

lucylea · February 2012

For both kids I was told that they should be taking in 24 ounces per day. As long as her output is good and she seems satisfied I wouldn't worry about it. I think people have been around formula fed babies more often and their ounces do seem to increase as they get older, but breastmilk adjusts so the number of ounces needed generally doesn't increase with a breastfed baby, just the content of the breastmilk.

ffejsGirl · February 2012

I was able to BF DS until 9 months and he never took more than 24 oz (when he was at daycare with pumped milk). DD was the same. Although I could only BF her until 4 months, when she switched to formula she never took more than 24 oz. Once she started eating solids it was more like 12-20oz per day. Both mine are pretty small (DD was 1st% at 16 lbs 13oz at her 12 month appt) but they are healthy, satisfied & hitting all of their developmental milestones at or before they should.

I wouldn't be too concerned with what other people think they should be eating. Your DD sounds like she's perfectly satisfied with what she's getting!

mrstice · February 2012

exactly, lucylea. your breastmilk is changing along with her, so she shouldn't need to eat much more as she grows. if she's healthy and happy, she's getting enough!

scuba2011 · February 2012

I am BFing DD and at first worried about her not showing tons of interest in food! We waited until she was almost 6 months old to start foods and even now she will take a few bites but is happy just playing in her chair. The pediatrician wanted her to be exposed to foods and given the opportunity to eat. She reminded me that right now those foods are "practice" and that DD is getting the nutrients and calories she needs from my milk. I don't want to BF forever so I hope DD eventually shows more interest but for the next few months I am just going to go with the flow and let her set our pace for transitioning to more food and less boob!

LittleBug1107 · February 2012

I think 24 oz is plenty, especially if she is satisfied.. there were MANY days my girls didn't even drinnk that much (closer to 20 oz) and then I know people whose babies would drink 40 oz. The most either of my girls ever drank in a day was 30 oz..

samm1983 · February 2012

I'm glad you posted this. I don't know why BFing has to be so confusing! I keep hearing this magical 25 oz. number, but my pedi told us that it is weight based and we need to calculate it out but max it out at 40 oz. So confusing to hear so many different guidelines. Right now, DS takes about 32 oz. and I plan to talk to my pedi again next week at his 4 month appt. DS would eat all day if I let him.

lucylea · February 2012

Here is a great calculator to judge bottles and also discusses how the ounces generally do not increase in breastfed babies. http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html

smtaylor1 · February 2012

Thanks so much for all of your help! That is something that I hadn't even thought of but very cool that our bodies can do that!

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