when pumping breast milk into bottles how many ounces should you feed a newborn?

Question

My nipples are very sore after breast feeding my newborn son so I decided to alternate from breast to bottle which he doesn't seem to mind. He is a week old today. I started pumping my breasts into bottles but am unsure how much the baby was getting from my breasts after each feeding. I filled a bottle with 2 ounces of my breastmilk and gave it to the baby and he drank all of it. Is 2 ounces too much or too little? What would u suggest?

Answer 1

2 oz is just fine,as long as your baby is gaining weight,you will know at your next doctors visit.Some babys eat more than others and still gain weight just fine.If he sucks it back fast maybe try some more,if you are not making enough milk you can always supplement with formula.Be sure to eat lots of healthy foods and drink alot of water to keep your milk up.Keep in mind your full milk supply has not totally come in yet,you should see more in the next week.Also be sure to pump between every feeding.Good luck and your doing a great job!

Answer 2

The more you pump, the more you will produce. It's a good idea to try to get as much out of each side as possible every few hours. A new baby has a tiny tummy and can't hold all that much. You are doing fine for now, but as he grows it will take more and more to satisfy him. Keep pumping and if you feel uncomfortable then alternate breast milk feedings with formula feedings. It gave me peace of mind to do that when mine were nursing. Good luck.

Answer 3

Baby will eat until s/he is full. Usually around 2 oz for a newborn is just right. I am doing the same thing. BF & supplementing w/ BM. Make sure you use some Breast Cream and keep DRY Breast Pads on. It will help heal up your nipples. Also if that doesnt work... I use a Nipple Sheild while BF.. Ask your Lactation Consultant for one. It helps baby get a better latch.

Answer 4

My baby drank about 4 oz at a time from the time she was a couple of weeks old. Your baby should give you ques as to if 2 oz is enough or not. Definitely pump as much as you can. Feed your baby what he needs. Any extra you pump is good for up to 6 hours at room temp or up to 8 days in the fridge in a clean bottle with lid. Your baby can take 2 feedings from one bottle before you need to discard it. If he drinks out of a bottle, it will need to be put in the fridge within 1 hour if you plan to use it for another feeding. Use this within 24 hours. If you can pump much more than your baby needs, I suggest keeping a supply in the fridge (up to 8 days) or in the freezer (up to 4 months in regular freezer or 6 months in deep freezer) After thawing, milk is good 1 hr room temp or 24 hrs in fridge. This is great for having hubby take on a night feeding or to get a few hours to run out. It was a lifesaver for me sometimes. Good luck with nursing. It is so good for your baby but much more difficult than a lot of people think.

Answer 5

Breastfeeding does not have to hurt! Perhaps you might consider getting some help from your local breastfeeding clinic (lactation consultant, or la leche league leader).

Breastmilk production is an amazing process there's a lot of information on la leche league's website, www.laleche.org

It's important to know your baby's signs of when he's had enough, he's the best one to tell you if 2oz is too little!

Hang in there, breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby, good luck.

Answer 6

same thing happened to me a couple weeks ago! i pumped forever but only a little came out.. it should be enough for the baby. its supply and demand...the more you pump or the more baby feeds the more milk will come! in my case i got so frustrated cuz she was always so hungry i ended up giving her formula sometimes but it works out great now! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 7

your baby will let you know if it's enough