Is my baby eating enough???

[mamat]

My lo is almost 5 months. She is adopted and so I dont get a full supply of breastmilk. Generally she takes about 8 to 10 ounces/day of formula on top of what she takes from me. What I do is offer the breast first (both sides ) and then top her up with a bottle. She will take anywhere from 1 ounce to 2 ounces, not usually any more than that. The problem is, she is only nursing for 5 or so minutes on one side and I am lucky to get 2-3 minutes on my slow side. How can she be taking in enough to be be satisfied after only 2 ounces of supplement? I read that at 5 months, she should be taking 5-7 ounces/feeding. I am pretty sure that she is not taking 3 or more ounces of breastmilk in under 10 minutes of feeding.
If she is getting only 1-2 from me, that means she is only taking 3-4 at the very most, 7 times/day. Is this enough?

PS. She is 13 pounds.

[anna*]

If she is gaining weight and lasting between feeds, she is getting enough! Some babies are just very efficient at nursing - my LO never fed more than 10-15 mins in his life.

[Tay]

I am pretty sure that she is not taking 3 or more ounces of breastmilk in under 10 minutes of feeding.

Why do you say that? Some babies at your LOs age become very efficient eaters and can take quite a lot in a very quick feed (like Anna's LO, I remember DS only fed for 15min - both sides!!!!)

[jmama]

mine all took/take a full feed both sides in 20mins, she is probably getting a lot more than you think

[~ Vik ~]

Completely agree!  Babies, especially as they get older, can take a surprising amount of milk in a short time.  They just get to be pros   Here's a link with more information for you:   http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=65904.0

[mamat]

Thanks ladies,
I am starting to think the same thing. Could it also be that often, she will nurse right before she goes down for a nap? She may be getting milk then and then when she is ready for a feed, she doesnt take as much?
I guess I worry becuase she isnt very big and the health nurses are questioning whether she is eating enough milk.

[anna*]

Some babies are just small! Is she following her growth curve (per the breastfeeding weight charts) well, or dropping down the scale?

If she is nursing before naps that will definitely impact on how much milk she takes at 'proper' feeds.

[mamat]

She has always been 10th %ile but at her 2 months shots, she bumped up to 25th. Now, at almost 5 months, she is down again to 10th so really, it has mostly been the norm for her. Her length is 10th, her head is 10th and her weights so I just think she is small. I do know though, that she has been waking up ALOT at night and will eat if I offer so sometimes I wonder is she is really not getting enough calories in the day to get her through at least part of the night...

[anna*]

How frequently is she waking during the night? Does she eat longer in the night than she does in the day? Are you doing a dreamfeed? You could consider doing the dreamfeed with a bottle only (EBM or formula), because then you'll be able to see exactly how much she is taking, and also if she is very sleepy at dreamfeed it can be easier for them to take a full feed by bottle.

[mamat]

She had been waking up 3-4 times (almost every 2 hours) but the last few nights has been sleeping a little bit better. I didnt give her a dreamfeed last night but did the night before and she took 2 ounces from a bottle. Last night, we were out and she woke up when we got home so I gave her an extra feeding at 9:30 (breastfed) and she slept until almost 3. That is the best she has done in a few weeks at least. I am curious to see what she does tonight because so far today she has only taken about 2 ounces of supplement and she normally takes anywhere from 8-12 in a day. I think I will attempt the dreamfeed for sure tonight.

[Tay]

Good Luck! And let us know how you get on.
xx

[mamat]

well, I gave her a df at 10:30 last night (2 ounces is all she would take) and she woke up at 1. I finally fed her at 2:30 when she was still rooting around to nurse. After that, she slept in her cradle for only an hour and then was awake every hour after that. I am thinking that it is because she did not have much supplement yesterday. Although she was happy through the day,  I am thinking that she did not eat enough calories through the daytime hours.