How much milk should baby be offered at a cluster feed??

[minnumd]

Would someone be kind enough to explain how much a newborn should be eating at a cluster feed? Should I offer her less than a normal feed or let her eat as much as she like??? Thanks, first-time-mum-to-be 

[Mariek]

Hiya

I wouldn't expect them to take their usual amount of formula for each cluster feed (i.e. 6 oz bottles if that's what they have 3/4 hourly). The idea is to get more in over all. For example on a 4 hour schedule:

without cluster feeds:

7am - 6oz
11am - 6oz
3pm - 6oz
7pm - 6oz
11pm (DF) - 6oz

= 30 oz


with cluster feeds:

7am - 6oz
11am - 6oz
3pm - 6oz
7pm - 6oz
9pm - 5oz
11pm (DF) - 5oz

= 34 oz

So with the extra feed you're getting a total of 4 extra oz into them.

Hope that makes sense (figures were just arbitrary btw)

love

[Noelle]

I agree with Marie.   I just offered as much as he/she would take.