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Offline frankiesmom

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cluster feeding
« on: May 24, 2006, 00:22:17 am »
Hi ds is almost 2 weeks old and I am following Tracy's suggestions for cluster feeding.  Ds is on 3 hour EASY.  If he has a feed at 4, according to Tracy ,I would feed again at 6 and 8.  For him, I have to wake him from this last nap, as he would sleep the whole 2 hours.  But then it seems like he won't take a full feed at 6 and 8.  Is this to be expected or should he be getting a full feed for it to be beneficial?  Otherwise, would it be better to let him sleep the whole 2 hours, and feed him at 4 and 7 and put him to bed?
Also, I am trying to establish a dream feed with a bottle so dh can do it.  What amount of food would I expect him to eat at this df?  I don't know how much he is eating any other time b/c he is only bf.  It seems like he won't take more then 1.5 to 2 ounces.  Is this enough?
Do I have to bottle feed him another time during the day to get him to take the df better?

Thanks, I know that was alot of questions! ???

Kim
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Offline Samuel's mum

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Re: cluster feeding
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2006, 11:31:38 am »
Hi there and congratulations!

With the df I would advise you to allow for about 3-4 oz absolute max at his age. Breastfed babies take a much smaller volume of milk than formula fed babies (I learnt recently) as breastmilk can be absorbed so much more efficiently and there's less 'wastage'. If he's taking 2 oz then start with 2 oz. Don't worry about whether it's 'enough'. Let him be your guide.
I would caution you against using the bottle too much e.g during the day. There is some evidence that babies as young as yours can occasionally become confused by the switching and lose their skills at breastfeeding effectively as it is a very different kind of sucking. If you just keep it to the dreamfeed he'll be less aware it's something different.

Cluster feeding doesn't work for everyone. I would personally say that it's better for him to take full feeds and get all the hindmilk so I wouldn't wake him but you could try it both ways and see what happens.
HTH
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Offline frankiesmom

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Re: cluster feeding
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2006, 21:35:20 pm »
Thanks.  I will see how it goes tonight.  Last night he took 3.5 ounces at the df but unfortuantely still woke at 11:45 which is when he seems to wake without the df! 
I will try the cluster feed again tonight.

Thanks again
Kim
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