Author Topic: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?  (Read 2002 times)

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Offline Mamalou

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How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« on: September 10, 2006, 22:18:47 pm »
Hi
I have been giving ds about 5 oz EBM for a dreamfeed at 11.  Is this enough? How much do you give?
Asking because last night when I pumped (usually pump at 10 for 11 Df) I didn't get very much (3.5 oz.) and he woke earlier this morning, hungry.  Wondering if that's why?? If I gave him more would he sleep longer?

hope someone can help
Kristi


Offline cathbilson

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Re: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« Reply #1 on: September 10, 2006, 22:47:50 pm »
Um - it depends. To be honest, I usually worked really hard to pump always a bit MORE than I knew Kieran would take. (We gave up the df a couple of weeks ago because he started taking only 1 or 2 oz and then waking at 3 anyway).
Some nights he took 6 oz. And this was at only 3 months old. Some nights it was 3 oz, and then he'd sleep until 5 or 6 anyway.
What I would suggest you do, is perhaps pump twice. Pump immediately after the very last feed of the day, and then pump again just before df time as you have been doing. I got into the habit of pumping a little bit all day - eg if first feed of the day was on the left boob, I'd pump it after he'd finished, maybe get 1/2 oz. Keep doing this all day and you'll soon have a respectable dinner for your LO!
If he's regularly been taking 5 oz at the df, I'd definitely try to up it. See if you can pump 6 and if he will take it all. If so, pump 6 1/2. Within a week you'll have an average worked out (say he always takes 6 1/2) and then you'll make sure that you always have 7 in case he's extra hungry some nights. This way you can keep track of how much he wants - if he regularly starts taking 7 you knwo it's time to up the amount to 7 1/2.
Babies do want more food as they get older, and though I know they don't like as much increase in volume of breast milk as they do of formula, his little stomach is definitely getting bigger.
And yes, he probably will sleep longer, the more you can get him to eat.
Mum to Kieran (born 10 May 2006)

Offline Mamalou

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Re: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« Reply #2 on: September 11, 2006, 19:02:03 pm »
thank you.  Actually tried giving him a bigger bottle this morning at 11 (my DH feeds him then) and he took it all ! It was 6 1/2 oz I think. I'll try again, but that means I have to go pump!
I HATE PUMPING!  But I don't know if I could do df with breast, and it's really nice when DH feeds him, so I'll keep it up.

thanks again
Kristi


Offline cathbilson

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Re: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2006, 23:27:38 pm »
er- someone will probably shoot me for suggesting this to a breast-feeder - please don't get upset, it's just a suggestion - but you can get ahead of yourself quite nicely and build up a little stash if you offer a formula bottle every now and then and pump when you would have breast fed. That first morning feed is usually a good one because you'll have LOADS of milk.
If you don't want to do it, don't. Kieran has a bottle of formula in the morning about every 3rd day so I can keep ahead of myself and don't panic if I miss a pumping session.
Mind you, I'm in the process of weaning now anyway. Long story but we've both had a terrible head cold, he couldnt' suck because of blocked nose and my milk supply dropped because I was too ill, and I'm jsut finding it a bit too much effort to increase my supply again. Far easier to ramp it down, and I've got about a fortnight's worth of BM in the freezer to be used up anyway! I'm starting him on solids as soon as he's over this cold anyway.
Is your LO sleeping through? Kieran was but seems to have got out of the habit when we went on holiday. Gr. Hoping that now he's getting formula he will sleep through better ( I make sure his last feed is a formula feed in the hope of that!)
Best of luck,
Cath
Mum to Kieran (born 10 May 2006)

Offline Mamalou

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Re: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« Reply #4 on: September 12, 2006, 21:39:35 pm »
hi
cathbilson-thanks for the help.  Why would formula be better at night than breast milk?  I like your idea(because it means less pumping!) but I'm not sure I want to start formula.  Something to think about. 
Kubko has been sleeping through, just recently waking up a couple of times, but that was pretty random. Think it might have something to do with teething.  Not sure.  Some thought it might've been a growth spurt, but he didn't seem hungrier during the day at all.
I've increased the amount for df.  Thanks for the advice
And good luck with the weaning and starting solids.  Hope your LO and you are feeling better
thanks again,
Kristi


Offline cathbilson

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Re: How much EBM at Dreamfeed?
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2006, 03:36:22 am »
Don't know why it is that formula makes them sleep better. Don't even know if it's really true, but several books suggest it - RObin Barker's baby Love for one, and I'm sure it's in one of the BW books too, though I couldnt' find the reference. Seems that it may fill them up more. As I say, I can't confirm or deny it, because I really haven't done tests to know the difference!
Up to you whether you want to do it or not. I just know that it helped me a bit because I was really having issues with pumping at one stage - I was utterly over-tired so DH was doing the dream feed, and I could only pump one oz for a baby that wanted 4! So I said to myself "what's more important, him getting good sleep because he's full, or you panicking about him having formula?" I knew he wouldn't have a bad reaction because he had it in hospital after he was born - he was jaundiced and had to have fluids, and my milk didn't come in until day 6!
So we fed him 5 oz of formula that night at the df and he scoffed the lot and slept until 6 for the first time.
Case closed, as far as I was concerned.
Mum to Kieran (born 10 May 2006)