How many ounces (average) of pumped milk does a 2-3 month old baby feed? (x-posted)

Mars · #1 April 10th, 2009, 01:36 PM

Hi Ladies, I posted this on the Breastfeeding board but thought that I still put the question on here.

I started pumping last Saturday so that I could introduce Amara to the bottle before I go back to work in May. She had her very first bottle today but I'm unsure as to how many ounces a baby of 2 going 3 months drinks. She tends to feed every 3-4 hours and I fed her 3 ounces by the bottle and then she nursed from the breast for about another 2 minutes. I assuming that she must be drinking 4 - 5 ounces.

Can anyone help me with the average feeding a baby her age should be getting?

I know all babies feed differently. I just don't want to underfeed or overfeed her with the bottle.

LisanAndy · #2 April 10th, 2009, 01:43 PM

Well I FF Taylor but she drank 3.5-4oz every 3-4 hours at 2-3 months old

Adriana's Mommy · #3 April 10th, 2009, 02:19 PM

Each baby is different..

When Adriana was a baby she only drank 2-3 oz's at each meal and she was drinking breast milk. Adriana was never a big eater when she was a infant. But I think the goal for a 3 month old is to eat around 4-5 oz's.. That is what our Pediatrician always told me, but I couldn't get Adriana to drink that much..

Mars · #4 April 10th, 2009, 03:10 PM

Thanks ladies!! I tried her on 4oz at her last feed and then she fed at the breast for about a minute. I will try her at 5 when I give her the bottle tomorrow, I think 4.5 - 5oz is what she may be taking.

Resi · #5 April 10th, 2009, 05:33 PM

Oliver has always taken between 4-5 oz in a bottle. He eats every 3 hours while I'm at work.

#6 April 10th, 2009, 11:46 PM

how'd she do with the bottle?

Mars · #7 April 11th, 2009, 08:57 AM

I tried her with 4.5 ounces this morning when she got up around 7:30am (she sleeps later on weekends, smart girl!). Her last feeding would have been 2:45am and she pushed out the bottle when she was finished with 4oz. So I'm thinking she will take around 4-5oz depending on how hungry she is. I hate to waste those precious ounces but I'm sure that I will have to keep putting her bottle at 4.5 - 5oz just to be sure that she has enough.

Fi, I PMed you.

Frozendesire · #8 April 11th, 2009, 11:58 AM

Sounds like you figured it out

My MIL has Dustin right now and a huge amount of milk haha.. so we'll see what he seems to be taking. I gave her enough for 6oz each feed (I wanted to give her plenty) and I *think* he'll do 4.5 to 5 oz.

That's great she's taking the bottle!

*edit* Okay I just talked with my MIL and he's been taking 5oz

Mars · #9 April 11th, 2009, 02:58 PM

Great Steph! It's so good to have some idea now as to how much they were getting.

I find it strange sometimes because now that I've started pumping I realised that I don't get much from my right breast. The most I've gotten from it is 3 oz. The left one does a lot better.

Frozendesire · #10 April 11th, 2009, 11:06 PM

Thats totally normal. I get more from my right then my left which is opposite of when i nursed curtis so weird!!!

#11 April 12th, 2009, 04:37 AM

How are you pumping with the feeding Mari? Do you feed from one and pump from the other each feed?

Mars · #12 April 12th, 2009, 05:23 AM

Yes Fi. I feed with one breast and pump from the other. I find I can only do this when pumping into a bottle though. When I try to do it directly into the bag it's more difficult because Amara likes to kick about lots.

If I decide to pump directly into the bag then I do it after she's fed and burped.

Pumping is such a chore! And sometimes I get a wee bit discouraged when I only see 1 1/2 oz after a 3hr break. But I'm keeping at it.