How much milk?

Joy may just be a hungry bubba! Since I didn't bottle feed at that age I'm not sure how much she should have, but if thats how much she wants and is happy with it don't worry about the amount!

They go through spurts around 2 4 6 weeks etc. Try not to "look" at how much she is taking, she will drink if she wants it, and not drink if she dosen't. Just out of curiosity are you atill trying to get her on the breast at all? I had mega problems with my first, but at 6 weeks, he FINALLY did it, and we were off and racing. I've got lots of tips and advice if you are interested.

i wouldn't worry. if she was on the breast you would just feed her until she was done right?

I breastfed my boys both at this age and they would be there forever if I let them - hungry hungry hippos - i called it - until i got worried i might be giving them a complex

I gave Astin a full formula feed 3 times at 1 week old to see how much he was taking (was worried i didnt have enough milk cos i was having to top him up) and he took 250mls each time!! plus my piddly little 30mls of breastmilk that i was able to express!! and my MW said that he was just an extremely hungry baby!! which he still is!! but now he is starting to ease off a bit. So i guess it all depends on the baby - some arnt very hungry at all (like my first boy!) and some are extremely hungry! (like my 2nd boy!).

GeorgiaB, I feel like a cow in the shed too!!!

sunnyhoney wrote: Sometimes she finishes the whole bottle and other times will leave the last 10/20mls or so. I have pretty much given up on trying to breastfeed. She gets so worked up and angry at the breast. She was actually pushing me away with the strength of her entire little body and it was affecting our bonding. I would love to breastfeed but thought it wasn't worth it when she was getting so distressed every time. All tips and hints welcome though My left breast has been engorged for 24 hours...I hope it is not an infection or something bad. Seeing midwife today, hopefully she can sort me out so I can continue expressing

First up, you are doing a fantastic job with the expressing!!

Jacob used to do the exact same thing with the body push, etc. What I would do was int he afternnon, after a feed, when we were both relaxed, I would pop off my top and his and hop into bed with him just lying on my chest so he wouldn't just assiciate my boobs with "stress and feeding" and it was nice for bonding, gently patting him and talking nicely.

after every feed, I would offer him the breast, as it is easier when he wasn't starving, mostly he would put it in his mouth and take it out again, but it got him used to it. How I got him on was I would start a bottle feed then when he was over that inital starving part, quickly swap him over. I was using nipple sheilds to make it easier for him to latch on and milk had started going into them so when he sucked it was already there. Usually he was in that "milk coma" thing they get. It took a few tries, but it happened finally at 6 weeks and I cold turkeyed him with the bottle the next day and with the nipple shields a week later. Have you asked your midwife for help from a lactation consultant? Thats how I got all my help, it was well worth it.

You are doing a great job and your lil lady is sooo cute! Well done!!

cuppatea wrote: Just to add to fattartsrock, you could also do chest to chest in the bath, is a really lovely way for you to both chill out and bond

oooh yeah, tis!

Thanks for your advice ladies. We have tried all these things too (got a consultant who was wonderful) but still had problems. We are doing ok with the expressing and Joy is putting on weight and is happy so...it's all good.
Lumps have gone from breast (I hope!). I did a big express and massage today. Now I am just sore - probably a bit bruised from all the massaging