Is she getting enough milk?

[<3 Mumofthreetobe <3]

My DD is FF and has been since 4wks. She's always taken more than what the tin suggested (for her age if it said 100ml, she'd be having 150ml). Before we started solids at about 5 1/2mths she was having 250ml every 4hrs without fail.

She loves her food and has 3 meals a day and sometimes dessert too (fruit). I offer her a bottle about 1/2 to 1hr after her solid feed (doing in that order works for us) but she's only having 100ml if I'm lucky, 3 or 4 times a day - after breakfast, after lunch, late afternoon (if she's not napping) and after dinner/before bed. She's putting on weight and is a very healthy little girl, but should I be concerned that she's getting enough milk? I am probably just being a nervous first time mum, but would appreciate any feedback. TIA.

[Jill]

I am a first time mum too and DD is doing exactly what yours is doing. She's been fully FF since she was 3 weeks old and been feeding well, wanted to be fed 150ml every 2 hours during the day and one night feed which she dropped about two weeks ago. At 21weeks I started her on solids (paed's advice) gradually beginning from 5g to the full amount of 15g once a day (mid morning) and one week after that it's like mission impossible to get her to finish her bottle. Sometimes it took me almost an hour to get her to drink the 150ml. Then this morning she absolutely refused to drink more than 90ml at a time. She's dropped from drinking about 800ml to just 580ml. I too am concerned if she's getting enough milk. I wish I could offer you some helpful advice but being in the same boat at least this could be a comfort that our babies are going thru the same phase? DD had her monthly check up yesterday and the dr said she was trekking very well but that was before she started drinking less. My only solution is at this stage is to observe her closely. So far she is quite active and is starting to roll. I just hope this is temporary. If I get too worried then I might take her to the doctor just for another check up. Hope my sharing this helps in some way?

[<3 Mumofthreetobe <3]

My DD is now 7mths and has only 200ml, maybe 300ml per day. If milk wasn't so important still I could almost wean her off it! She has a 100ml bottle after brekky (although I do use about 75ml of formula in her weetbix of a morning as well), sometimes after lunch and before bed. But she does have quite a lot of solid food, she loves her food. I just make sure she stays hydrated with plenty of water if she wants it. The community nurse says she is going along just fine so I am not so concerned anymore. If they want it they'll have it. If they don't well, as you and I know, you can't force it! lol.

[Jill]

Thanks for the comforting words. I just tried to feed DD her morning feed. She drank only 40ml then just flatly refused the bottle. Whenever I tried to put the teat into her mouth she kept on turning and wriggling in my arms. Now she is playing on her playmat. I'm thinking of starting her solids twice a day today. Can't help worrying to some degree. DD is 5 months old and she still needs milk as her main source of nutrients. But thank you Nel for sharing. I don't feel as worried.

[~Minny~]

I was going to suggest that this is just what your bubs needs but if your worried add formula into her breakfast and dinner and perhaps some yogurt or custard mixed into there for good measure. Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job

[Jill]

Thanks Minny. I did a dreadful thing this morning. When I fed DD her rice cereal she was eating it just fine until there was about 1/4 left. She started to make unhappy noises and gag a little but I just continued feeding her until she decided she had had enough and she threw up! That made me realise my mistake. I shouldn't have tried to force her to finish her food Could have kicked myself. Anyway will give her more solids this afternoon. Will ask DH to get some bananas for DD. I think she is getting bored of her plain rice cereal which she gulped with delight just last week. And yes thanks for the tips.Will mix her cereal with fruit etc and see how she takes it. And I always use her formula to make her cereal.

[~Minny~]

Dont be to hard on yourself hun you wernt to know she was going to thow up. If she was still opening her mouth and eating you wouldnt have knows. Also if you are giving them rice cereal and banana just be aware that sometimes it can cause constipation. Not in all bubs but its just something to watch out for

[Jill]

Gosh I didn't know rice cereal and banana could cause constipation! Thanks a lot. I think I will introduce a little bit of mashed banana alone without the rice cereal this afternoon. Thanks!

[Jill]

Just thought to let you know that I think I know what's really wrong with my DD. She is teething! She's been showing symptoms since she was about 3 months, the constant drooling and everything in the mouth. Sometime late today I noticed her flushed cheeks, right cheek is redder and she was all sooky and grizzly and clingy. No wonder she's been sucking her small towel whenever she can get her hands on it. No wonder she's been off her feed! I am quite quite relieved to be honest. Ladies thank you so much for bearing with me and thanks for listening. FYI I have been feeding DD small amounts of her feed. She's taking it slowly.

[~Minny~]

Have you heard of a mesh feeder? If so one of those with some chilled fruit or frozen fruit works wonders when teething