[LLL_Sarah]

Dear Peainpod,

As Leah mentioned a fully breastfed baby drinks around 28 oz a day (in 24 hours). And as babies tend to drink about the same amount at each feed (give or take a little) it depends on how often your baby is feeding.

A baby that is still having 11 feeds a day will drink about 2.5 oz at each feed while baby that is only having 7 feeds a day will drink about 4 oz at each feed. 6oz would be considered a very large meal for a fully breastfed baby – most would never get to that amount in one sitting.

Usually we suggest storing the milk in small quantities (1 oz or 2 oz lots) so that you can give a little and then add more if necessary – this way less is wasted. One mother I knew froze her milk in an ice cube tray and when the milk was solid transferred it to plastic bags. This way she could defrost small quantities for the baby. And because the milk-cubes were quick to heat up if the baby needed more it was quick and easy to give more.

Remember that fresh milk is better for your baby than frozen milk. Beast milk can be stored in your fridge for up to 7 days. I used to keep it in one large bottle and pour out small amounts to heat up and give the baby in a separate bottle – again less wastage.

I think it is possible to over feed when giving milk in a bottle even if it is breast milk in the bottle. It is the way the milk comes out of the bottle rather than what is in it that makes overfeeding a possibility. When using a bottle the milk keeps dripping out even after the baby has had enough. So as the baby continues to suck he continues to get milk. And so the baby only stops sucking when his body is telling him he is very full – past the point of being satisfied. Whereas when the baby is full with the breast the baby changes his sucking technique and gets the sucking but not much milk. I think of this as the difference between having dinner at home with my husband, when one plateful is enough, and going out to a buffet, when I tend to eat three or four platefuls!

One every common happening (which can be very worrying to a new mother) is the fact a breastfed baby will nearly always take milk from a bottle after a feed. This isn’t because the baby didn’t get enough milk from the breast. It is just like saying yes to a dessert after a meal not because you need it but because it was offered.

Best wishes,
SARAH