overeating?

[poorlittlefish]

Hi everyone,

I went back to work at 8 weeks and have been pumping for my DD when she is home with her dad (then off to daycare next week). She eats once overnight, a big meal in the morning and then 4-3oz bottles during the day. Our timing is a little messed up right now with the adjustment so she gets her last bottle at 4:30-5:00pm and I get home at 5:30. She wants to nurse right away when I get home even thought I know she can’t be hungry, since she just ate. She eats and eats and eats all night and spits up like crazy. She is gaining between .5-1oz per week so she isn’t gaining too much. I don’t have oversupply or anything so I know if she wanted to comfort nurse she could but she doesn’t-- she eats and eats and spits and spits. It doesn’t seem to bother her, she doesn’t seem uncomfortable but does anyone elses baby do this?
I am happy to let her nurse since I want to snuggle with her anyways but jeez, I wonder if I am doing some sort of harm to her.

Should I cut her off? She doesn’t take a pacifier and if I stop her, her little fists go right in her mouth to suck.

[PatioGardener]

Just to clarify, is she gaining 0.5-1 oz/day?

She's cluster nursing in the evening. It is comletely normal and healthy, and you are listening to her needs and that must be so reassuring to her! Way to go, Mama! You guys are doing great.

I can't imagine having to go back to work at 8 weeks (I'm in Canada) so I just want to give you a big thumbs up () for pumping and breastfeeding and dealing with work!

[Detcb]

I wouldn't change the nursing, I think it's fine. I've got a spitter too, so you aren't the only one!

It does sound like she is getting a lot during the day. The general rule is one oz per hour that you are away.

Does your dh pace the feedings?

[poorlittlefish]

Yes, sorry, .5-1oz per day.

I do think he is feeding her too much but she is just with him for 2 weeks and then she will go to daycare where they are better with the bottles. I hate to be too critical of him because he is doing the best he can but I will say, I think that if she fusses, he assumes she is hungry and feeds her. Oh well, we'll get there!


Thank you for the replies!

[Quinalla]

Some babies are just spitters, though if it is worrisome, it doesn't hurt to talk to your doctor. I too wouldn't worry about DH overfeeding a bit if he is only caring for her for 2 weeks, just make sure they don't at daycare for sure. Just talk a bunch with them about how you prefer they not feed her close to pick up/drop off time as you will feed right before and right after and to make sure they are feeding her only when she is hungry, not just fussy. If you make it clear, they should do fine, but I just wanted to let you know to talk to them a bit as some mom's want their baby to have X amount of formula/breastmilk and actually encourage overfeeding (IMO), so they need to know which type of mom you are

[kanga1622]

I had the opposite problem. DS eats much less when with DH than when he goes to daycare. Daycare feeds him an entire extra bottle every day than I think he truly needs (he's there for 9 hours and he's getting 14 oz).

Just be clear with your daycare about feedings. We left instructions about how to try to calm him without a bottle (he thinks hungry and sleepy are the same since he really wants to nurse to sleep). We're waiting a bit to see if DS adjusts back down to 3 bottles a day (what he always took for DH) after the newness and excitement wears off.