Pumping & introducing bottle?'s

[owlgirl]

So I have always been told to start pumping now, 5 weeks, to store milk for when I return to work at 12 weeks. Also told to introduce the bottle soon as well. QUESTION: How much should I be feeding her? Is there a good source of info out there in cyberspace? Thanks!!

[Marissamom]

I started with an oz. and finished at the breast, and worked my way to full feedings from a bottle. I think at 8 weeks she would take 2 oz at a time. at 12 weeks she was probably taking 2.5-3 oz for her bottle feedings. but there's no one perfect amount, it depends on your kid. 

[JudiAU]

Bottles are always given by someone else and when I am not in the house, usually DH. For an hour or 2, I'd pump and then have a bottle of 1-3 oz. I've never seen or given a bottle and I have no intention of it ever happening. Better for me emotionally and easier for the baby.

[neonalee]

My DS is very not picky.  We started with DP giving him the bottles, but now I can as well.  I think we started with 1 or 2 oz at around 6 weeks.  I don't remember starting to pump until the 7th week, and I returned to work after 8 weeks.  Most of what I pumped prior to my return was put in the freezer and eventually donated because I was able to pump so much.  Kellymom has a good rule of thumb on her page about how much they will eat.  I think it's 1 - 1.5 oz for every hour you are gone?  Make sure you trust your daycare provider to not soothe with the bottle because they will be the ones telling you if you need more milk or not.  My DS has been at 17 oz for a 10 hr day since about 4 months old.

eta - I just realized that may have sounded snide about DS not being picky.  I didn't mean it to be!