Feeding the Baby

Hi N.,
Congrats on the brand new baby! Three ounces may be more than a tiny newborn needs at one time. My first baby was bottlefed, and I found that when I used the orthodontic nipples, it took her FOREVER to eat, like 45 minutes for a bottle. Once I used other nipples, she ate better. My suggestion would be, if you are only using one type of nipple, switch to something else, either a different "flow" or a different material. My daughter did better with a harder nipple, maybe she had some low muscle tone in the mouth and found it harder to latch onto a softer nipple. But if the baby isn't actively, hungrily, sucking, and she isn't fussing to eat more, she may simply be full
Good luck!

A new born has a stomach the size of a walnut. It doesn't take much to fill it, like maybe an ounce at a time and that's why you end up feeding about every 2 hours. Three ounces for a 2 week old seems like a lot to me, but if she is a very large baby, it might be what she needs. She'll eat when she is hungry. If she is producing plenty of wet diapers, she's getting enough fluids. I breast fed my son and they told me sometimes I could undress him down to his diaper to keep him awake enough to finish a feeding. As it was, my breasts were very warm when producing milk and he'd snuggle in and doze off anyway.

don't poke a hole in the nipple.
instead switch to dr. browns bottles and nipples ad then change the phase of nipples as recommended by age. for me those were the best

Generally, it should take about 15 minutes per side with a couple of minutes of burbing inbetween. Try to pay attention to the differnet suckings your baby gives. When she is done, she will start change from taking long sucks into shorter faster ones and at that time, she is just comfort sucking. As long as you have the time for it, it is not a bad thing. You can also call the lactation consultant at the hospital, it is a free service and they will answer all your questions.

If you are bottle feeding and it is taking one hour for her to eat, then perhaps she is a slow eater or again, just confort sucking on the bottle. If you are truly concernced, call your pediatriation. Often, you don't even have to go into the office, and can talk to a doctor or nurse on the phone.

There's no such thing as "normal" for a two-week old - every baby is completely different. At this age (after for at least the next three months), you need to let them eat as much as they want when they want. The only reason you should get concerned about their eating habits is if they are not gaining weight properly. Congrats on your new baby!

I went through that with my youngest daughter. Try poking another hole in the nipple.

Nanc

I am assuming you are bottle feeding only. If you are bottle feeding you could try a faster flowing nipple. Is she falling asleep during feedings? If that is the case you can use a wet cloth on her face to wake her or don't wrap her in a blanket. If she is too cozy she may just keep dozing off which will make her feedings take longer. Good luck on your baby girl!!!

Yes, that is normal. My son did the same thing at that age.