How long should it take to feed 4oz to 6week olds?

our b/g twins are 6weeks old and were born at 35w3d and spent 10 days in the nicu as feeders and growers and so feedings have always been a challenge as our son is very lazy and constantly requires us to reminf him to eat by tapping onthe bottle or turning it, etc.. and our daughter has reflux issues and often screams out in pain and refuses to eat (regardless of being on zantac, being on rice cereal, always eaing at a 90 degree angle etc...)

so my Question is How long does it/did it take your babies) to feed either from breast or bottle?

I'm getting frustrated w/the fact that not only is their eating schedule rigorous and exhausting i feel like every feeding is a struggle, between Madelines reflux issues or whatver it is that makes her act like shes in pain and the fact that Jacob is SO lazy thatt he need constant encouragement (i.i tapping the bottlr, turning it in his mouth etc..) they usually take 4oz in 15-25 minutes and my DH looked it up online and found a website that says that an infant less than 3 months should take 20-40 minutes to eat snd that were expecting too much out of them so i'm curious what others experiencces are but OMG if they take 20-40 minutes EACH at every feeding to eat i might die--- (as in operator find me a nanny NOW, j/k but oy)

anyway- there were babies in the nicu who ate 3 oz in 10 min so i guess i was under the impression that it shouldnt take 40/per feeding

help what are your experiences....

signed,
overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated

 

Honestly, James took about 20-30 minutes and Evan took an hour, sometimes even longer. He had such a weak suck. Technically his formula was spoiled before he even finished it some days! It got better over time and now they down 8 oz in 5-7 minutes. You'll get there. I know it's hard, especially in the middle of the night.

 

Reese and Riley both take about 30 minutes to eat 6oz each (burp time included). Some days it takes a little longer, but I still feel like I'm constantly holding one or the other. I might as well have a bottle attached to my arm.

 

My DD probably took about 20 minutes to finish a bottle, including stopping to burp, etc. My DS has/had a suck/swallow/breathe issue, and took upwards of an hour to finish....it was REALLY tough to do, especially in the middle of the night.

Now, at 5 months (and post-surgery for my DS), both still take about 15 minutes to eat. The morning bottle goes a little faster, as they wake up famished after having not eaten for 12 hours....

 

Oh, i feel your exhaustion and overwhelm. Been there! It used to take one of my girls at least an hour to eat TWO ounces when they just got out of the NICU; once it took TWO HOURS to get 60cc's down her! And now she gobbles.

Keep in mind that they are still small and the 'laziness' (did they check him, does he have any palate issues?) and the reflux are real killers - for all of you. I know it seems endless; honestly, for the first three months I hardly ever left the nursery: they were eating every two hours, and while one nursed really efficiently, the other was a slow bottle drinker, then holding them upright for thirty or more minutes for the reflux - and it was time to start again!

So - get all the help you can: make sure that you get SOME help with a feeding or two, whether it's DH or friends, people you know from synagogue or church, etc. Those first few mnths really are brutal, and though it's difficult to believe from where you are sitting, they do pass by incredibly quickly. And someday you will look back and remember, but as if it were a dream, how tiny they were....

 

My boys are 2 months and only eat 2-3 oz. It takes 15-20 mins during the day and longer at night. Their pokey eating kept them in the nicu an extra week, but the are always gaining weight. HTH.

 

My DS can chug 4 ounces in 10-15 minutes (including burping), while DD likes to savor her meal and takes 20-30 minutes to finish. If she wakes up first, I let DS sleep and give her a head start so that they hopefully finish around the same time.

 

Ours were taking at least 20 minutes and needed lots of encouragment not to fall asleep most of the time.

 

Sounds totally normal, unfortunately. Your babies have just about caught up to zero, and they're acting like normal newborns. Mine were very very sleepy eaters around that age. I came up with all kinds of tricks to keep them awake to eat. DD usually took at least 1/2 hr to nurse, and DS easily took 1/2 hr to take 2-3 oz by bottle (hadn't gotten him to the breast yet). It was exhausting! All I can say is hang in there, and if anyone offers to help, take them up on it.

One thought - I don't know how often they're eating, but maybe they might do better taking smaller amounts more often?

 

My DD has the same reflux issues.. They put her on Nutramagen by Enfimil.. (Very Expensive) But she can actually eat!!! Its amazing! She would take about an hour and a half to eat 3 oz.. Because she was in pain.. But now she sucks down 4 oz or even more in like 10-15 mins! My DS sucks down bottles in like 5.. Hes always been a fast eater..

 

We had reflux too, and it took us about 30 minutes at every feeding. I did feed them both at the same time though. Have you tried increasing the nipple size?

 

QUOTE(Erica92 @ Nov 12 2007, 07:58 PM) [snapback]492948[/snapback]
our b/g twins are 6weeks old and were born at 35w3d and spent 10 days in the nicu as feeders and growers and so feedings have always been a challenge as our son is very lazy and constantly requires us to reminf him to eat by tapping onthe bottle or turning it, etc.. and our daughter has reflux issues and often screams out in pain and refuses to eat (regardless of being on zantac, being on rice cereal, always eaing at a 90 degree angle etc...)

so my Question is How long does it/did it take your babies) to feed either from breast or bottle?

I'm getting frustrated w/the fact that not only is their eating schedule rigorous and exhausting i feel like every feeding is a struggle, between Madelines reflux issues or whatver it is that makes her act like shes in pain and the fact that Jacob is SO lazy thatt he need constant encouragement (i.i tapping the bottlr, turning it in his mouth etc..) they usually take 4oz in 15-25 minutes and my DH looked it up online and found a website that says that an infant less than 3 months should take 20-40 minutes to eat snd that were expecting too much out of them so i'm curious what others experiencces are but OMG if they take 20-40 minutes EACH at every feeding to eat i might die--- (as in operator find me a nanny NOW, j/k but oy)

anyway- there were babies in the nicu who ate 3 oz in 10 min so i guess i was under the impression that it shouldnt take 40/per feeding

help what are your experiences....

signed,
overwhelmed, exhausted, and frustrated


Our boy was very slow to take a bottle at that age. It took upwards of an hour to eat 4oz. It gets better though, so hang in there!

 

Beau was a slow eater.... Savannah latched on and ate quickly from day one but not Mr. Man... He still can eat slower but it does get better at that age i am sure it would take that long at times... If not longer to be honest... I fed them at the same time but again i did not have feeding issues so i am sure that is harder to deal with... Hang in there...