Patient's question:
The baby is 20 days old. Since my milk supply isn't enough, I've also been feeding formula. At night, he comes down about every two hours, and I'm completely exhausted from the disruptions. How can I know exactly how much he drinks each day? After feeding, he eats about 50 milliliters of formula each time.Doctor's answer:
Different babies have varying milk intake, which is related to their activity, deep sleep, and individual differences, among other factors. Therefore, it is not sufficient to simply look at the amount of milk consumed each time to determine if it is enough or to worry about whether the baby is developing normally. Instead, one should observe the baby's growth and how well they are doing mentally.Normal newborns will exhibit active feeding behavior when hungry, such as becoming alert, increasing body movement, showing more facial expressions, or even crying. During feeding, they will suck strongly and swallow well. The interval between feedings is related to diaper changes and deep sleep cycles, generally varying between 2 to 3 hours. Larger babies may also sleep for 4 to 6 consecutive hours at night without needing to be fed, which is considered normal.