Daycare Frustrations

[stampingqueen]

Ugh. Super frustrated right now with daycare. Let me start off by saying I love the daycare she's in and I never worry about her care.

That being said, I am one frustrated momma. I went to pick her up today to find out that they went through all of the milk I sent today (12 oz fresh, 9 oz frozen). The frozen I sent was to restock their freezer for the days when I'm late or she's super hungry.

When I asked the worker (she is newer) about it, she had mentioned how she gave her a 6 oz bottle at whatever time but that she only wanted 5 oz. I could have screamed. I know I was having a rough day before I picked her up so I kept my cool. I let her know that breastfed babies don't really increase the amount they eat and that they don't eat like formula fed babies.

I know it's a lack of education about breastfed babies. I am planning on printing out some stuff to give her. any suggestions from the start D14 ladies?

Thanks for listening.

[amiee]

Oh dear.... yes include information about how much and how often they beat as well as how lon g it can stay out

[amiee]

Also I am sorry... that certainly sucks.... for awhile my lo was eating 16 ounces a day. Dh wasted an ounce on evening when I took brother to scouts and I • may • have lost it. I had to explain to him how hard and stressful making sure there is enough milk is.

Proud of you for keeping your cool.

[ainslie325]

That only accounts for one ounce. What happened to the rest?

[stampingqueen]

Apr 24, 2015 17:04:27 GMT -5 ainslie325 said:

That only accounts for one ounce. What happened to the rest?

They accounted for 18 of the 21 ounces. She usually eats 12 oz per day. If she's ever having a super hungry day, she might take an extra 3 for the day.

[jesster88]

I don't have any advice other than just communicate how much you want her to eat. I am really sorry that you have this to add to your frustrations.

[gdaniels77]

My daycare requires all bottles to be labeled and prepared for the day when they're brought in. Yes it's kind of a hassle to have to do the extra work, but as PPs said it's a sure fire way to make sure she's not getting over fed and milk is not being wasted.

They also send home a sheet everyone's for the parents to update on feeding practices. Formula/BM/both, how many oz, around what times, and what solids if applicable. They don't know much about BF babies compared to FF babies, but they make a chart that goes on the wall with specifics about how each baby in the class eats so they don't get anybody mixed up.

[stampingqueen]

I portioned out 4 3oz bottles. And sent the frozen stuff in 3 oz bags as well.

[ainslie325]

Apr 24, 2015 17:24:55 GMT -5 stampingqueen said:

Apr 24, 2015 17:04:27 GMT -5 ainslie325 said:

That only accounts for one ounce. What happened to the rest?

They accounted for 18 of the 21 ounces. She usually eats 12 oz per day. If she's ever having a super hungry day, she might take an extra 3 for the day.

Sorry, I was confused.  I read it as your saying that they were out of BM, and you brought 12+9 (21), thinking that perhaps only 12 would be eaten (the 9 would likely be saved).  I understood that the new girl said she attempted a 6-oz. bottle (and baby took 5); what I meant to ask was how they explained the rest of the unusual consumption (if they did).

I was always 50/50 BM and formula, so I don't think I really understand the overfeeding concern in the same way that an exclusively breastfeeding mom does.  Before we went to all-formula a week or two ago, she was getting 3--5 oz. BM bottles and 2-3--5 oz. formula bottles daily (25-30 oz. total). At the time she switched over, she was 4 1/2 mos. and 13 lbs. 15 oz.  I guess I was always under the impression that it was impossible to overfeed a baby; that baby would eat what he or she needed in order to be full.  I know that breastfed babies consume less volume as the composition of the breastmilk changes to meet their needs as they grow, but is the whole "can't overfeed" thing out the window as a result?  Is it that breastfed babies will continue to eat even after their nutritional needs are met because the nutrient-rich milk still leaves room in their belly that their body thinks it needs to fill?

Somebody educate me; I'm interested!

[danisgossipgirl]

Apr 24, 2015 18:54:26 GMT -5 stampingqueen said:

I portioned out 4 3oz bottles. And sent the frozen stuff in 3 oz bags as well.

Yah I'd be extremely frustrated too. You did everything right and they messed up.

My dc has iPads in every classroom and occasionally they'll message me, not for everyday stuff since they have an app for diapers/eating/photo sharing, but for other randoms. After going over your feeding expectations again, maybe you could suggest they text you during the day if it seems like she's eating more than expected or if they're unsure about something so you can help troubleshoot. My DC is hesitant to call me over anything, not sure why, so texting helps since I always have my phone on me and can get back to them right away.

[pooky08]

ainslie325 it's wasted milk, and milk can be so hard to come by. They will spit up whatever they over eat, which is wasted. If too much is heated up and the baby doesn't eat it all... Wasted.

I pump 4-5 times a day to get enough milk for my baby each day at daycare. Every ounce counts. A wasted ounce could mean I need to do an additional pump season. It's super stressful.

[pooky08]

Also for over feeding... You can over feed a breastfed baby by bottle. They eat so much more slowly at the breast they have time to realize they are full. Bottles can be so much faster the baby may keep eating not realising he is full.

The thought of a six ounce bottle of BM frightens me. Back in February a friend of mine watched the baby for us. When we came home, she proudly said the baby had just finished off a five ounce bottle. I was so upset! I had spare milk in the fridge that was to be used to pour from into smaller bottles. At the time that was two feedings' worth of milk. I just lost a whole feeding worth of work and extra milk.

[stampingqueen]

I need to update the expectations at this time. Which is difficult for me to do. I still feed on demand and let LO tell me when she wants to sleep.

[ainslie325]

Apr 24, 2015 19:41:37 GMT -5 pooky08 said:

ainslie325 it's wasted milk, and milk can be so hard to come by. They will spit up whatever they over eat, which is wasted. If too much is heated up and the baby doesn't eat it all... Wasted.

I pump 4-5 times a day to get enough milk for my baby each day at daycare. Every ounce counts. A wasted ounce could mean I need to do an additional pump season. It's super stressful.

Certainly I understand that if the milk isn't staying in the baby or if it's left out longer than his safe, it's wasted.  I remember well how hard milk was to come by; I spent a lot of time pumping for every ounce I could produce for 4 1/2 months.  Believe me, that much I understand.

I didn't see that OP said that her baby was spitting up because of overfeeding; I suppose that's what I wasn't understanding.  I read it as her baby ate 18 oz. today and usually ate 12. I guess maybe the spitting up is something that's assumed by other EBF moms; as I never saw that with my own (who always ate 5 oz. BM bottles), I didn't know that's what was happening here (I just saw that the worker copped to the discarded ounce).  Without the spitting up, I just would have assumed my baby had a hungry day. If baby is spewing back out half of what she takes in, this certainly answers my question.

[stampingqueen]

Sorry. You're right. That's an important piece. LO spits up in general. When she gets too much milk, it's worse. She spit up a whole bunch. If she had just had a hungry day, no big deal.

I definitely need to tell them to offer 3 oz paced. And only after to offer more if she is dissatisfied. Not to offer a 6 oz bottle off the bat.

[stampingqueen]

And they've always given 3 oz bottles as instructed. So starting off giving her a 6 oz bottle is incorrect.

[ainslie325]

Apr 24, 2015 20:05:55 GMT -5 stampingqueen said:

Sorry. You're right. That's an important piece. LO spits up in general. When she gets too much milk, it's worse. She spit up a whole bunch. If she had just had a hungry day, no big deal.

I definitely need to tell them to offer 3 oz paced. And only after to offer more if she is dissatisfied. Not to offer a 6 oz bottle off the bat.

Got it. I completely understand now.  Thinking of half a day's pumping output soaking into a bib is enough to make me want to cry for you.   It seems so odd to me that this girl would combine your two bottles before beginning the feed rather than just offering them as you'd portioned them then reassessing baby's hunger at the end of the bottle.  What a strange thing to do.

[stampingqueen]

I've tried to type this part out 3 times now...

It wasn't half a day of pumping wasted. It was a whole day. Today at work was super super busy. I was only able to pump 8.5 oz. I had 9 oz wasted. A whole day :-(

[ainslie325]

Sorry, I didn't mean to understate it. I was just speaking in generalities. Whatever was wasted is too much.

[stampingqueen]

Apr 24, 2015 20:15:06 GMT -5 ainslie325 said:

Sorry, I didn't mean to understate it. I was just speaking in generalities. Whatever was wasted is too much.

You're fine. I'm just wallowing. It was a bad ending to an already shitty day.

[neonsun419]

I'm sorry that happened stampingqueen, hopefully things are better this week. Hugs.

[birch113]

Apr 24, 2015 20:12:47 GMT -5 stampingqueen said:

I've tried to type this part out 3 times now...

It wasn't half a day of pumping wasted. It was a whole day. Today at work was super super busy. I was only able to pump 8.5 oz. I had 9 oz wasted. A whole day :-(

I'm so sorry! I know how stressful and frustrating that is! (((Hugs))) it amazes me how little people know about breast milk, especially people who care for babies. :-(