Bottle-feeding also allows the baby's father and other family members to become more active in feeding the baby. Flexibility in the feeding schedule and method is important for a child with congenital heart disease. Babies with congenital heart disease typically do best when fed more often and on a demand schedule. They tend to tire quickly during the feeding, so frequent feedings tend to work best. Initially, feeding your baby every two hours may be best, and you may find that you need to wake your baby at night several times to feed until he is able to tolerate a larger volume of formula less often.
All infants are individuals, and they vary in how much formula or breast milk they take per feeding.
The goal for feeding an infant with congenital heart disease is consistent weight gain. However, babies with heart disease tend to gain weight at a much slower rate. The pediatrician and cardiologist will assess your child's weight at each visit and make recommendations regarding the feedings at that time. Babies with heart disease may not be able to tolerate a large volume of formula. They also tend to require more calories to grow than the average infant.