Problems with feeding?

[violet13]

Hi ladies,
It seems to of been ages since I was last on here! Almost 4 months in fact.
Well I'm having some problems lately I was bf Harrison up till 10 weeks when one breast wouldn't engorge even after 48 hours and so we went to formula. And all has been grand up until 3 weeks ish we came back from spending Xmas at home and Harrison's been fussy as hell he was on 4 ounces as he's not take 6 and then once he was draining the bottles we upped it to 5 and now he barely takes anything occasionally he'll have the full 5 but will go hours and hours have 1 ounce scream and throw his head from side to side when offered the bottle now, we've tried teething gels and rings it's not that. We've tried anticolic over the counter things his winds fine brings it up okay. I've taken him to the Drs 3 times they can't find anything wrong with him, he was clammy today and no temp and clammy on Friday when at
The Drs and again no temp I don't know how else I can get him to take his milk I've switched too he's not interested :/ ive stopped offering them and wait till he wants it instead but it's getting a bit much now tbh I'm beyond stressed and scared for him xxx

 

[ml600]

May sounds silly but what size teat is he using? X

 

[Rainbow1234]

Have you considered silent reflux? This can make babies cry out in pain when feeding as the stomach contents are coming back up but not enough to actually make them sick so just sitting in the throat. Infant Gaviscon can help and can be prescribed by GP, Google it and have a look at the symptoms to see if they fit x

 

[violet13]

He's on size two now after the Drs advised us on it. Thanks rainbow we have gaviscon he had this problem when we where bf still so we got given it and it helped for a week and then we stopped it by Drs orders as he didn't have it anymore So I added it to his milk again and he's had two full bottles but he does this in the evenings so worried tomorrow hell not want his milk again. I think it could be a recent growth spurt too playing part but he always eats more then. We'll be back at the Drs by Friday if no change xxx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I bang this drum quite a bit because my lo suffered until 13 weeks but have you considered tongue tie? Symptoms my lo had were crying during and after feeding, wind, reflux symptoms including apnea, fussing on and off the breast/bottle, seeming hungry or unsettled but rarely taking more than about 2/3 ounces at a time and dribbling milk from the corners of his mouth when feeding (this is a massive indicator of tongue tie). Honestly the GP would have sent us down the reflux meds route (we'd already been on Gaviscon from 3 days old) and God knows where it would have ended if I hadn't got him checked privately at Milk Matters. Midwives and GPs do not have sufficient training to diagnose tongue tie as some are less obvious than others and you should only rely on an accredited practitioner's opinion - your health visitor should be able to refer you to a specialist lactation consultant who will observe feeding and then examine your baby, there are a couple of scored tests they do as well. Is he a noisy feeder (especially clicking sounds)? Does he seem to gulp? If so, it's definitely an avenue worth exploring but make sure you see a specialist xx

 

[violet13]

Wow yes he dribbles a little and has been okay though from day one for latching on though so I think I may be pushing for him to be checked properly I just want him to eat properly and not be worrying all the time. He's a fab baby but during feeds a nightmare but only recently which is why I'm confused xxx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I was always told my latch was fine and had it checked several times but he started fussing on the breast and crying and everyone assumed it was reflux. Unfortunately I stopped breastfeeding so I could give him Gaviscon more easily and try anti reflux formula. Dribbling happens because the tongue isn't free to move as it should so the baby can't create a proper vacuum round the nipple/teat and also can't move milk correctly in their mouth - this is what leads to colic and reflux symptoms in babies with tongue tie. What exactly does he do when he's feeding? How old is he? With my lo it was a problem that got progressively worse xx

 

[JD.Deedee]

I think you're best of going to health visitors or the nurse within the health visiting team... At least they're more likely to refer to a paediatrician if you suspect reflux or silent reflux or tongue tie to be the underlying culprit. They're also better to go to for feeding advise. I waited until his two year check up because I couldn't be bothered going back n forth to gp's and getting fobbed off. And I've got all my referrals straight away. I've now seen a paediatrician and he's actually being tested for things instead of being prescribed medicines to try out.

 

[Nutsyputs]

If he's dribbling a lot could it b e teeth? My lg is breastfed bit becomes more fussy and will come on and off when her teeth are hurting. I can't obviously measure how much she's taking but I dint think she takes as much

 

[Nutsyputs]

Also babies won't starve themselves. Perhaps he just isn't that hungry at the moment. Is he going weight ok? Ml lg is on the smaller side and she dropped feds really quickly and i really worried but she gained weight steadily so clearly getting what she needs.

 

[violet13]

Hi when I go to give him his bottle he always opens his mouth but when he's had maybe 2-3 ounces on a good day and I go to offer it again he shakes his head side to side in refusal I don't force him to take it but I can see he's hungry he's just hit 15 week but now thinking on it he struggled to latch onto the breast when we where bfeeding and I was told to just keep trying until it just got too much he wasn't getting enough and I ruined my milk supply by drinking peppermint tea again no advice on that either. Our HV is coming out sometime this week I'll talk to her about it I've checked his mouth I can't see any tongue tie but I'm not experienced in it so can't see what I'm looking for really. He was last weighed end Nov beginning Dec and he was 10 lb 15oz then so no idea what he is now we live in the middle of nowhere and I can't drive so getting to the Drs without my hubby coming out of work is a problem but I'll push for him to be checked properly I need to know now what's causing him to go off His milk. I'm sad as we Could of still been bfeeding by now and he was doing well up until he began presenting reflux symptoms but it's not all the time xxx

 

[Aimee84]

Only other thing I can think of is a possible dairy allergy but then you would get other signs of that, lots of crying, possibly a rash, possibly loads more dirty nappies. I think probably silent reflux if everything else is ok. Hope you can sort it soon xx

 

[violet13]

Thank you me too I think we'll have him fully checked again and if nothing stick to gaviscon xxx

 

[violet13]

Just to update: Harrison's taking his bottles fine now I'm just letting him lead as in when he wants it so all sorted thank you all so much xx