REEEALLY Desperate! :-( Please HELP!

[Pudds86]

O.M.G I am at the end of my tether. I posted a little while ago about Campbell not feeding well. This week it has reached new heights.

It started about a month ago and was pretty speratic. He would cry as soon as I tried to feed him and I put it down to him not being hungry. It is now to the point that he flatly refuses EVERY feed apart from when he is sleepy. I am pulling my hair out and am such an emotional wreck!

Unless you have a baby who you have to literally fight to feed you dont realise how emotionally draining it is. I am worried that firstly he is not getting enough milk, secondly that something is wrong with him and lastly that as he is not feeding during the day he is starting to wake during the night.

We though it was down to the fact that he was bloated and wouldnt eat until he has a poo. Somedays this seems to be the case but this week he has proven that even after a poo he just doesnt want his bottle. he will scratch and pinch me and push the bottle out of his mouth.

things we have tried:
1) orange juice to help him poo. (he is not constipated but doesnt seem to like the feeling of needing to go)
2) teething gel. (i dont think he is teething)
3) different bottles (he seems to drink the same out of the new ones- only when sleepy)
4) milk at different temps.

I am trying to keep calm and have not fought him today. So far he has had only 8 ounces since 6:30am. NOT ENOUGH! I am sooo desperate. The health visitors have been no help what so ever and he is not a happy boy anymore. makes me so sad.



xxxx

 

[isobel84]

hun i cant give advise as i have no clue about bottle feeding, i dont even know ounces!

but i feel for you cuz it must be hard to watch you lo refusing his feeds

 

[MrsR]

Have you tried swapping his milk? Seb used to do this so we swapped his milk to hipp organic milk. Also he had horrific colic which is why we think he'd refuse his feed (screaming if he saw bottle) until he was starving hungry. We found giving him a bath or popping him in moby for a bit would help the colic which would then encourage him to feed. I look back now and wonder how we coped! I know exactly what you're going through x x x massive hugs x

 

[Pudds86]

Doesnt colic bother them all the time though? He brings wind up fine (both ends!) and is generally happt between feeds until we try to feed him. Dont know what to do! I am going to make a doctors appt.

Can I just swap him milk without causing him problems? Also... maybe a stupid questions but if he wont even taste the milk how is he going to realise we have changed it? Surely regardless of colic is he is hungry he would eat? x

 

[Laura_C]

I was going to suggest some of things you have mentioned but other things that come to mind is are his teats the right flow, is it too slow or too fast? Grace was frustrated with slow flow teats so when I switched to a faster flow she was less frustrated.

I'm not sure if he is old enough but you could try mixing a bit of rusk or baby cereal/rice with his milk and see if he will take that of a spoon, it could be worth a try. He probably won't know what to do a first but he may be getting bored of the milk. Grace caused me much worry as she just went off milk. The poor things get such bloated little milk bellies.

Other than that maybe it is the milk, either the taste or he could be lactose sensitive?

Is he fine other wise, no ear infection or anything like that and it is making him off his feeds? Thrush in his mouth making it sore maybe?

I hope you find the reason honey, I know how worrying and frustrating it can be

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

Could it be silent reflux?

 

[Pudds86]

whats silent reflux? is that like heartburn?

I am going to take him to the doctors to get checked over. I googled for help and they suggested he could have a throat infection or similar that makes it sore to drink... He is totally fine in himself though. I havent noticed any change. Been taking his temp daily. He has been doing this since his hospital stay.

I dont think he is old enough for rice but I did have this thought that he just doesnt like the milk!

lactose intolerant babies normally get a rash if they cant take the milk dont they? my friends baby had this problem.

We have changed his teats to a faster flow... no change in his behaviour. SOOOOOO STRESSED.

xx

 

[Lacey's Mummy]

With reflux, it's where it's painful to drink and most babies are sick with every bottle but some babies ain't sick which is silent reflux. He might not be drinking cos he's finding it painful? I know infant gaviscon's brilliant for reflux.

 

[Laura_C]

Silent reflux definaitely sounds possible, hope the doctor is able to help

 

[Zazu]

I had this with zac, from 8 weeks to 6 months, I still have no explanation for it, and It was so hard, every bottle would take 2 hours and I would have to stand up, walk about, jiggle him, sing, get him to sleep, nightmare. Dr browns bottles helped a little bit, but not much. My dietician suggested silent reflux but he was never treated for it, and it was never confirmed. Wen I started weaning him it completely changed and he now downs his bottles in 5 minutes! I know I'm not much help, but I would suggest going to see a dietician and speak to them about early weaning if silent reflux is ruled out. I feel for you, hope it gets better soon xxx

 

[Pudds86]

hmm silent reflux is a possibility then... only thing is this came on gradually... started being one feed a day to now being every feed. Do you think reflux could do that or would it effect all of them?

Might see if I can get that Gaviscon tomorrow and give it a go. I would love to start weening him as I think he'd love it but he is only 14 weeks on Monday xx

 

[Pudds86]

Just found this and I have to say Campbell definately does at least 4 if not 5 of these...

Some symptoms that can indicate Infant Silent Reflux are;
Irratability and pain.
Poor sleep habits and frequent waking.
Arching thier necks and backs during or after feeding ( or maybe sometimes hours after)
Frequent Hicups/sneezing.
Frequent ear infections.
Refusing food or accepting only a few bites despite being hungry. Or the Exact opposite. (Comfort eating and really eager for a bottle)
Requiring constant small meals or Liquid (comfort feeding)
Food Aversions.
Anemia
Excessive drooling.
Runny Nose and sinus infection/sinus congestion.
Swallowing problems/ gagging, choking.
Chronic hoarse voice.
Sore throat without infection present.
Aspiration, (where the fluid can be exhaled into the lungs). stopping breathing.
Gagging themselves with thier fingers or fists ( sign of esophagitis)
Neck/ back arching or ridgid or unusual body posturing. ( sandifer Syndrome)
Holding thier breath, while outwardly flinging thier arms.
Bad breath..
One or more could indicte signs of Infant Silent Reflux

 

[MrsR]

No colic doesn't bother them all the time, it sort of builds up, Seb used to scream 5-11 every night with his colic. He had silent reflux too. We swapped his milk from sma gold to hipp organic no probs. We took him to gp (skipped the hv) and they prescribed gaviscon buuuuuut it goes in the bottle and if he's refusing the bottle obvs it's hard to get it in!

 

[Pudds86]

yeah thats the tough part... but then same problem with changing his milk if he isnt taking it he wont realise. grrrr.... im stumped.

 

[MrsR]

Yeah that's what I thought! Lol! I'd take him to gp anyway if I was you. Seb grew out of it around 14/15 weeks (colic stopped) and he eagerly grabs the bottle now to get it in his mouth! Lol! Really hope you get some answers! It's horrific!

 

[Pudds86]

Went to walk in clinic today and they have prescribed him Gaviscon Infant to see if it helps... She wants me to still book him into GP as she thinks they may want to test him for allergies.

x

 

[Zazu]

Hope it works xxx

 

[Squeakz]

just caught up with this thred. cant offer any other advie than what the girls have said but please let us know how you get one!? it must be horrible watching him not feed?? x

 

[Minchin]

yeah sounds really tough for you hon. How has the gaviscon worked?