Anything changed with Aptamil?

[libertychick]

My LO has been fed with Aptamil since 8 weeks old. She is now 20 weeks and has not been feeding well for a few days. Today she became completely hysterical, refusing to feed even though she was definitely hungry. DH suggested trying a carton of pre made Aptamil instead of the bottle we made up from the powder and she took it no problem. Half way through that feed we offered the original feed again and she started screaming again! What is going on???

[munkiii]

All I can think of is that the carton stuff is a bit thicker? In what way is she not feeding well, is there posseting or vomit? Is she going rigid and arching her back? I have a few ideas but would need to know a wee bit more.

Hope you are all OK, it can be very upsetting when they are like this.

[libertychick]

Thanks Munkii. She feeds very slowly and can take up to two hours to finish a feed - will usually have 70 to 100mls and then take ages to have any more. Its a real struggle to get her to have more than 150mls at a time and is currently only taking about 650mls in 24 hours. Her weight is fine though! I think she just doesn't like the powdered formula....

[libertychick]

Sorry I should have said - she has reflux but well controlled with gaviscon.

[childmindermk]

you could try changing the teats for faster flow...my daughter always got fussy with her bottles when she was finding it too much like hard work getting the milk out and was ready for the next size teat! It usually takes her a few feeds to get the hang of the faster flow of milk but once she does its so much easier!

Also sometimes with the powdered formula i find that occasionally the teat hole can become blocked with a small clump of powder that hasnt dissolved properly, maybe that has been happening?

[libertychick]

Thanks childmindermk.
I'll give it a go...

[munkiii]

reflux was my guess! But if well controlled then yes I agree the faster flow teats may be the next step.

My 22 week old DD is certainly ready for the fast flow, I can hear her arguing with her Dad over her feed as I type.

[FeelingHip]

Libertychick, did you get anywhere? Your post could have been written by me! DS 20 weeks old and has recently started being a problem to feed (aptamil powder too). He gets 150ml through and then he just won't take the rest (we try leaving it a while, but he loses interest). He has gone from having c. 240ml almost every feed to c. 150ml! He also has mild reflux controlled with Gaviscon, but he doesn't have it in every feed (trying to cut it down as he is getting older and seems to have improved a bit) and whether the gaviscon is in the feed or not, he still loses interest...any help would be greatly appreciated.

[organiccarrotcake]

I was wondering, with the mention of reflux, if this was of interest:

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/05/cause-of-your-babys-refluxwindcolic.html

Tongue tie can cause many problems including severe breastfeeding problems (which of course leads many to FF due to unbearable pain and nipple damage) and reflux symptoms which would continue with FF. Just thought it was worth throwing it out there :)

[Fragz]

My dd was very difficult to feed and she too had reflux. She was part ff fed from about 4 months. We found she wouldn't take the gaviscon in the powder aptamil unless we first mixed the gaviscon into a paste with water and then added it to the bottle. Didn't seem to have an issue with the carton and gaviscon though. I figured the gaviscon wasn't dissolving properly making it lumpy (best guess). Also as the gaviscon makes the milk thicker we had to play around with the teats and use a faster flow teat as others have suggested. Good luck

[FeelingHip]

thanks for your help...don't think it explains the situation here though as DS has had gaviscon in his powder from c. 4 weeks and been fine with it...reflux is definitely much better than in used to be too.

[orchidee]

Yes the formula has changed, my HV mentioned this last week. The HVs expected to be inundated with mums asking about this as Aptamil hadn't advertised the change. I can't remember the details (it was just chit chat, I don't use Aptamil) but it meant babies would have different nappy habits in terms of frequence or volume which mums would notice.

[gallicgirl]

SMA have changed their formula too but at least they're changing packaging too so it's more noticeable.

[organiccarrotcake]

Anyone know what the change is?

[libertychick]

That is interesting that Aptamil have changed as DD has had much messier nappies and darker in colour - I assumed that the change was her teething.

Feelinghip - thanks for your PM - I'm on hols so had not checked this. DD was well controlled with gaviscon so we reduced the dose by half and moved her onto a faster flowing teat (Avent 6mths + which has four holes) and it has done the trick - back to taking about 200mls per feed after dropping to about 120mls. Her reflux has been ok - she is bringing up a mouthful or two with each feed but not a lot and is not getting distressed with it. Just have to keep her sitting up for 10 or 15 mins after each feed, wind her well and we have her sleeping on a very slight slope. Hope you get things sorted with your DS.

[FeelingHip]

That's great, will give the faster teats a go later and hope he gets used to the change in formula! (why change a winning formula hey?!) x