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Infant feeding

Anyone have any ideas?

15 replies

backintraining · 26/09/2011 22:12

Hi,

DD is just over 2 weeks old. She had a bumpy start. Basically I attempted to breastfeed (against my better judgement given the nightmare I had with DS). Due to a breast reduction op many years ago and other issues I never got the milk with DS, despite trying for over 3 weeks. Anyway, I desperately wanted to try with DD, just to see if things could be different..... DS was prem so I thought maybe that could have contributed to no milk.

ANYWAY, I tried to bf DD and on the 4th day she was still passing meconium (sp?) had totally dry nappies and basically sucked herself into exhaustion as I had nothing. She ended up in hospital due to such low energy and with a heavy heart I abandaoned it and we decided to ff.

FF has been a total nightmare. She started off getting her energy levels up and taking maybe 1 or 1.5oz in a feed....... however, it doesn't seem to have got any better. The only way I can describe it is she will get to an ounce, start pushing the teat out, show signs of needing winding (which we do, sometimes she burps, a lot of the time she doesn't) and then just gives up or starts screaming in agony, but is still obviously hungry. She is going around 3 hours between feeds (sometimes I have to wake her or I am practically dreamfeeding her). Without fail after each feed she is so distressed, screaming, arching her back etc. She has only vomited twice though.

The health visitor's pearls of wisdom was: "Oh, she isn't having as much formula as she needs." Apparently for a baby this size she needs around 17/18oz in 24 hours, DD has between 11-13oz.

She was 7lb 15oz born, dropped to 7lb 6oz initially and at the last weigh in (Friday) was limping her way back to birthweight, but again HV was concerned because she only put 3oz on in a week.

We went back to hospital last week because we were concerned that she wasn't feeding well and the Consultant said that it didn't really sound like Reflux, but could be and prescribed Gaviscon and Ranitadine. She is on Tommee Tippee vari-flow teat (this worked a tiny bit better than the slow flow) and she has Cow and Gate (normal stage 1) formula.

I am at a loss as to what is wrong with her.
Am not sure it's colic because her distress and issues are with the actual feeds.
Am thinking trapped wind, she is on Infacol, but again am not sure????
Am not convinced it's Reflux, she doesn't seem to really match the symptoms.

I dread every single feed and I feel that we haven't had chance to enjoy our daughter yet because of this.

Thanks for reading, sorry for the epic post!

OP posts:
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1catherine1 · 26/09/2011 22:47

Sounds dreadful. Never used formula so I'm not really in the know as such. But Perhaps you could offer her the bottle more often so that she gets the right amount over a 24 hour period but less per feed?

Again, I don't really know. Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will pop in and you can take this as a free bump.

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Mollcat · 26/09/2011 23:04

Silent reflux? i.e. without vomiting. The back arching is a classic symptom.

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bangcrash · 27/09/2011 13:28

Proper acid ( silent) reflux sounds like a possibility ... ranitidine in particular can help. Go back and push for more care if it doesn't settle down. Sometimes it is only when you are admitted that they see the problem rather than their presumptions.

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backintraining · 27/09/2011 15:02

Thanks for the replies

She's on Gaviscon & Ranitidine as of last week but if anything she has got worse. I know meds don't perform miracles overnight but its getting ridiculous. Last night she took 2oz then was up for nearly 3hrs screaming. The HV came out today & said that she had gained 5oz in a wk which was acceptable for the time being. We have made an appt with the GP later because I can't stand to see her in agony after each feed. The HV watched her feed today & said even when she wasn't screaming its apparent she isn't enjoying feeding.

Sorry for rambling, am just at my wits end.

OP posts:
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bangcrash · 27/09/2011 15:45

course you are:(

hope your gp can help.

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RitaMorgan · 27/09/2011 19:35

Could she be allergic to cow's milk?

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MrsVidic · 27/09/2011 19:48

I would second the suggestion of lactose intollerebce

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RitaMorgan · 27/09/2011 20:02

Lactose intolerance is pretty rare, and I think the baby would be much more ill if it was that. Cow's milk intolerance is fairly common in babies though.

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backintraining · 27/09/2011 22:23

It's all such a mess. GP has stopped her Ranitodine but kept her on Gaviscon. He said not to change the formula or teats etc as she needs to learn how to enjoy feeding. Have got to go back in a wk. Have just had 3 hrs of help. She was starving, took an ounce then screamed the place down. She has just had another ounce & is asleep but am dreading the next feed. Doc ruled out allergies as he said she would be more ill.

Am at a total loss. It's okay him saying persevere but he doesn't have to watch his baby in agony yet hungry.

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SurprisEs · 27/09/2011 22:31

DD used to arch her back and her poos were very green. Ended up in hospital with gastroenteritis. Are her poos green?

Colief was a miracle for me. Expensive but amazing. But I don't know if you can mix it with medication inreally have no knowledge on that matter.

DD was EBF so not sure if my post is relevant.
Hope things get better soon.

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bangcrash · 27/09/2011 22:31

Go and see diff gp, insist on referral again or just go to a and e and get admitted from there if need be.

Feeding shouldn't be this hard. It could be cpm allergy, not all babies are hugely ill, if acid reflux the ranitidine is a better bet than the gaviscon, and it could be something else.

Swopping formulas wouldn't usually make a huge difference unless to a hypoallergenic formula when this is the issue. Paced feeding, skin to skin, lots of calming cuddles are all good but if your instincts are telling you that something is being missed then trust them and push for support.

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SurprisEs · 27/09/2011 22:31

DD used to arch her back and her poos were very green. Ended up in hospital with gastroenteritis. Are her poos green?

Colief was a miracle for me. Expensive but amazing. But I don't know if you can mix it with medication inreally have no knowledge on that matter.

DD was EBF so not sure if my post is relevant.
Hope things get better soon.

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SurprisEs · 27/09/2011 22:32

Sorry for the double post.

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RitaMorgan · 28/09/2011 06:23

Definitely see another doctor. How can she learn to enjoy feeding if it is so distressing for her fgs?

I'd want to try a cow's milk free/hypoallergenic formula and see if that helps.

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Loopymumsy · 28/09/2011 06:43

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