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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not starve my sick baby?

86 replies

jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:19

Baby, 6mo, has a gastro virus of some sort. Her last vomit was early this morning. She also did three explosive poos then too.

We took her to the dr who advised nothing but water or dioralyte for 24 hours.

She hasn't been sick or had diarrhoea since and is keeping the dioralyte down, but she's starving. Proper hollering the house down starving.

DH says we need to persevere with the dr's advice but it seems crazy to me to starve her half mad.

AIBU to give her a bottle and be damned the consequences? I really thought that starvation was an outdated concept anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:21

Hate to drip feed but was a bit annoyed at GP suggesting I give her juice too, she's barely past the age for weaning - she's only ever had breast milk, formula and cooled boiled water.

OP posts:
GinIsIn · 26/12/2018 22:22

I’m really not sure that’s the correct advice anyway - I would continue to offer milk also.

nocoolnamesleft · 26/12/2018 22:22

If no longer vomiting, you could start with small amounts of milk. Going straight to a full bottle could be...messy.

MonkeyfaceThereturn · 26/12/2018 22:23

Christ please feed the poor baby!

Maybe not a whole bottle. Will she eat toast?

Harebellmeadow · 26/12/2018 22:23

Also seems insane to keep her hungry.
Dont have any experience with formula, hoping someone can come and help. Breastmilk for sure you can feed endlessly.

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:23

That's my feeling @FenellaMaxwellsPony. I'm going to let DH have a go at his plan while I get a little bit of kip. Then when it's my turn I may sneak her a bottle.

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 26/12/2018 22:23

Breastfeeding is ok through a gastro virus, if she'll keep it down?

Florries · 26/12/2018 22:23

Poor bub!! You are her mother and you know best. Absolutely feed her if you feel is best.

Hope she (and you) feel better soon.

PotteringAlong · 26/12/2018 22:23

Breast milk classes as a clear fluid like water. I’d feed her😁

pacempercutiens · 26/12/2018 22:23

That's not the advice I've been given

I've been told 2 different things - continue offering milk feeds and continue offering all food as they'll eat what they want

I would want a 2nd opinion on that

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:24

Baby is bottle fed now btw. But I only just started weaning her, so solids prob out of the question. She's too pissed off to eat them anyway.

OP posts:
EwItsAHooman · 26/12/2018 22:24

Advice to starve them is old/outdated. Whatever you give her is going to come out one end or the other regardless so if she's hungry, give her something. Follow the BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple, toast) as it's gentle, easy to digest foods and give her small amounts at a time.

Harebellmeadow · 26/12/2018 22:25

I know that in case of d&v for older kids, protein and dairy is to be excluded, which is probably where yoir doctor is getting his info from - however, possibly not the right thing to apply the info for a 6month old.

BottleOfJameson · 26/12/2018 22:25

I would definitely give her breastmilk or formula if she's no longer breastfeeding. I thought the general advice was to keep feeding their normal milk.

ambereeree · 26/12/2018 22:25

Agree with PP would you be able to breastfeed? Formula is heavy and you may end up with more vomiting.

CarrieBlu · 26/12/2018 22:25

We had the same last month with our six month old, I continued to breastfeed her. Not much stayed down but she was at least settled and slept because of it.

Ceecee18 · 26/12/2018 22:25

Feed the baby! You can't leave a screaming baby unfed. Just give a couple of ounces at a time.

As for the juice, the GP told me that if I couldn't get DD to drink dioralyte then water with a bit of apple juice in it can be just as good. Won't do any harm having juice just the once even though she's only just past the weaning stage. Just get pure apple juice.

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:25

She's literally just 6 months, she's only tried tiny tiny bits of veg so far.

OP posts:
ambereeree · 26/12/2018 22:26

Ahh ok sorry didn't see your update.

firsttimebabybirther · 26/12/2018 22:26

I was told by GP to offer bottles as normal but not to bother with food, DS 8 months at the time (9.5 m now) so in the habit of 3 meals so no food a bit more difficult , he had toast and breadsticks at meal time but more just to feel apart of the meal time at the table. I'd give a bottle.

EwItsAHooman · 26/12/2018 22:26

Sorry, didn't realise she wasn't fully on solids yet as I read 16 months old instead of 6.

Yeah, I'd give her milk. Offer her half the amount you'd normally give her and then judge whether to give her any more based on whether she keeps it down.

Allthewaves · 26/12/2018 22:27

If it's formula then try watered down bottle with sister the amount of formula to start.

Original poster
jamoncrumpets · 26/12/2018 22:27

I have some thicker 'comfort milk' formula from a few months back in the cupboard. I was thinking a tiny bottle of that?

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 26/12/2018 22:27

Sister=quater

Ceecee18 · 26/12/2018 22:28

Would avoid the comfort stuff OP, if it's thicker it'll be heavier on her stomach.

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