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Original poster

5 week old has already had 900 ml of formula today - what is happening

55 replies

cucurucu · 02/06/2022 19:55

My baby girl has bad reflux. So I took her to a private paediatrician yesterday.

He suggested infant gaviscon and anti reflux aptimil. I've been giving this since then. Usually my baby has 60 ml or less and some days will go less than two hours between feeds and need 17 feeds.

Ever since I've started the new milk, she's been chugging down 120 ml every feed ??? I'm shocked and a bit worried why this has happened ?

I've also given some feeds of the other formula I used before and she's chugged down 120 for those too on some feeds, but her usual 60 ml on other feeds.

I'm a bit worried. The doctor reckoned that she was spitting up so much and had such bad reflux because I was feeding her too often, but that the total amount was actually ok over 24 hours ( around 600 ml or so ). I'm really confused now what's happening. Can someone help ?

OP posts:
Tinysnickers · 02/06/2022 21:09

I would echo what a previous poster said about using a paced feeding technique.
A baby can otherwise take more than they need from a bottle because they drink too fast and don't know they are full until its too late.
Keep baby more upright, bottle almost horizontal, just tilted enough to fill the teat with milk. If you keep it horizontal baby has to work more for the milk and the flow will be slower, more similar to breastfeeding. Take breaks and remove the bottle from babys mouth, burp them. Offer the bottle to baby and allow them to latch on if they want rather than pushing the teat into their mouth.

Original poster
cucurucu · 02/06/2022 21:10

Truenorthmum · 02/06/2022 20:50

I've just had a look at what our little guy used to have at that age, he was on around 800-1000ml a day. He'd have more during a growth spurt. He'd the same now at 20 months, eats like a small horse for a few days then suddenly his trousers aren't long enough anymore.

I'd also echo what a pp has mentioned about cmpa, our guy has it (and lots of other allergies) and the gaviscon can mask the symptoms so keep an eye on that.

The doc said if it doesn't improve, it could be that. How do they diagnose it ? She also has eczema on his face, quite bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
cucurucu · 02/06/2022 21:13

Tinysnickers · 02/06/2022 21:09

I would echo what a previous poster said about using a paced feeding technique.
A baby can otherwise take more than they need from a bottle because they drink too fast and don't know they are full until its too late.
Keep baby more upright, bottle almost horizontal, just tilted enough to fill the teat with milk. If you keep it horizontal baby has to work more for the milk and the flow will be slower, more similar to breastfeeding. Take breaks and remove the bottle from babys mouth, burp them. Offer the bottle to baby and allow them to latch on if they want rather than pushing the teat into their mouth.

Yeah so I do something similar, but I don't agree with letting the baby gulp lots of air. That's what you're doing if you hold the bottle like that. I keep baby upright but let the teat fill with milk. I then stop and give frequent breaks to burp, so baby doesn't just chug the whole bottle.

Just now she rooted around for my breast, so I gave her that for a bit. I'm surprised there was still milk in there as I haven't breastfed or pumped at all in a few days.

OP posts:
Nutellaspoon · 02/06/2022 21:14

Eczema and reflux are red flags for cmpa. They can't test for most cmpa allergies especially not at this age, all you can do is ask for a non dairy milk and see if things improve.

Original poster
cucurucu · 02/06/2022 21:18

Nutellaspoon · 02/06/2022 21:14

Eczema and reflux are red flags for cmpa. They can't test for most cmpa allergies especially not at this age, all you can do is ask for a non dairy milk and see if things improve.

This is a stupid question, but I don't know much about cows milk allergy.. can't believe I'm asking, but does that allergy also apply to goat milk ? I've been giving her goat milk formula only until now.

OP posts:
CupidStunt22 · 02/06/2022 21:19

cucurucu · 02/06/2022 20:13

Haha yeah that's why I had to stop breast feeding. She never stopped.

Show quote history

Thats not a reason to stop breastfeeding. They're supposed to be doing it a huge amount at the start

ProclivityForPyrotechnics · 02/06/2022 21:21

@cucurucu how much does she weigh?

cinq · 02/06/2022 21:26

My now 8 year old DS was 9lbs at birth and by 5/6 weeks was taking 5 x 7oz bottles a day. I remember it clearly because the health visitor was amazed at

a) how much he was putting away
b) he gaining weight like a trooper
b) the fact he was sleeping all night
c) how contented he was

dont worry though, my DS2 came along and gave me a shock 😅🤣

cinq · 02/06/2022 21:28

@CupidStunt22 any reason is good enough reason to stop breastfeeding if it’s what the mother wants.

Truenorthmum · 02/06/2022 21:32

We were diagnosed by a wonderful GP who ran through all his symptoms and he ticked all the boxes. She prescribed us formula there and then, the proteins in this are already broken down so it makes it easier for them to digest, if they have a more severe case you can dairy free formula too.

In some areas a GP will refer you to your local hospital for testing. The guidelines for diagnosis for are here: cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cows-milk-allergy-in-children/diagnosis/assessment/

Eczema is another symptom unfortunately, it could just be a coincidence but they tend to go hand in hand with ones so little.

I hope it's not CMPA but worth considering just incase.

Truenorthmum · 02/06/2022 21:36

Sorry @cucurucu I forgot to mention that goat milk can also trigger cmpa as the proteins in it are really similar to cows milk

No questions are stupid questions 🙂

Anapurna222478063 · 02/06/2022 22:25

CupidStunt22 · 02/06/2022 21:19

Thats not a reason to stop breastfeeding. They're supposed to be doing it a huge amount at the start

Show quote history

Any reason is a good enough reason, her body, her choice.

RidingMyBike · 02/06/2022 22:32

What does she weigh? The recommended amount per day is 150-200ml per kg body weight, although it does vary when they have growth spurts! I remember mine downing 2 bottles in very rapid succession at around this age after BFing for ages too, when she'd have normally had a much smaller top up.

Be a bit wary of pace feeding. We found it made our baby much windier as all the pauses made her anxious the bottle would be removed so she'd suck like fury! It worked better to keep her upright(ish), teat full of milk and don't keep pausing to wind.

Nat6999 · 02/06/2022 22:49

My ds was like that day & night, constantly hungry, he was 6lb4oz when he was born & 10lb8oz by 8 weeks, he never slept longer than 2 hours before demanding feeding, I went against my midwife's advice & changed to hungry baby milk & managed to get him to only need feeding every 3 hours. He didn't sleep even near midnight to 5.00am until he started solids which I did at 16 weeks as he had reflux as well, the solids just about cured the reflux, I gave him a couple of spoonful of solid, then the milk, then finished with solids.

Original poster
cucurucu · 02/06/2022 23:03

RidingMyBike · 02/06/2022 22:32

What does she weigh? The recommended amount per day is 150-200ml per kg body weight, although it does vary when they have growth spurts! I remember mine downing 2 bottles in very rapid succession at around this age after BFing for ages too, when she'd have normally had a much smaller top up.

Be a bit wary of pace feeding. We found it made our baby much windier as all the pauses made her anxious the bottle would be removed so she'd suck like fury! It worked better to keep her upright(ish), teat full of milk and don't keep pausing to wind.

She's 4.840 kg at 5 weeks. Born 3.5 kg. Doc says too much gain!

OP posts:
Mariposista · 02/06/2022 23:28

Check with your doctor, but the fact that she is feeding a lot is much less of a worry than her NOT feeding. If it's any consolation, I am told that I was introduced to solids at 3 months as I was always so checking starving - took the bottle so enthusiastically that I pulled the teat off one at 2 months hahahaha not a lot has changed - maybe your girl will grow up to be a swimmer, then she can eat and eat to her heart's content.

Helzzzz · 02/06/2022 23:34

Have you plotted her weight in red book to see if she's changed centiles?

BlackeyedSusan · 03/06/2022 00:44

my bet is a growth spurt. It will be like it for about three days. than go back to normal. it was hell breast feeding.

Original poster
cucurucu · 03/06/2022 10:32

Seems to have developed diarrhoea now. What do I do ? Continue giving the aptamil or switch back??

OP posts:
Nat6999 · 03/06/2022 15:45

How long have you been using Aptamil? I would give it at least a few more days before deciding it is the milk, could be a bug, some babies even start teething early. Just keep fluids up.

Original poster
cucurucu · 03/06/2022 15:53

Nat6999 · 03/06/2022 15:45

How long have you been using Aptamil? I would give it at least a few more days before deciding it is the milk, could be a bug, some babies even start teething early. Just keep fluids up.

Since Thursday afternoon. Still drinking like a trooper, so hopefully dehydration isn't an issue !

OP posts:
RidingMyBike · 03/06/2022 16:00

Is she tracking the percentile line in the red book?
If she's 4.84kg then the lowest amount per day recommended is 726ml and the highest is 948ml so actually the amounts sound right.

I remember doing a baby class with someone who exclusively pumped and her 7 week old needed at least a litre a day?

Original poster
cucurucu · 03/06/2022 16:16

RidingMyBike · 03/06/2022 16:00

Is she tracking the percentile line in the red book?
If she's 4.84kg then the lowest amount per day recommended is 726ml and the highest is 948ml so actually the amounts sound right.

I remember doing a baby class with someone who exclusively pumped and her 7 week old needed at least a litre a day?

Yeah I think she's tracking fine. I guess I was just shocked because the doctor accused me of over feeding and now she's having double the amount.

OP posts:
Original poster
cucurucu · 03/06/2022 16:30

RidingMyBike · 03/06/2022 16:00

Is she tracking the percentile line in the red book?
If she's 4.84kg then the lowest amount per day recommended is 726ml and the highest is 948ml so actually the amounts sound right.

I remember doing a baby class with someone who exclusively pumped and her 7 week old needed at least a litre a day?

Also tracking completely fine ! 50th centile still

OP posts:
Mysa74 · 03/06/2022 16:50

cucurucu · 02/06/2022 23:03

She's 4.840 kg at 5 weeks. Born 3.5 kg. Doc says too much gain!

Show quote history

Have you plotted the weights in baby's red book OP? A quick look at my app shows baby is following the same centile line so not sure why it would be a worry?