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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Hungry baby, help.

41 replies

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 17:41

Sorry, posting for traffic as I'm exhausted and not sure what to do.

DS is 5 weeks old and is never content after a feed. At the moment, he drains 5oz bottles every 2 hours, and cries for more. I do try the usual distraction methods, like dummies, toys, walks, and constant pacing the halls. I'm not sure if this amount is too much? It's worth noting he isn't sick and keeps this amount down. Does anyone have any experience with hungry baby milk? His constant cries for feeds is taking over my day and I'm a walking zombie.

OP posts:

Porsa · 29/06/2023 17:51

What did DS weigh when he was born? Mine was 8lb 15oz so he was having 5oz from the moment he was born!

Why don't you increase the feeds - 6 - 7oz? That way he will be satisfied and then go longer than 2 hours between feeds 😀

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 29/06/2023 17:53

Just feel him more!

CurlewKate · 29/06/2023 17:54

At this age-surely you just give him more milk?

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 29/06/2023 17:54

*feed obviously, but a cuddle wouldn't go a miss either I suppose 😄

Porsa · 29/06/2023 17:56

Did the midwives or health visitors tell you that you can only feed DS 'x' amount? Same thing happened with my DS and he was hungry for the first few days until we ignored them and just fed him as much as he wanted.

TheCosyRain · 29/06/2023 17:59

Without meaning to sound condescending, are you sure it is hunger? My partner and I mistook silent reflux for hunger at the same age. She always kept her milk down too

Original poster

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 18:00

Yes, the HV advised we were over feeding & we should follow the guides on the tubs. DS was 8lb 4oz when born. Would hungry baby milk help? I did wonder if 6 oz would help pace the feeds, but im not convinced. I can barely make him go 2hours between 5oz bottles.

OP posts:

justmyluck1234 · 29/06/2023 18:01

I agree with others, up his milk. The box is a guideline only some babies will take more some will take less

Original poster

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 18:02

I did wonder if it was silent reflux, though I've never had a baby that suffered with it. He's very unsettled between feeds and gives typical feed queues such as rooting, eating his hands, cry and general fussing

OP posts:

CurlewKate · 29/06/2023 18:02

@Lolarose999 What was her reasoning for saying you were over feeding? What is his weight gain like?

Porsa · 29/06/2023 18:03

@Lolarose999 It just sounds like he needs more per feed. With all due respect to the midwives, they told me in the hospital that DS shouldn't be having any more than 4oz per feed... the same amount recommended for a 7lb baby. Of course a baby that is almost 9lb will need more.

Hankunamatata · 29/06/2023 18:05

I had sucky babies. Id try dummy like you have been doing I found cherry style worked best and held it gently with a finger.

TheCosyRain · 29/06/2023 18:05

I thought eating hands was a sign too, but this is also a symptom of silent reflux. My baby displayed the symptoms you describe

riotlady · 29/06/2023 18:07

Hungry baby milk is a scam, just give him more of the regular stuff. DD was always ahead of the amount on the formula packet, she’s a perfectly healthy weight (tall!) 5yo now

Original poster

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 18:09

Interesting re silent reflux. I'll speak to the HV again. I have heard GPs are rather dismissive of it? Can you advise on the symptoms you experienced? He's very irritable, every time he's awake, he's generally really unhappy and always seems unhappy and unsatisfied with his feeds.

OP posts:

PoppyFleur · 29/06/2023 18:10

I would increase the first and last feed of the day to 7oz and the in between feeds to 6oz and see how he gets on. It’s very warm at the moment, we are all drinking more, the poor thing is probably just thirsty and hungry!

User17865 · 29/06/2023 18:19

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 18:09

Any hiccups? Is he always wanting to be held? What are his nappies like? Silent reflux makes them want to drink because it soothes the sore throat.

TheCosyRain · 29/06/2023 18:23

I was combination feeding due to dd initially not regaining her birth weight fast enough. She would be happily breast feeding and her eyes would suddenly dart about before pulling off the breast and screaming. Wanting to feed more but not latching on. Then unsettled and crying for ages after until falling asleep.

With formula she would drink the whole bottle but then be unsettled afterwards. Squirming on us, a bit of back arching, a lot of hiccups, eating her hands, sounding a bit sniffly sometimes as though she had a cold. Never smiled or seemed content. She hated the car seat and the bouncer although I’m not sure if that is unusual as most babies with reflux prefer to be sat up rather than laid down.

We switched from aptamil to Hipp Organic and saw a big improvement. Then onto Hipp organic anti reflux which was a game changer for us and she was like a different baby

Original poster

Lolarose999 · 29/06/2023 18:30

Those symptoms sound exactly like DS. Regarding anti reflux milk, was that something you were advised to buy? I'm tempted to give this a try, though may speak to GP or HV first

OP posts:

TheCosyRain · 29/06/2023 18:40

To be honest we never had a “diagnosis”. But the amount we was feeding was just not right, coupled with those symptoms. We spoke to a pharmacist who gave us invent gaviscon to try. This is notorious for causing constipation so I gave half a dose per feed but it didn’t help much anyway. I spoke to a friend whose baby had reflux and a midwife advised hipp organic to her. When researching hipp organic I saw the reflux milk but we didn’t try it for some time. We decided to give it a try and it hardened her stools a little bit she still managed to go daily. We got some lactulose prescribed from the dr for it it got bad but only used it twice. Once we started on the reflux milk we saw a dramatic change. It was so nice to see her relaxed and more happy.

When I spoke to the health visitor or gp I stated that she had reflux rather than asked. They didn’t question it. It is actually very very common in babies.

CurlewKate · 29/06/2023 21:27

If a baby this little is showing hungry cues, then try feeding her. The worst that can happen is that she throws up. It honestly can't do any harm. Give it a try.

Original poster

Lolarose999 · 02/07/2023 05:05

I finally gave in and tried Hipp AR and while not a cure, his symptoms have improved! The final straw was watching him cry in pain for hours. As a mum, you know the difference, and this definitely wasn't newborn fussing. He'd have tears streaming down his face, while rooting. But when fed, screaming at his bottle. I'm hoping the improvement continues

OP posts:

TheCosyRain · 02/07/2023 07:11

Oh I’m so pleased to hear that. I remember being there so clearly and could think of nothing else when we were going through it. I just wanted a happy baby. I’ve been thinking about you.

It will probably take some time to adjust so hopefully this is just the beginning of your little ones improvement.

PurBal · 02/07/2023 07:14

@Lolarose999 I am glad there’s been improvement!

Strawberry06 · 04/04/2024 15:49

@Lolarose999 I know this was a while ago but I just wondered if you had any more updates on what happened?

My 6 week old son is exactly like this except my HV advised to up his feeds to 5oz possibly even 6oz! He was on 4oz. When she was here yesterday she fed him and he guzzled 8oz which is a hell of a lot for a young baby! And his last feed today he had 7oz.

I wondered about comfort feeding and silent reflux or if he is just a hungry baby! He's 10lb7

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