Why won't my baby eat?

[strawberrycake]

Another wits end post from me, sorry.

I had a brief few days where my LO started eating normally (5-6oz feeds), but we've slowly gone back to 1/2/3oz feeds that are irregular. We've changed to soya on GPs advice, which cleared diarrhea, got gaviscon but he's still not eating. The average feed is 2oz every 4+ hours. So far today:

3am: 3.5 oz
7.30am: 2.5oz
11.30am: 2oz

He screams blue murder if milk comes near, but will take a few oz of water still even when refusing milk (2oz after a bottle). I'm not letting him fill up on water, but offering it after a feed as it calms him.

He's nearly 12lb and 10 weeks old so these feeds aren't enough, often 16-18oz in a day. He's getting screamier and sleepier again. Has been awake very little today and yesterday, though when he is (max 40min) he's alert and smiley before screaming.

What do I do? Let him eat so little if he wants to? 2oz every 2/5 hours with long night sleeps? He's weeing and pooing but his weight gain has massively slowed, even static some weeks. Feeds are a bit of a scream-fest and it's getting me down.

I've no real experience with feed refusers but I thought I'd offer some waffle and a hug, a virtual cup of tea, a and a sofa and footstool. It sounds like you and DS are really going through the wars.

Has the GP referred you to a Paediatrician? If not, get back there and insist. It sounds like your DS needs expert medical care in addition to the loving care his mother is giving him.

I did a quick google and it looks like DS should be taking 30-32 oz of milk a day based on his weight of 12lbs (2.5-2.7oz x 12lbs =30-32.4oz a day). Will he take a doidy cup, free flow beaker or a spoon? I realise spoon feeding would take for ever but it might whet his appetite for a big(ger) feed from a bottle/cup.

I'm sure you have heard all about the drawbacks of soya formula for the under 6m/o crowd (phyto-oestrogens etc) so I'm guessing there was a very good reason (CMP allergy or other?) for your GP prescribing soya formula but if it is no longer doing the trick may be a switch around would help? Obviously prescribed by the Paediatrician rather than an eenie, meenie, miney, mo in the formula aisle of Tesco .

Best wishes and I hope things resolve themselves soon.

Hmm today, 3.5, 2, 2.5, 2, 6 are all the feeds so 20oz total, which is a bit more than average.

I guess it's GP again. I haven't tried spoon etc. but had a good play with teats and bottles.

Soya was just prescribed as an emergency sort of 'see if he'll take this and if it stops the constant diarrhea.' I have heard the risks but am just focusing on the short term plan of getting anything in him, before getting too fussy as to what it is!

20oz is really good. I'm glad he's taken more today, it must make you feel a bit more at ease. Can you give DS an extra cuddle for me? He's been through so much at so young an age and I know it's very un-MNtty but I feel like crying at the lack of support you seem to be getting.

I agree re. soya - it's not the best option long term but then neither is chronic diarrhea! I think you made the best choice you could. Diarrhea could lead to very serious consequences in the short term which I think I'd be more inclined to weigh heavier than the theoretic risk of sterility in the future.

I really hope your GP refers you on to the paediatrician and makes it an urgent referral (I have found blubbing like a nutter helps to get referrals but not that I'm recommending that tactic of course)

I'm going back to the GP next week with husband in tow, he's back. He's quite good at demanding!

Poor sod is now constipated! Anything but bloody normal with this child! I'm in the catch 22 situation of getting him to at least eat a bit if it has gaviscon in, but after a few days feed refusual due to constipation caused by gaviscon. It' pretty much just carraway tea until it's out, he looks like a traffic light when straining. I've never seen anyone go so red. Cuddling him now, he's such a happy child as long as there's no bottle around. I know he CAN eat, he once ate 8oz, but I don't know how to get him to want to eat. I've discovered one tatic is to remove his dummy and swap for a bottle while he's still sucking to get past intial refusual.

Hugs and sympathies from me too as I also have a bottle fed baby who screams blue murder when a bottle comes near her. The dummy trick was one of my favs too but no longer seems to work (21 weeks).
I am also in a very difficult phase so you're not alone!

Oh strawberry I don't know what to say. Go to your gp, get referred to a dietician... my DS's dietician is excellent (based at addenbrokes cambridge) eevn though ds is one of her easier patients.... I struggle to believe that when he's screaming but if she can sort some of the others maybe a dietician can support your DS. They can also suggest a number of other formulas which your ds may get on better with (many of them smeall awful but seemingly the babies don't mind)

I know others try dilute prune juice for constipation which you could consider in an emergency (not sure what age from though so that might be terrible advice!!

I am still stuggling with DS. I have the nutriprem now just not sure I really want to give it to him. So you are not alone some of the little darlings just don't seem to like milk!

so have a hug from me, remind yourself that this too will pass (even if it will not pass quickly enough) that you are not alone, but keep hassling the healthcare people until you get some answers.

Take care