Please help my mixed fed baby (2/3rds ff) isn't taking the bottle

[sedgiebaby]

After so many feeding problems with my dd who is 16 wks tomorrow I'm really in a panic.

In the early weeks she went from 75th centile to the 9th, delays finding a tongue tie and high roof of mouth/short tongue was the cause and she was about 12 weeks before she seemed able to maintain a good latch on breast or bottle.

I tried everything, everything to BF (seriously you name it I've done it to improve my supply from pumping 6 times/two hours a day to domperidone) but it was impossible as she wouldn't take efficiently. We have mixed fed for two months without problem. I estimate she is one third BF and two thirds FF (this looking at what she takes and weight gains etc)

Recent days she has started to refuse the bottle, every other feed. She has now refused the last 4 bottles. Im terrified we are going to have weight problems again.

My supply hasn't suddenly improved, she screams and tugs at the breast because she can't get enough. It's distressing for both of us. Last night she was trying to feed sometimes every hour to get something from me. She is on a disgusting tasting formula due to dairy intolerance (nutramigen) and it is as if she has suddenly realised how awful it is. I want to get her on a nicer one but I can't I just tried going back on dairy and she definitely reacted as before.

I don't know what to do and I'm really anxious and at a loss I hope someone has some advice for me.

im trying to get my baby to take the bottle aswell and she is 23 weeks, she wont take it properly at the moment but she does know how to as she's done it perfectly twice. Its very distressing i know how you feel. It will get better but if all else fails she is 4 months so you could use abit of ellas kitchen its totally organic baby food very smooth i gave it to DD at 4 1/2 months to try to get her abit fuller to sleep through as she was waking every hour. Its good for them and will keep her weight up. I know you prob dnt want to give her proper food so soon snd neither did i but sometimes its 4 the best. :)

sedgiebaby - how worrying for you.

This is something you need good help with, I think - she is likely to have seen a dietitian (I am assuming this 'cos of the special formula) and I wonder would the dietitian see you or speak to you on the phone? A baby refusing to feed is something that needs to be taken seriously and it may be you are advised to see the doctor to rule out basics like ear infection - esp as you say it has been going on for some days.

Now is not the time to start solids , by the way, at least not without medical approval. 16 weeks is normally too young, and the risk would be that net calorie intake would fall, not rise.

Hope you get good help.Can you give your HV a call, too?

Thank you both for your kind comments. Since posting dd has taken a 5 oz bottle - what will happen next feed - who knows, but I'm stressed about it.

ticktock My HV has had the 'early weaning' chat with me a couple of times. I do respect her she has 20 yrs experience, and says babies like mine in her experience are the ones that benefit from this and then really take off (I think her daughter in a similar situation also actually) However she went quiet when baby put on 32 oz in 2.5 wks over christmas.

With the weaning thing, I like to think for myself , but since last weeks controversy on weaning I'm more confused than ever, but issues again like yesterday/last night make me think perhaps its a serious consideration for us.

When I was EBF I took myself off diary due to some symptoms esp mucusy/gel-like foul smelling nappies/wind/congestion (these are back since I reintroduced dairy into my diet two weeks ago, HV saw nappies said come off the diary again but it could be teething??).

Re Nutramigen when in hospital at 4 weeks - due to weight loss, the paediatricians were supportive (ish) and Nutramigen was prescribed when we had to mix feed. In view of the foregoing we're still on it

Baby is now over the 50th centile. This bottle refusal I had a couple of weeks ago, but baby still put on 8 oz so HV made nothing of it, but it wasn't so bad as this week.

I kind of wish I had not been so bloody minded about staying BF it has taken massive effort and determination on my part - then she would not know how horrible the formula was and perhaps I wouldn't (still) have feeding problems.

Baby is teething - does this signal anything?

Ah, no weight gain issues any more, which is good news.

It may be this is a transient behaviour thing, unrelated to health or nutrition or feeding problems.

You sound as if you have good sources of support, and that despite this, your baby is well, and that counts for a lot.

Thank you I wondered about a behavioral issue but it doesn't make it any less worrying or easier to deal with, when I have had such anxieties with her feeding it feels like it is all starting over again. Especially when she gets upset because I don't have enough milk it is really very upsetting for me too. At what point do you think I should worry and get more expert advice?

Maybe consider a lactation aide/nursing supplementer? We did this for a short time when DD was on top-ups but no-one seemed to have heard about them (despite them being recommended by Dr Sears & Dr Jack Newman and being mentioned in the book 'The Food of Love') so we had to get equipment and advice online.

The idea is that you supplement whilst baby is latched on by usiung a feeding tube into the mouth.

Do you know where I can get this please? I have looked for it prevously

japhrimel Is this what you used please? It is the only thing for low supply I did not try, maybe it would help with my current situation?
www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/details1.asp/ProductID/292/sidMedela-Supplemental-Nursing-System

No, but that looks a lot better! We got NG tubes online from a vet supplier (!) and put them in bottles that then had to be held.