Bottle Feeding Question

[graciedog]

Hi

I have a 12 week old son who has reflux. he has been prescribed Gaviscon which has really helped but he does not seem that hungry. I am feeding him every 4 hours and he can only manage around 4 ounces a time. The last couple of days I have fed him an extra one at 5.30 just to top him up a bit. I think he should be taking more at this age, my first son was such a good feeder and a bit greedy so maybe this is within normal range? I had been dreamfeeding him at 11 pm but he is not taking having naps during the day (thats another post!!) and is so tired the dreamfeed was pointless as he would not take anything. I dropped that and last night he slept from 7pm until 2.30 am, he took 3 ounces, slept until 5.30 then was very restless until 7am, I then fed him again but he was not that interested. How much should he be having at this stage? I just feel frustrated because I feel he should be waking up hungry, having a good long feed and then being all full and content but he just seems unhappy most of the time. :( any advice gratefully received!

Is he content between feeds and is he putting on weight?

Not really content. He won't nap during the day, just little cat naps here and there so from 4.30 onwards is an absolute mare. He is quite smiley when he has had a nap but its just getting him to sleep which I associate with not feeding well? Yesterday he was unsettled all day and I tried to get him to sleep even in the car which normally works but not yesterday. I am going to get him weighed this week as it has been a couple of weeks since I had him weighed, but the last weigh in he was fine. The GP also checked him out yesterday and asked me to have him weighed every week for a few weeks just to keep an eye on his weight. Maybe he is just not a greedy baby? I know you can't compare but DS1 fed really well and slept through the night really early so I feel I am doing something wrong with DS2! Last night I fed him at 5.30 (4 ounces) 7pm (3.5 ounces) 1.30am (4 ounces) and he woke at 5.30 am and I fed him at 6.45 am (4 ounces). Do you think I should still dreamfeed him? I keep trying everything and noting seems to work for him...

what teat are you using when you feed him. Gavison will make the milk thicker and if you are not using a teat that can cope with a thicker feed then he may be tiring himself out trying to suck it through the hole IYSWIM.

Variflow teats are usually best for thicker milks.

HTH.

Hi
Ditto re larger holed teat, also sometimes reflux babies are better having smaller more frequent feeds, you may find that he may still take 4oz per feed but three hourly. So you could try three hourly feeding 7am to 7pm and then let hime wake as and when during the night.
Have you got the head end of the crib raised a bit, he may be restless and unable to sleep during the day because of the reflux.
Hope things will improve soon.

Hi
Thanks so much for your replies. I use Dr browns bottles so I will get some larger teats and try the 3 hour feeds during the day. I have been out and about more today pushing him around in the buggy which has worked a treat for sleeping :)

Thanks ladies x