16 week old wont feed. Please help me

[raininginbaltimore]

Dd has reflux. She spent 5 days in hospital at 10 weeks, was tube fed and given IV fluids due to refusing feeds and sickness.

It is happening again without the sickness. Since 6pm last night she's had about 3oz. She went 12 hours with nothing. She woke, cried, then screamed, refused to feed then fell asleep again. It has now been 5.5 hours. She won't tolerate any milk she just screams until she falls asleep. She's bottle fed and on neocate.

I don't know what to do. I'm in tears

Oh, you poor thing, I can't imagine how hard this is for you. Is she gaining weight now?

And can you feed her while she sleeps? She may have made a bad association with the bottle, she may be aware that drinking makes her feel bad. Feeding while she sleeps might help. Just pick her up very gently while she's in her cot (or while she's asleep in your arms), keeping the room dark, and gently rub the teat on her cheek and lips. She should automatically try to latch on in her sleep.

Or, even better, get OH/friend/aunty to do it, while you sit on the couch and have a wee rest.

Also, and sorry if you've already tried this one, feeding whilst walking her round in sling type thing works for me, as does the sleepy feeding above

How are things now? Is she feeding?

We've had limited success. She fed a little and then we were back to screaming. My only success is getting her to sleep with dummy and then quickly switching. But it doesn't work every time.

We are seeing consultant tomorrow. It is just so stressful. I spend whole days just thinking about how much milk she has had.

Really hope things go a well with the consultant tomorrow. I think there is a reflux support thread in the breast & bottle section, they might have a few tips.

Have you tried a bath with her? It really worked for us, when LO was about 11 weeks. I did this thing that I'd heard about on the old internets...

Get in bath with baby, warm room, dim lights if possible. Make sure baby is relaxed. Next bit sounds a bit weird. Put the baby in between your legs, almost as if you are giving birth again, so feet near your min-min, head nearer to your feet, but out of the water obviously. Bring the baby up between your legs and lay on your chest, just like at birth. Baby may just latch on to bottle by themselves. It sounds so weird, but it worked for us, and got our BF relationship kickstarted after an horrendous first 10 weeks.

The first time I tried this LO latched and feed for 20 MINUTES! Longest feed he had ever done at that point, and it was on my right boob, which he really hated. I reckon it would work with a bottle too. Just make sure dad is on hand with warm towels.

Bump. Thinking of you all. What a horrible situation.

Failing that, just get in the bath with her and enjoy lounging in the warm water.

How did your appointment go today?

Good, the consultant was lovely. They are taking me seriously. She needs more tests (barium and camera swallow) to try and get behind the feeding aversion.

They want us to start weaning now, seeing a dietician next week.

So glad the consultant was supportive.

Oh I feel for you. I have a reflux thread in Health right now

Make sure you fight fight fight for appropriate meds at the highest dose and reduce if necessary.

Try feeding baby when asleep / napping

Try putting TV on when feeding for distraction from the pain

FYI baby rice can exacerbate silent reflux. Try baby oatmeal if you can. Pears and apple also good.