Feeding problems

[Upsanddowns1]

My 15 week old baby has gradually been going off his milk now for a few weeks, now he barely feeds during the day, breast nor bottle! The feeding is a bit better at night but he's not sucking very hard, not like he used to when hungry. His weight has been stable but he has not gained weight in 4 weeks, so understandably I'm worried. He dropped from 50th centile to 25th in 4 weeks.

The GP is happy with his health and gave me infant Gaviscon in case he has reflux. He is still not taking much, either from the bottle or the breast, with or without the Gaviscon. I've tried different teats. Today he has had about 200mls total 7am-7pm! He will persistently refuse the breast and the bottle, getting upset when I try to feed him.

Otherwise he seems to be happy and alert with a few wet nappies, just not feeding, even at night it's not a proper hungry latch.....

Everyone says he'll feed when he's ready to but I keep thinking there's something wrong, stopping him from sucking or swallowing, even though the GP checked him over.

Should I persist with the Gaviscon?

If he begins to get upset should I persist or just stop trying to feed him?

I will re-weigh him in 2 weeks and re-visit the doctor. It's a long time to keep on like this though....

Any further advise?

Thanks from a worried first time mum!

I'm a ftm too so no expert but could he be starting teething? That can affect latch. Is he snuffly? Babies can struggle to breath when feeding with a cold. Just a couple of avenues to consider

If you're worried speak to the health visitor don't wait two weeks x

The latch can change and feeding times decrease as they get older and feed more effectively (for BF anyway, don't know about bottles). However coupled with the slow down in weight gain I would probably get his weight checked weekly with the HV and see them sooner if you're worried e.g. If he is unsettled or listless or dehydrated (check the fontenell to see if it's dipped at all)

I agree - call the HV on Monday and have a good discussion about this. It's good he appears healthy and good that the GP has checked him over but the static weight is worth talking over as well as the reluctance to feed.

Hope it works out.

Also, if he's upset I would calm him down first then once he's relaxed try again. My DD gets like this sometimes when she's tired and hungry and I have to rock her almost to sleep first and then feed her.

(I don't think checking the fontanelle is a job for amateurs, BTW :) By the time you get so you can distinguish truly sunken fontanelle from the natural softness and slight depression that can be there, the baby is in a bad way.)

Ah, ok, sorry, just going from my experience when DS was a newborn - he was in a bad way to be fair and ended up in hospital :(

Thanks, my HV was not helpful at all when she did the weight last time, she didn't give me any advise. But I may try to speak to a different one tomorrow. It's upsetting because he appears hungry, but really isn't taking much at all. Perhaps I should try some Bonjella for in case it's a teething issue?

Sounds like a good idea, quick smudge of bonjella might make the world of difference.