Feeding a 'floppy' baby--best bottles?

[Arabica]

My baby is 6 weeks old and spent her first 4 weeks in hospital because of poor feeding. She has hypotonia (ie, she's got lower muscle tone than a 'normal' baby). We don't know the cause yet but the hospital think it is likely to be something to do with the brain rather than the muscles. It's been an ongoing struggle to get sufficient nutrition into her as although she can bf, she doesn't suck hard enough or for long enough to get herself quite enough milk--she gets absolutely exhausted. She was initally fed through an NG tube, but kept ripping it out so we've been allowed to keep it out and have been feeding her by breast, with top ups of EBM fortified by some formula. She vomits quite a lot, this seems to be to do with her floppiness rather than general reflux, although we're about to try gaviscon, and it's v difficult to wind her. Been using NUK bottles and teats as the bottles fit my breast pump but am not v impressed as she's so windy. Just wondering if anyone had any recommendations?

I don't have any special needs experience but my sister in law (who is a senior HV) told me that the teats that worked the best with her dd, who was a very poor feeder, were the cheap brown rubbery ones. They are generally softer and therefore take less energy to suck. Its such a simple tip but it worked for her.

I agree with the brown teats being easier for Baby's!
Other than that, maybe some squeezy bottles would work?
I know your lil one does not have a cleft, but the Clapa website has some pics of bottles etc...!
link

hi arabica, have you tried cup feeding? This worked best for supplemental feeds with my floppy baby. A midwife or breastfeeding counsellor should be able to show you how to do it and maybe lend you a video. It's a lot less tiring than sucking for them, and if you're also breastfeeding then you're meeting her sucking needs that way, anyway.

oh, and 3andnomore's site also has the haberman feeder on, which I've not tried but is widely used for babies with health problems.
Also, you might find it helpful to get a few leaflets on feeding babies with heart problems or Down's syndrome, as both conditions cause poor sucking and, in the case of DS, hypotonia. La Leche League do one on 'Breastfeeding your Baby with Down syndrome' - I'm trying to link to it but their website seems to be down at the moment.

Arabica - dd was a bit older then yours, but when she pulled her tube we used to syringe feed. Use a small syringe, maybe a 10ml or even a 5ml and just squirt small amounts into the side of the mouth. You have to do it really gently and it takes ages. Let her take as much as she can manage on her own without getting too tired and then finish off the feed with the syringe, pretty much as you were doing when she had the tube.

Haberman Feeding Info

Oh and the Haberman feeder is also meant to be great for Breastfed Baby's, as it is less likely to lead to Nippleconfusion, etc...!

When DS had sucking problems andwas very sleepy we used the cow& gate disposable teats as they're so easy - you might be able to get a few to try from your maternity/childrens ward.

My DD has Down Syndrome and I had terrible problems with feeding in the early days. I got her started with Haberman, then progress to the soft brown teats (sorry can't remember the type) and eventually I moved to Avent variflow.

It was a terrible mixture of trial and error though but she moved onto the avent trainer cups at an age appropriate time.

Have heard good reports about doidy cups too, but no experience of them.

Sorry, just had a quick look and doidy cups are for 6 months upwards, but might be of some use later, even for cup feeding.

www.babyzoop.co.uk/doidy.htm

4months here!!

The doidy cup is suitable from 4-6 months if the baby is self feeding from it. If the mum is helping or holding the cup then it is suitable from birth.

I found the teat covers for avent bottles good for cup feeding, they're quite thin and flexible; my midwife also suggested using a spirit glass. I really don't think it matters what you use, as long as it's a food grade material.

Thanks so much for the info! I really like the look of the feeder and might buy one. DH is much more successful at bottle feeding than me, he managed to get 80ml into her tonight, I was well impressed! I also like the idea of cup feeding. I might try that first.