bottle fed DD refusing to take feeds and screaming refusing bottle!!HELP!

[luath]

8 wk old DD been bottle fed since 2 weeks due to severe cracked and bleeding nipples!! etc Last 3 days DD started to refuse her feeds when she is giving hungry cues! When DD placed in crook of arm and bottle introduced immediately starts crying and pushes teet out of her mouth and pushing the bottle away...casuing leakage and more screaming! Since 7am this morning DD has only taken a TOTAL of 10 ounces and every feed today has been sooo stressful. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. DD not unwell and not showing signs of dehydration but I'm getting worried as shes taking such small amounts at such stange times! HV wondering if DD has a poor sucking action?! Any ideas anyone? Anyone else having similar problems??

[taylormama]

Hi - he started on meds when he was 7 weeks old. ranitadine (antacid) and domperidone (to move milk through the gut quicker to reduce chance of vomiting). He is now 20 weeks so has been on Meds for 13 weeks and he has been like a different baby. He still gets bad hiccups etc but he feeds much better and seems much happier. I am having a medication review tomorrow so i will let you know how we go. Short term meds can make a huge difference, altho' most babies grow out of it by age 1 and when Taylor was about 13 weeks his symptoms started to improve anyway as he got more upright etc etc.

[taylormama]

hi - sounds like reflux. My LO has it and he would refuse the bottle, arch his back and scream during and after feeds. He had silent reflux so wouldn't be sick but had violent hiccups, had lots of comfort feeds, terrible squirming episodes and at times a swollen tummy. Sorry if all this sounds very negative with appropriate meds he has been fine for ages now. GPs and HVs often confuse reflux especially if it is silent with colic - refusing the bottle and then only taking small feeds is a classic sign. Let us know how you get on ... hope you get it sorted.

[luath]

DD fed 9 ounces during the night!! Her last feed was this am at 8 when she took 3 ounces...under protest again! I phoned the HV this am and I'm taking dd this afternoon to be checked. I'm wondering if she is either stretching her feeding times or has swapped her day and night feeds as she has now gone almost 4 hours since her last feed and is napping now and not showing any sign of wanting to be fed!! Is it normal for an 8 week baby to go 4 hours plus between feeds during the day and then take only 3 ounces?

[liquidclocks]

Short reprieve waiting for sterilizer!

DS1 ended up in hospital 2 weeks after he was born as he couldn't suck on my breast or any bottle teats we tried. The paediatritian advised continuing to try lots of different teats and we did eventually find one that suited. He tested whether there was an active sucking reflex using the age-old 'stick your finger in and see if they suck' method - apparently it's very reliable! Given that your DD is 8 weeks and unitl now has bee ok I'd assume she can suck.

The reflux thing is worth considering but you'd probably have noticed other things as well if it was that - general grizzliness immediately after and and hour to an hour and a half after each feed, possibly vomiting and acid smelling breath. Reflux can make babies want to suckle constantly as it temporarily relieves pain or they will pull away from breast/bottle even when obviously hungry.

From what you've said I would take DD to your GP asap and if nothing improves quickly ask for a referral to a paediatritian. Clearly the amount your DD is drinking at the moment isn't really enough to sustain her long term.

Hope she has a better day tomorrow.

[liquidclocks]

Will respond to this thread luath (and posting now so I can find it again) as DS1 had sucking probs and reflux but DS2 has just woken up and demanding a feed! Be back later or tomorrow.

[luath]

Thanks everyone, I'm feeling pretty stressed right now and am just hoping that over night tonight she'll take more feeds. She is now asleep and last took 2 ounces at 7.45pm....If there is no improvement overnight or she still doesn't feed overnight then I'll phone NHS Direct. Her feeds today were: 1oz @7am, 4 oz at 10:10 then 1 oz at 12:45 and 2 oz at 5pm with 2 oz at 7:45!! I'll also phone the HV tomorrow and see what she thinks again! She has been quite contented during the day otherwise but as soon as I try feeding her she starts screaming inconsoleably and it then takes ages to settle her down...not to mention how stressful it is for me!!

[colditz]

How much is she taking at each feed? Maybe feeding more often for a few days would help?

[FrannyandZooey]

I am sorry I don't know what to advise luath but am bumping in the hope someone can help you.

I would contact NHS direct if nothing changes