Feeding troubles

11 replies

Kelly201 · 23/08/2018 08:59

My dd is 20 weeks old now and since the beginning hasn't been great at feeding. We started off breastfeeding but after a few weeks changed to bottle feeding. She no longer gives any hunger cues so I aim to feed her every 4/4.5 hours, offering 6oz sometimes 7oz on a morning. The issue is when she takes the bottle she will take anywhere between 1oz - 5oz initially, and then I try to feed her again after a short while where again she will take anywhere betweeen 1oz-5oz. This sometimes means a bottle can take 3/4 attempts at feeding. The doctors and health visitors don't appear to be concerned, thinking it could just be due to the hot weather as her feeding normally picks up when the weather is cooler, but I feel like i'm constantly trying to feed her or thinking when to next try her. When the weather is cooler she tends to take a higher volume of milk and perhaps will only need it over x2 sittings for x1 bottle. Has anyone else experienced this or have any suggestions? My anxiety builds up so much when shes only taking such small amounts. TIA

OP posts:

DitchingTheDye · 23/08/2018 19:46

What's the problem with offering small amounts more often?

Original poster

Kelly201 · 23/08/2018 23:12

Theres no real issue with feeding small amounts but after 4/5 hours it seems strange that she only wants 1/2oz initially. It also becomes quite draining continually re-offering the bottle. Hence I wanted to know if anyone else had experienced this.

OP posts:

DitchingTheDye · 24/08/2018 15:11

4.5hours seems like an awful long time to me. Do they take a dummy?

Bananarama12 · 24/08/2018 15:13

Do you need to go up a teat size?

tiggykate · 24/08/2018 15:20

I was also going to suggest changing teat size. If you’re still on newborn teat it can be too much hard work to get the milk unless baby is desperate

Original poster

Kelly201 · 24/08/2018 23:07

Thanks all, her general routine is feeding at approx. 5.30am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm, 9.30pm (she seems to bring this feed forward compared to others in the day). Obviously give or take 30 mins / 1 hour dependent on naps and if she will take the bottle. Often she will take so much milk initially and then may not take anymore for 30 mins / an hour and can take several attempts.
We did take her to the doctor earlier and she has a viral infection which means she will be struggling to take the bottle due to a bunged up nose. The doctor also said not to be concerned unless she takes 50% or less of her usual milk intakeintake in 24 hours over a sustained period of time (1 week).
She also uses variflow teats.
Sorry if the above is a little waffley, it appears her feeding was affected by the heat initially and now a viral infection. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that her feeding will improve once she gets over this infection.
Thanks all for your responses.

OP posts:

Bananarama12 · 25/08/2018 00:19

Have you got one of those things that sucks the snot out. They're amazing. But gross