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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

I must top up but baby refusing bottle

54 replies

Shantotto · 19/07/2019 09:29

11 week old DD had a GP check up yesterday and she sent us off to hospital to get her weight checked. She’s only gained 200g over her birth weight after taking 6 weeks to regain her birth weight. So we’re formula topping up after each feed.

Thing is she won’t accept a bottle! Just looking for tips or bottle recommendations. She’s so tiny I’m getting concerned and I know it’s super important t get some more calories into her!

OP posts:
aewwwenxt · 19/07/2019 10:07

Spoon feeding? Or when I had to do formula top ups they kept asking if I was using a cup? Could use a syringe too?

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 10:09

Thanks - I did think about a cup but at the hospital they told me not to worry about that and just use a bottle as easier!

What kind of cup did you use? I never thought of spoon - wouldn’t it take a really long time? I already feel I’m neglecting my 4 year old!

OP posts:
aewwwenxt · 19/07/2019 10:16

I never actually used one but I'd probably use one of these for her
It can take a while to spoon feed, but it does work - my best friend had to do it for a week or so because she couldn't get the hang of breastfeeding for a while and her baby fed well with it. Maybe you could get your 4yo involved somehow? Express into a bowl or cup and ask them to get the milk onto the spoon? Or hold baby whilst you feed them?

I must top up but baby refusing bottle
Battenburg1978 · 19/07/2019 10:25

Could they offer equipment for finger feeding, where you use a little tube stuck to your finger and baby sucks your finger therefore the tube and gets the milk that way?

SmartPlay · 19/07/2019 10:28

Are you producing too little milk, or is the problem that she doesn't drink more? Because if it's the first, you can try to increase your milk supply by pumping after every feed.

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 10:42

It’s a supply issue. I’ve tired to increase it. She feeds seemingly brilliantly and very frequently. I don’t produce anything when pumping and to be honest she feeds so often and for such a long time if I pumped after every feed id never leave the house and I have my older child to think of.

OP posts:
absolutehush · 19/07/2019 10:45

I've used a syringe in desperation! I also would pursue the bottle - offer it every time for a few days as it takes them a while to get the hang of things.

RicStar · 19/07/2019 10:50

I used munchkin latch bottles with all 3 of my breast fed babies and warm milk. Fed best when they were sleepy but not too sleepy.

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 10:51

Yep definitely will keep at it - I’m just desperate to get her intake up as fed up of the gasps of oh she's so tiny - was she premature from random strangers when they ask how old she is! 😡

OP posts:
HJWT · 19/07/2019 10:52

Id use a syringe rather than a cup, what bottles have you tried? X

Reallybadidea · 19/07/2019 11:02

Honestly and truly, not being able to express is not necessarily an indication that you're not producing enough milk. I fed a 10lb-er at birth exclusively for 6 months but could never express more than a drop or two. No idea why, but its really common for women to find it difficult to express even though they have plenty of milk.

I would strongly encourage you to see a breastfeeding counsellor from NCT, La Leche league etc to have a look at you both feeding. It may be that the long, slow feeds are an indication that your baby is not feeding efficiently and a few adjustments will increase the amount they take at each feed. Even if the latch seems fine, it's still worth getting it checked by an expert.

snitzelvoncrumb · 19/07/2019 11:03

Look up supplement nursing system.

SmartPlay · 19/07/2019 11:06

It doesn't matter whether or not there is something coming out when pumping - it still tells your body to produce more milk. I'd give it a try for at least a week.
How is it during the night? Does she feed often then too?

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 11:11

I’ve had support from a trained breastfeeding support person. Multiple times, 3 different ones. I don’t have time to pump and look after my other child. Surely my baby can just stay on the breast rather than me feeding for an hour then pumping and then topping up anyway.

Maybe I am just one of those unlucky few with an issue! Accept it happens.

Like 200g gain after 3 months? I’m running out of time to fuck about pumping to be honest I’ve had it. She needs nutrition now.

I’ve only tried the natural rubber nuk teat as it only happened yesterday. Looking advice on what to try before I head to the shops!

OP posts:
Confusedbeetle · 19/07/2019 11:12

I would also suggest a breastfeeding counselor. Firstly it is not uncommon to take 6 weeks to regain birth weight. Secondly if your baby feeds little and often, you are unlikely to be able to express any milk. The issue may be around your babies pattern of feeding, ie snacking frequently instead of good long feeds. This isnt a problem in itself but sometimes it indicates that your baby feeds mostly on the foremilk and not the hindmilk which comes at the end of a feed, This milk is richer and more satisfying. A good satifying feed is often followed by a longer break and so the next feed is better and so on. Sometimes you can help this by trying to extend the gaps betwen feeds gradually. The other approach is a bottle feed ( obviously not going well) to extend the gap. Breast fed babies sensibly often dont take to bottles but there are ways if it is the way you want to go. possibly when she is sleepier, others on here will have found ways. My personal choice would be to get help with the breast feeding

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 11:13

She feeds every few hours during the night.

Sorry my last post a bit spiky but I’m upset but I can’t do everything. I’ve worked on it a lot so far. I don’t want anymore increasing supply advice. It’s highly likely I have IGT so my best efforts won’t do much anyway. I was told this by a lactation consultant first time round.

OP posts:
Confusedbeetle · 19/07/2019 11:15

Also I wouldworry a bit less. Why was the weight check at the hospital? If you want to try andf increase the supply, pump before the feed not after ( you can always save it) . she will them more likely feed on hindmilk. By the way it is handy to learn how to use a bottle in case of emergency, illness, babysitting etc

Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 11:15

I have had help lots of help multiple times if people think a 200g gain is normal by 3 months I completely disagree. 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
Shantotto · 19/07/2019 11:16

She was taken to hospital on advice of the go as she has gone from 75th to 0.4 and is according to gp far too thin. Anyway I shouldn’t have started this thread as all it’s dling is making my anxiety really bad and I don’t want to go down that road like what happened with the first.

OP posts:
DeadDoorpost · 19/07/2019 11:24

We've got Closer to Nature bitter by Tommee Tippee. Also try a Nuk bottle.

I aĺso suggest a syringe, I found the ones that come with Dentinox colic drops worked best as easier to put in mouth

MarchSurprise · 19/07/2019 11:27

Which bottles have you tried so far?

My boy took to the Lansinoh bottles like a pro, the test is more nipple like than others I've found. If you have amazon prime you may be able to get one to try today/tomorrow.

Have you tried getting her to accept a dummy? Just wondered whether it may help her get used to something that's not the nipple in her mouth, making her more open to bottles. It might also mean she can go longer off boob, making her have longer feeds when she does latch and getting some of the hindmilk. This is just my thoughts, I'm not sure if it's good advice but may be worth a try.

You've done amazing persisting like you have and even though she's not gained like you would have liked, she's been getting lots of goodness. I completely understand why you want to top up but please don't give yourself a hard time with it.

Fortheloveofscience · 19/07/2019 11:28

That must be really stressful OP Flowers.

No personal experience, but I keep getting adverts on my Facebook feed for teats that are supposed to replicate breastfeeding: minbie.com/

Absolutely no idea if they work or not...

SmartPlay · 19/07/2019 11:32

"I’m running out of time to fuck about pumping to be honest I’ve had it. She needs nutrition now."

I didn't mean instead of topping up, I meant additionally, so that you can continue to breastfeed exclusively, if that's what you want, after she's gained some weight.

When did you give her the bottles? When she was hungry, oder after/in between breastfeeding? If the latter, maybe try before, when she's properly hungry. You could also try expressing milk before she feeds and give it to her in a bottle. If she knows the taste, maybe she will except the bottle and once she accepted the bottle you can switch to formula.

Bingoa · 19/07/2019 11:34

Use the syringe. That was hospital advice when not feeding from the bottle. I believe that 11 weeks and gaining only 200g above birth weight is very concerning.

DonPablo · 19/07/2019 11:37

You could dip your finger in formula and let her suck it off? Might take a while though.

I'd try every bottle and every teat going. I had a bottle refuse. The nuk latex teats were the only ones he'd accept, but I know other people who had no luck with them. My best friend swore by the Dr browns ones.

If you persist with the bottle she will get it, but it all sounds rather urgent and fraught.

You poor thing, it must be so stressful. Did the hospital not want to keep her and you in? Flowers

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