Feeding aversion

[greenemerald]

This is going to be a long one. DS was born 3 months ago (currently 7w corrected) and was severely underweight at birth. Spent time in the NICU, however since coming home we've had an awful time of it.

He's got silent reflux which in itself has been horrific. It's been relentless. Feed times have always been anxiety inducing as it can be so hard. I've rarely ever taken him out as the thought of having to feed him in public is awful. He will scream, arch his back etc.

GP changed his formula (unable to breastfeed due to a condition) to CMPA which made things so much worse as he wouldn't take to it and what he did take, he would spew right out. I don't believe he has CMPA as he does not have the symptoms related and my instinct was that this wasn't the solution so we took him off it. GP also prescribed omeprazole but a very small dose (2.5mg) due to his weight. We tried this for a month (was told usually works quite quickly) and I didn't see an improvement at all so we stopped. I was also apprehensive of overly medicating him as he has other unrelated meds. I decided to continue just holding him upright after a feed, tilting cot etc and we did see an improvement for around 2 weeks.

It was like a breakthrough and I could see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. He was somewhat happier, starting to smile and seemed more content. However we have now regressed and it's so much worse as he's now developed a feeding aversion all of a sudden. I'm devasted that I've caused it by forcing him to finish his bottles due to my worry over his weight gain.

When I offer the bottle he will frantically suck but then start screaming and start flailing about and refuse to continue. He looks really panicked. I try to calm him down then offer again but the cycle continues. I know he's so hungry as he's sucking on his lips, rooting and trying to shove his hands in his mouth. He then falls asleep only to wake up again later and because he's quite clearly ravenous, he will take some but then as soon as he realises he's being fed, he will start again.

It's heartbreaking to see and I'm at my wits end. I've read that feeding aversion may not be related to the pain of the reflux, but he may have now associated feeding with pain so this is a stress response. To test this I've fed him whilst he was asleep and he drank ok which shows he may not be in active pain during these episodes.

Anyone with experience or advice to share?

I'd feed as much as possible while he's asleep and hope he grows out of it. Hopefully others will have more useful advice.

@FourPlasticRings thanks. Since this post he's once refused it even in his sleep but took it ok whilst awake later on. I'm at a loss, seems there's no set pattern to his behaviour right now

Hi OP,

Just wanted to ask if there was an improvement in the LO’s feeding? Currently going through something similar ☹️

Have you changed the teat size on the bottle? Maybe it's too slow now he's a bit older?

I would try to avoid feeding him only when asleep as that way he’ll always refuse to feed when awake. I wrote a very similar post not even a week ago, and an amazing mumma suggested me to read a book by Rowena Bennett on bottle feeding aversion. Tears were steaming down my face as I was reading it - it’s like it was written about us, and I feel like I have broken my baby by wanting the best for him and making sure he takes the recommended amount…

There is a recommended plan in the book, I have started implementing it and yet to see a massive change but it does look like my little one is a bit less distressed (still taking very little but a lot less screaming involved). They basically need to learn to trust us again, and that we will not try to force them to feed which takes some time.

Have a look at the book if you think it might be something that can work for you. I can completely sympathise, it’s so hard, and trying not to give him food goes against all my instincts!