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Infant feeding

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

10 week old takes so little formula.

57 replies

WankPuffins · 28/10/2020 09:48

Sorry if it’s a bit long, just want to address everything in one go.

Dd will be 10 weeks on Friday. She will not drink more than 2oz of formula at a time. Sometimes she will drink 3, but never any more than that. And if she drinks 3 at one feed, it will be 1oz the next.

She eats around every 3-4 hours. Very good sleeper.

Will wake once or twice in the night (depending on if you call 5:30/6am night or day!) and will take two oz - although past two nights it’s been only one oz. She falls right back to sleep after.

She will not take dream feeds, mouth clamped shut.

Will not take any other feeds if offered. If you try and offer the bottle back after a burp she won’t take it. She’s taken to laughing at me if I try to offer the bottle back Grin

Will sometimes take the teat in her mouth after she’s had her 2oz and a burp, choke and bring up everything she’s that taken, so it’s not worth trying really.

She’s good at hungry cues - e.g hand rubbing mouth and a couple of others that are idiosyncratic to her. Doesn’t cry for feeds but that’s because I see the cues and we co sleep so I wake when she stirs.

She’s taking about 16oz of milk in 24 hours. Which seems little for her age - she’s 10 weeks old in two days.

Nappies are sometimes wet but bone dry throughout the night. No other signs of dehydration.

She was on cow and gate and only having a dirty nappy very 4 days, however we switched to Hipp organic two weeks ago and it’s got much better She’s a lot more comfortable.

No signs of silent reflux (My son was a reflux baby, so I know the signs well).

No colic, no real wind issues.

She doesn’t fall asleep on the bottle, she’s just had enough. She drinks it in a about 5 mins.

Teat is fine - variflow from 3 weeks as she was taking so much wind sucking so hard to get anything from slow flow. Medium seems too slow, fast too fast so she seems happy on variflow.

As for weight She was born on 3rd centile at 5lb 8oz but was back to birth weight in ten days. Was 25th at 6 1/2 weeks and again at 8 1/2 weeks (was 10b, 3oz).

I did speak to the nurse at the vaccinations last week as I asked if she could weigh her when she had her vaccinations last week as I was worried she wasn’t taking enough milk (the nurse was a HV when she worked for the NHS - it’s a private practice I go to so she is providing the HV aspect re weighing etc as we don’t use the nhs HV service or GP), who seemed to think it was ok but didn’t really respond when I said it was only 16oz a day, just that not to get hung up on milk and centiles as they are all so different.

Which I get totally. But it’s a worry when she’s still on the same amount as she was at a week old!

Seeing the doctor for 12 week vaccinations in 4 weeks (he’s specialises in paediatrics) so will speak to him then. Any probs our health insurance is good so we’ll get referred right away.

She’s happy, alert. Sleeps well. It’s just that I’ve had two other babies who were milk monsters!

I’ve never had a baby take so little (although, I did persevere with EBF for the first four weeks of my older two children’s lives. I produce next to no milk, they both starved for the first three until I topped up with formula and then gave up BF at 4 weeks so I think they thought, “finally, food!” And guzzled away! I didn’t try to BF this time as I knew what would happen. Not a drop of milk came in at all again).

I just want to know if anyone else has had a baby who eats so little?

I’ve googled but all I can find is babies who take 2oz every hour or so - not every 3 or 4!

I guess all I can do is keep an eye on her weight? But the nurse was right, I don’t want to get too hung up on it. I think o just worry about her as she was so small when she was born (my other two were only 6 1/2 pounds but seemed so much bigger).

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dannydyerismydad · 13/11/2020 18:21

That sounds like such a worry for you and it's so bloody frustrating when people don't listen.

How is she in herself? Is she bright and alert? Is she happy? Gaining weight?

This is not a criticism of your choice to bottle feed, but if she was breastfed you wouldn't know how much she was taking. Do you think you would be worried if you couldn't measure the amount going in and compare it with the intake of other babies?

If you are still worried. If she seems underweight, or small, or lethargic keep banging on that brick wall. Make them hear you.

WankPuffins · 13/11/2020 18:34

@dannydyerismydad I didn’t breastfeed this one as I breastfed my other two and they lost so much weight it was unreal. I had to FF in the end as I just don’t produce milk, so I had the worry then too! Although once they stated on formula they were flying.

Her weight gain has slowed as I knew it would. I’ve been tracking her milk intake since 5 weeks old - it’s still the same as it was then, so obviously weight gain was going to stall - so yea, again if I was BF and she was dropping centiles I’d be worried.

She’s happy and alert yes. And admittedly she’s happier now she’s not posseting acid all the time.

I keep getting told it’s a phase too and that milk intake goes up and down - again no one listens to me when I tell them I’ve been tracking it for 7/8 weeks now and the volume over 24 hours has always been the same. They just parrot that “well it does go in phases”.

I could get a referral on my insurance but if she just doesn’t want to eat, what can they do?

It’s so frustrating.

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dannydyerismydad · 13/11/2020 18:48

I've encountered a baby once with very slow weight gain on breast. Formula top ups. Tongue tie cut twice. Still no improvement, but he was a little miniature rocket - happy and on the go.

The only way they could get him to actually gain enough weight for him to get on the chart was specialist prescription high calorie formula.

You know your baby. You are an experienced mum. You have a feeling that something isn't right. Keep annoying them.

Some babies feed little and often. Sometimes babies feed less. Your baby however is consistently feeding little and not very often. You are worried. I can tell. Your medical advisors should be helping you and listening.

WankPuffins · 13/11/2020 19:08

@dannydyerismydad thank you. I’m am very worried. My other two weren’t like this at all.

The most frustrating part is me telling them she will slip down the centiles, then she does and I still just get told to try harder basically. I’m doing my best. Short of force feeding her there’s not much I can do.

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UnicornAndSparkles · 13/11/2020 19:29

Agree with the above comment; you're an experienced mum and know your baby. Get a referral on your insurance if you need to. Otherwise, keep bothering the GP. A higher calorie formula may help? Or similar that is often prescribed for multiples who are born tiny. Good luck, sounds like you're doing amazing well in what must be a very worrying time.

Franny0696 · 14/11/2020 00:25

Hi, this seems very similar to my situation. My baby is very fussy with the bottle. Drinks every 3/4 hrs start crying after having about 60 ml. Bring up feeds, feeds have dropped off at night. It's taking about an hr to feed her. Turns out it's reflux. It's horrible tbh.

We are swapping her to HIPP tomorrow to see how that works as cow&gate doesn't seem to be doing the job

WankPuffins · 14/11/2020 02:35

@Franny0696 we switched to Hipp from cow and gate at 8 weeks. I did seem to help, epecially with bowel movemts. Cow and gate she would go ever 4 days, as soon as we stared Hipp she is now usually everyday and a lot more comfortable.

But the gab is on helped far more with the symptoms of reflux so maybe that’s something for your to look at too?

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Mochiface · 14/11/2020 13:11

Hi @WankPuffins

How are you guys doing?

I'm in a similar situation to you.

GP says DD has reflux so put her in Gaviscon but now, she's refusing to drink milk and drinks the bare minimum. She used to take around 5-6oz but now she is down to 2oz , sometimes less, and if we are lucky, 3oz.

She is also 11 weeks coming onto twelve.

I'm really struggling seeing her like this because I know she is hungry. The GP called the paediatrician and they said she's only drinking enough to keep hydrated.

Like you, I'm just tired of HV saying that it's just a phase. I don't want to wait until her weight has really dropped for us to be able to do anything at all.

WankPuffins · 14/11/2020 13:18

@Mochiface I’m so sorry you are going through the same thing. It’s such a worry. I’m going to get a referral next week I think.

Must be even more worrying if your Dd used to take more. My Dd has only ever taken 2-3 oz.

I’m so worried that she’s only taking 20oz a day.

Has your Dd only reduced since the gaciscon? Are you putting it in her bottle? It can make the milk a bit thicker and change the taste. My Dd doesn’t seem to care though.

Have you tried mixing the gavison with water and giving it via syringe/spoon as if she were a BF baby?

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Mochiface · 14/11/2020 18:45

Thanks @WankPuffins

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this too. It's just so tough.

We reduced her Gaviscon a while ago and she has been fine but it's just the past week or so where she has started to refuse milk and for a couple of days now, consistently just having about 60ml each time. And more spit ups. She didn't have a problem with having Gaviscon before and hasn't been too picky. I also have breastmilk in a bottle and she also refuses that too. She seems to drink from my breast after refusing the bottle. She has always been mainly on the bottle and hardly on the breast before no problem. So I'm not sure what is up. I'm thinking whether it's her reflux that has gotten worse and she's associating the pain to the bottle now ?

WankPuffins · 14/11/2020 20:26

@Mochiface yes I think they do associate it with pain.

My Dd associates me holding her in a feeding position in my arms with pain Sad I can’t even hold her for a cuddle that way as I think she thinks I’m going to try and feed her and she screams. I now have to feed her in a bouncy chair.

We’ve let her go with the flow today and let her go 4 hours in between feeds. Still only 3.5 ounces, one 4oz. But there aren’t enough hours in the day to get the volume in on that. Dh is going to try and wake her 4 hourly in the night.

It’s so stressful.

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Twiglet2353 · 14/11/2020 20:32

I went through the exact same thing with my DS from 11 weeks. It was bottle aversion which health professionals have little awareness of. Was a horrible time. I really recommend you look up Baby Care Advice Feeding and Bottle Aversion group on Facebook, as they helped massively. There's a book that their principles are based on which we did buy, but most the information is in the resources/files tab on their Facebook page anyway.

best of luck xxx

OnTheBenchOfDoom · 14/11/2020 20:38

@WankPuffins this brings back memories. Ds1 had reflux but fed fine just chucked a lot which massively improved once he was upright ie pulling himself up to standing.

Ds2 fed like a normal baby then suddenly started reducing his feeds to that of a 1 month old then arching his back and refusing anything more. He was about 10 weeks when it started. Because he was still gaining weight the HV didn't seem to mind that he was 14 weeks and still only taking small feeds but I was feeding him about 10 times a day as he was giving hungry cues but then stopping.

We went to the GP who prescribed Gavison, we gave it 2 weeks and we didn't notice any difference. We were referred to paediatrician and as if on cue Ds2 sicked up clear liquid with white bits in it hours after his last feed and then was squirming in distress. He diagnosed silent reflux and wanted us to try a prescription formula before any meds. So Ds2 was put on Enfamil AR (anti-reflux) and it worked really well. He did recommend early weaning at 16 weeks but it made no difference so we sacked it off until he was 5 1/2 months and he grabbed a crumpet off my plate.

He increased his milk feeds on the new formula but never to what the tin said, so if it said 4 feeds a day he did 5 feeds but had the right amount. We managed to get the formula on prescription and he was on that until he was 14 months. He still sicked up a bit but it was no longer painful.

He still has reflux if he eats a big meal. He is 14 years old now.

Mochiface · 14/11/2020 22:44

Oh no @WankPuffins I hope she will forget very soon and you can hold her in your arms again to feed her.

It really is stressful , sending love to you guys.

I totally agree, I wish there was more time so I can make sure she gets enough.

I am going to try Hipp Organic the ready made bottles just to see if DD takes it. I think part of me just needs that bit of hope. She used to take any formula we give her and now to this where she doesn't want anything but to drink from my breast. I really don't mind it it's just that I had such a wobbly start where my MIL was saying I was starving DD when I was solely BF that it always plays on my mind whether I have enough to give her. I understand people say as long as she has a good amount of dirty and wet nappies, then it is enough but when I pump, it's not quite to what she usually drinks sometimes so I feel like it's not enough. I don't want to see her dehydrate or miss those signs and my DH keeps reassuring me that if she isn't having enough then she will let us know. I'm just paranoid all the time and I don't think it helps , feel like medical professionals think I'm just too paranoid ..

Franny0696 · 15/11/2020 10:07

Morning,

My babies reflux is so bad and generally don't know what to do. We were also prescribed gavisogn which hasn't help. We have now been prescribed colif drops- which isn't for reflux. It's just getting worse she was sick so much yesterday it was horrible.

We changed her milk last night to HIpp so hopefully see some difference. Going to ring docs tomorrow and get something that actually works

WankPuffins · 15/11/2020 12:40

@Twiglet2353 thank you I have joined those groups.

@Mochiface Dd is on hipp and she does like the ready made more for some reason. I try to get one a day into her as she tends to take 3oz down in one go.

@OnTheBenchOfDoom Dd was sicking up the clear liquid in the hours after a feed. It was clearly burning her as she would squirm and make faces. Thankfully that stopped with the gaciscon so it’s doing something.

@Franny0696 can you push for a referral? Poor little thing Sad I will say though that even changing to Hipp did help somewhat.

Anyway, this morning I thought sod it. I got an email from my insurance company last week saying that they have scrapped the charges
For online/video GP consultations due to covid. So I had an appointment with a lovely Dr this morning who has written me an open referral to a paediatrician. So I’ve submitted it and hopefully the insurance Will get back to me tomorrow with someone local.

The dr I spoke to agreed with me that I shouldn’t wait until her weight gain slows even more (which it will continue to do so on 20oz a day), and that even if a paediatrician wants to just keep and eye on weight for now or try another reflux medication, at least we will be on the right pathway with a specialist. Thank god I added her to my healthcare when she was born (we scrimp on other things to have it but it’s worth it’s weight in gold at times like this).

Hopefully we can get to the bottom of things.

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OnTheBenchOfDoom · 15/11/2020 13:09

@WankPuffins fantastic news! I am so pleased for you. Hopefully you will now get some relief not just for your DD but also for you too. It is shit as a parent to watch your child in pain and worrying about whether they are feeding enough. Good luck.

WankPuffins · 15/11/2020 13:18

@OnTheBenchOfDoom I just can't take it anymore. I've got to find the excess payment, but it's worth it to feel like I'm doing something.

She's having her injections with our usual private GP thur and I feel a bit crap going to to someone else for the referral as he said he/the HV at his practice would keep an eye on things but I just have to do what feels right for Dd.

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movingonup20 · 15/11/2020 13:22

They do all feed at different amounts though never hurts to see a paediatrician if you are really concerned, my hunch, and it's only a hunch is she is finding feeding uncomfortable for some reason - reflux, allergy etc.

That said my breastfed babies were demand fed every 1-2 hours at that age, so have you tried increasing frequency? Some have tiny stomachs so 3 oz is all they can take at a sitting so to speak. My dd had to be bottle fed for three days just shy of 5 months and my poor mother who was looking after her (I had to go away) couldn't get more than a couple of ounces into her, just as you describe, my mother was making up bottles every 2 hours, she's a saint! (Good news is she's an adult, her low weight gain didn't affect her development). Both my babies grew slowly and fed frequently, never 4 hour gaps even at a year they fed 2-3 times during the night.

Best of luck, try not to worry too much, but better safe than sorry with asking experts, all we can do is say our personal experience.

WankPuffins · 15/11/2020 13:30

@movingonup20 the worry is that 16-20oz is such a little amount and she's been taking only that since 5 weeks old. You'd expect an increase of milk intake with age.

I would love it if she would take 3oz every one or two hours! Believe me, I've tried.

She won't drink frequently. And she certainly wouldn't take 3oz every hour or two. 3oz seems to last her 4 hours, or even 8 hours at night. I've tried feeding every 90 mins - it's flat out refusal or half an ounce. I've tried feeding every 4 hours and it's 2-4oz even then, and if it's 4oz, it will take almost an hour to get that down her as she stops a lot.

I just don't want to wait until she's dropped right down the centiles to act.

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OnTheBenchOfDoom · 15/11/2020 14:19

@WankPuffins I agree you have to do what is best for your daughter. The GP isn't the one living with your child. Hopefully it will get sorted. We also went private to speed up the process. Totally worth it.

Mochiface · 15/11/2020 15:53

@WankPuffins

That's wonderful news you've managed to speak to someone and be able to do something rather than wait around and watch your LO drop centiles. Do what you think is best for your LO , I know what you mean about going to someone else for help but having a sympathetic ear in this situation just doesn't cut it. My HV is really nice but I also feel like I want someone who is really listening.

I hope it'll get somewhere soon.

WankPuffins · 15/11/2020 17:30

@Mochiface thank you. It was Dh who made me call the GP service this morning. He's obviously been worrying about it too but he said he's noticed that my mood has really changed over the past few weeks. It has, the worry is really getting me down. And I'm not a worrier, my 18 year old, apart from vaccinations and getting his reflux sorted as a baby, has seen a doctor once in his life, my six year old (again, apart from vaccinations) has never even seen a dr. So it's not like I'm a parent who goes to the dr for every little thing. If I take my child to a dr, it's because there is a real worry there. And this is horrible to be honest. Poor Dd. I just want her to eat and thrive.

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WankPuffins · 15/11/2020 17:30

@OnTheBenchOfDoom thank you.

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Mochiface · 15/11/2020 18:07

Aw bless you both.

It is a really hard time and it's great that it's starting to get somewhere.

Glad your DH is also on the same page as you and supporting each other.

Yeah, that's all we want, for them to eat and thrive. It's awful as it just steals joy and it's sad that we have to be our own advocate and it gets stressful. And sometimes, we are just made to feel like we're making a mountain out if a mole hill.

Do let us know how it goes! I hope something useful comes out of it. I just hate how things seems to be trial and error for our babies and it's so hard to watch 💔