4 month old struggling to take feed

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Hello, my daughter is 4 months and was born at 37 weeks back in July due to a growth decline following scans etc. After a few weeks she was throwing up some of her feeds but never seemed in pain. Over the last weeks when she's due a bottle she'll take at least 3 sips on the bottle and will throw her head back winging....does the same again and again for about an hour for her to finish the feed. She's frothy at the mouth after a feed but not throwing up or in pain. I've had gaviscon from the Dr today but I'm not sure if it's a reflux problem, it's the attempt to feed that's a struggle to her. She's on the 9th centile with her weight at the moment and is showing growth in weight to where she should be but has anyone else been through this? Her mouth is clear/no thrush so I'm baffled to know what the issue is. Thank you

If it's the physical act of drinking the bottle that's bothering her, have you tried going up a tear size and have you had her ears and throat checked?

Another thing to consider is Tongue Tie.

*teat size

My little girl same age went through something similar , it only lasted for a few weeks . I think it was early teething, she also drools more and is chewing on everything in sight . Is she interested in the food at all ? Or is it more that it seems to be causing her pain ?

I've just read your description again and it is very similar to what happened with my daughter . I did go up a teat size , but if this has also been accompanied with her chewing on things more then its probably early teething . I would speak to your health visitor though if you are concerned

I had the same with my son. It was reflux. By this age he associated milk with pain and refused feeds. We were eventually prescribed ranitadine and he was a different baby.

Thank you.

I've spoken to the H.Visitor and they think it's reflux. After speaking to the Dr this morning I've been prescribed Gaviscon for her feeds (i used to suffer really really bad with this when I was younger and had surgery to fix the problem 10 years ago after years of being on Omeprazole renitidine 🥺) so I'm thinking she's suffering like I did. The Dr asked me to contact her by the end of the week to see how the gaviscon is going as this should 'solve the reflux' problem straight away if this was the initial problem.

My daughter is using anti-colic Mam bottles with size 2 teats which is suitable for 2+ so I'm thinking of trying the next size up as she's 4months now.

I just have a funny feeling something is bothering her and associates bottle to pain. Very difficult as I have a busy toddler to entertain too so her feeds are taking ages.
Thank you!

If you think it's pain, and it could be as you say, I'd read up on Cow's Milk Protein Allergy as the Dan often refuse to feed with this as just like you say, they associate the milk with stomach ache or even pain. The symptoms of tongue tie, CMPA and reflux are all very similar too so it's usually just a case of eliminating them one by one.

If you do think it's reflux though, try keeping her upright for an hour after a feed, a sling might be useful for this and prop the top of her crib/cit up too.