Refusing bottle half way through feed

[PL2021]

I was wondering if anyone has experienced the same thing as I am currently and what they did to help.

DD has really been through the wars from day 1. She has suffered Reflux and now on Hypoallergenic formula and Carobel for this and possible cows milk protein allergy. Within 4/5 days of this combination she was so much better. Then she had her 8 week vaccinations and all of her reflux symptoms came back with a vengeance.10 days later and she is finally on the mend again.

However we now have another issue. For the past 2 weeks she has turned into a nightmare when feeding. Once half way through her bottle, she won't take any more. She cries when the bottle is placed back in her mouth and tenses her body out like she is uncomfortable. If we put her down in her bouncer she is instantly happier, and quite often will take a little more of her bottle here aswell. At first I thought (and do still think) the problem is something to do with her pooping. She isn't constipated as her poos are soft and normal, however I think she is struggling to do them. As she refuses the bottle halfway through and will quite often start straining and bringing some milk up whilst doing so, as though she is pushing. She isn't napping well at all now either, and after an hour or so of infrequent pushing and moaning, she will then do a poo. So I'm wondering if she starts getting the sensation to go as her belly is filling, so therefore not taking more. I know she is still hungry because she munches her fingers and goes for mine too if I touch her cheek! But she will just cry if the bottle goes in her mouth, or she will eventually seal around it but cry as she's sucking.

Feeding her is becoming very stressful and is taking an hour to finish, at which point she is getting overtired which isn't helping the situation.

I did wonder if maybe it was early signs of teething but she is only 11 weeks so I'm unsure if this would be the case yet? I can't see any signs of any white patches or anything coming through, and can't see any signs of thrush either.

I have tried to stop burping her mid feed unless she stops herself, and on one occasion yesterday this seemed to work as she took her whole bottle, burped afterwards and was fine. But since then she stops herself half way through, burps but won't take it back.

She has always been a very gassy baby at the bottom end so again could it be something to do with that?

Sorry for the essay. At my wits end now as we've had problem after problem with the poor little thing

It sounds like gas to me.

Sounds like trapped wind. My DD was doing the same around that age, I went up a teat size and it solved the issue.

We too have thought it is a gassy issue. Since last night we have changed her teat size and at first we thought it had made a difference, but today we are back to square one. Fussing again during the feed and crying after it but refuses to take any more. This evening we have tried some dentinox in her bottle to see if it helped her with bringing some more wind up but she stopped drinking after an ounce and cried and wouldn't take anymore, and has now fell asleep through exhaustion of crying. Could she have tasted the dentinox in the milk and not liked it? She seems to be getting worse and we can't work out what the issue is. She is on Nutramigen for possible cows milk protein allergy, which for the first 4/5 days of being on it she improved massively. I dont think it is a lactose intolerance because she doesn't really show any other signs of having that.

We are half tempted to go back to her old formula to try and see if she is happier taking that? But also dont want too as I don't want to run the risk of flaring her reflux up again, and her nappies were explosive multiple times a day and in the middle of the night on her old formula and carobel! So I dont think it agreed with her.

Any other suggestions? Crying my eyes out in desperation for an answer

Go up a teat size

Oh and check for thrush in her mouth, inside cheeks, gums, roof etc... if you can't check get a GP to x

During our struggles I resorted to dream feeding once asleep during naps etc to make sure dd wasn't getting dehydrated x

Hello

I wondered if you found a reason for this, I am experiencing exactly the same problem and it is very stressful! Baby does seem to want to feed but fusses and thrashing her head, arms and legs about ! I burp her when she stops, and usually get 1 or 2 burps but I still keep trying for at least 5 minutes and up to 10 minutes sometimes but it doesn’t make a difference and she won’t continue with the bottle !when I try to give her the bottle she just pushes it out her mouth with her tongue and gags ! Tried loads of different feeding positions and also the dummy trick, which did work a few times at first but not often now ! We can get her to have more by holding her round the neck (I know this sounds awful) but like how I was shown when trying to breastfeed, but I feel terrible keep trying as feel like I am forcing her but surely she wouldn’t end up having it if she didn’t want it 🤷‍♀️ And if she hasn’t had enough she is still alert and doesn’t nod off satisfied! At my wits end - any help would be appreciated

@PL2021 did things resolve for you at all? Currently going through the same with my little one who i combifeed and also has silent reflux :( think after the jags she prefers bfeeding but i cant solely bfeed her as she doesnt get enough from me so need the bottle back! Currently having to get milk down her in a cup which she is refusing to drink too - seems she only wants bfed and that milk! Did you try an alternative formula just for taste incase that was the issue??