Help EBF baby won't take top ups and is miserable

[Slanketeer]

I have a 14 week old EBF baby. He's losing weight due to difficulties latching (his neck was damaged at birth and they think this is affecting things - we're doing everything we can with physio etc).

We need to give him top ups but he won't take anything from a bottle, SNS, finger feeding, cup... we've tried everything. The infant feeding team won't help beyond saying we need to top him up but how do I get anything in to him?

He's so miserable and hungry most of the time and I don't know what else to do. I feel like I'm absolutely failing him as I'm not meeting one of his most basic needs and that because of that he's learning he's not loved and cared for at such a crucial stage.

Another option would be to purchase a at breast system which is basically a tube as they latch you put the tube in the side if their mouth and top up that way.

I would contact and get a appointment with a lactation consultant they are worth the money and will really spend the time supporting you

@Scottishskifun thanks for the reply! Sorry I should have been clearer the SNS is the tube system we've tried and he just won't latch with it on and then skips feeds if I try it as he gets so upset about it being there. I couldn't get it flowing and I'm worried I'll create a nursing aversion if I keep trying as currently breastfeeding is the only thing that calms him and the only milk I can get into him

We'll try again with a lactation consultant as she was the one who originally picked up his latch issues. She's been providing support by email but I think we probably need some more face to face help again.

Have you tried different bottle teats? And have you tried having someone else feed your baby, like their dad? Sorry if you've tried those and they've not worked. I found the lansinoh teats worked well

Firstly, you are absolutely not failing him because, for starters, you are here asking for advice! This sounds like a horrible situation.

Are you doing formula top ups or EBM? Does it make a difference if you pump for example? Also, which bottles have you tried? We had to do top ups (DD 0.4th centile, i had low supply following her NICU stay). We used a cup when she move off the tube in SCBU but then when we went home, she wouldn't take eg. Tommee tippee bottles and teats but would take Nuk shaped teats. Our next step was going to be latex rather than plastic as well etc.

Would you consider trying a cranial osteopath?

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee @YorkshireTeaCup thanks for your replies! With the bottle feeding so far we've been doing body temperature expressed milk with a warmed up teat that's been in my bra so it smells of me. Dad's been doing all the bottle feeding attempts with me out of the room. We've tried Lansinoh and Mam teats which he just won't even let us put in his mouth. Tried the latex Nuk teats for the first time last night which he did at least accept in his mouth just so far won't latch or suck from it. We'll keep trying with those for now. I've also tried starting him off feeding from me and then switching him across but he won't do that either and then won't feed from me again for that feed so ends up having even less milk 😔. I'm not too sure what I'm asking for advice on as I think we're doing the right sorts of things it's just not working and I don't know what else to try. The infant feeding team won't help as he apparently "looks okay" so I don't know if they're just waiting for him to look malnourished before they'll help?!

@HellonHeels I think this would be good, we've been hoping to see them for a while but the only one vaguely local to us isn't taking new patients until October. That's why I've been taking him to physio in the meantime so at least we're doing something.

It sounds like you are doing everything you can. I'm sorry I can't suggest anything else, you are not failing your baby!!!!

Try medela calma teats ( mam are about the worse you can get for a breast fed baby)

Additional things to try are different bottles - my oldest DS would only take a mimbie teet nothing else. If your on your local bf group or mums group ask if anyone has different bottles.
Alternatively you csn make bm ice lollies using a sterilised baby icelolly tray each one takes about 30ml which is the equivalent to most top ups. Can't be done with formula due to bacteria risk but definitely bm just put it into a freezer bag as well.

Other thing to check is if your milk has high lipase content on storage (it will smell soapy) this can put babies off. If it does then you can scold it on the hob straight after expressing.

Hi OP, just wondering how you got on?