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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

EBF newborn losing weight but won't take bottle

41 replies

Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:00

Really appreciate thoughts from anyone

... lovely dd is 8 weeks old now and her weight gain has been slow since birth but in the last fortnight she's lost weight. She's EBF which has been going okay, except for the weight. She's alert, smiling, not fussy, no crying beyond what I'd consider normal.

At her 8 week check the dr referred us to a paediatrician who said an allergy to dairy can present in this way, prescribed some formula and said to top her up after every feed. But we can't get it in her! She won't take a bottle, weve tried syringe/cup too but it just dribbles out. Our best "success" has been putting the bottle teat in her mouth and squeezing a few drops of milk from it. If we do this over 15-20mins we can get about 10ml into her, but the dr has said the top up should be 30.

Just wondering if anyone has experienced similar (either unexplained weight loss or bottle refusal) and have any words of experience or wisdom. Health visitor didn't really know what to do, I have another Dr's appt in 2 days to discuss further but not holding out much hope...in the meantime just so worried that our precious girl isn't getting what she needs and don't know how we can help her :(

OP posts:
gemloving · 07/02/2023 21:04

What percentile is she on now? Mine dropped 2, the eventually found his line but was never keen on milk, still on 9th percentile now at 21 months.

When you say slow to gain weight, is she losing weight or just slow to gain and might still find her percentiles?

I don't feel like forcing a top up does any good? More stress on baby and you if content and happy? Who referred baby to see doctor? X

gemloving · 07/02/2023 21:05

Sorry, I just noticed why you saw the doctor. Did he weigh your DD? When was the last time she was weighed? X

ChildminderMum · 07/02/2023 21:06

What are the breastfeeds like? How many sides and how often is she feeding?

BungleandGeorge · 07/02/2023 21:07

Have you seen a lactation consultant? Have you tried expressing to boost supply, try and feed her a top up of bm?

Sucessinthenewyear · 07/02/2023 21:08

Loosing weight or just slow to gain?

Have you gone completely dairy free? Do you understand how to do this and that you need to make sure you vet enough calcium and iodine? It’s totally do able. The breast feeding CMPA is a great help.

Have you tried staying at home to a couple of weeks and just feeding, feeding, feeding.

Original poster
Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:08

She was on 75th centile when born, 25th at 6 weeks - at which point they said it was unusual but not worrying but something to keep an eye on. At 8 weeks (now) she's actually lost weight rather than gaining it very slowly. I think in her book it looked like she was just above 9th centile now. We saw the dr because it was her routine check at the same time as the jabs. The dr referred to a paed who recommended the top ups.

OP posts:
Stonebridge · 07/02/2023 21:10

Definitely contact a lactation consultant. If latch is not good some babies can be working hard to feed and tire and stop the feed before they get enough milk.
Does she feed ok? Any coughing or distress ?

gemloving · 07/02/2023 21:10

I would go to your local breastfeeding trust/clinic and ask if they can weigh every week to see how she's getting on.

Don't force the top ups, baby knows when they're full.

Original poster
Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:15

Yes I've gone dairy free now, although it's only been 2 days so I'm not sure how soon that will change with her. I did try to express in the early days but hardly got anything out at all. I think her feeds are possibly not long enough, she does both sides for 5-7mins each. About 9 times per day. She does drift off towards the end often and I have to tickle her cheek etc. She usually poos at least once a day plus probably 7 wet Nappies per day. No I haven't tried just staying home and feeding feeding. I could do that yes, a but tricky because I also have a toddler to entertain but could try as much as possible. Also do you know if my supply can increase at this stage? I thought maybe it was set and perhaps its less than she needs but it's too late to change that now. I did do quite a lot of skin to skin in the early days and tried to establish feeding with her. But something isn't working.

OP posts:
Greendoor12 · 07/02/2023 21:16

Can you use a cup or calpol syringe to top up? As well as asking for BF support?

you’re doing great, know that ❤️

Original poster
Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:18

I dont think she's not drinking the top ups because she's full, I think it's because she can't suck a bottle. She doesn't cry, she just sort of doesn't know what to do when the teat is in her mouth. We couldn't get her to take a dummy a few weeks ago for the same reason. Yes she seems to feed okay, occasional coughing at first if the let down is strong. But not always. Yes maybe a lactation consultant would be a good idea I will look into that.

OP posts:
Itisbetter · 07/02/2023 21:19

Supply matches demand so feed more and you’ll get more. Dd dropped 50th to 25th and then down below the 6th but then I got an appendicitis and after that she chugged slowly back up. Watch your own health, feed more and eat more to boost supply, and put your feet up. Hire help or beg a relative and just lie around and cosset yourself.

Mmmmpavlova · 07/02/2023 21:21

Definitely see a lactation consultant. Also get her checked for a tongue tie by a specialist of possible.

There are other ways of getting top ups in other than a bottle: supplemental nursing systems, spoons, syringe feeding - the lactation consultant will be able to guide you best on this.

NP0606 · 07/02/2023 21:21

Really recommend some breastfeeding support, could be tongue tie or incorrect latch & the younger the better for sorting & changing if needed xx

Original poster
Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:21

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and such quick responses. Really appreciate them.

Yes I tried a syringe for the top up but Didn't get that far, again she didn't swallow it and a lot of milk leaked out. I could try again. It also feels very impractical - of course I want to help her but syringing 30ml into her in 5ml doses I think would take at last 25 mins. 10 times a day! Plus the breastfeeds and Plus looking after a toddler. It doesn't really feel manageable (although of course Yes I could knuckle down and do it for a week and see how she gets on)

OP posts:
Sucessinthenewyear · 07/02/2023 21:25

Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:15

Yes I've gone dairy free now, although it's only been 2 days so I'm not sure how soon that will change with her. I did try to express in the early days but hardly got anything out at all. I think her feeds are possibly not long enough, she does both sides for 5-7mins each. About 9 times per day. She does drift off towards the end often and I have to tickle her cheek etc. She usually poos at least once a day plus probably 7 wet Nappies per day. No I haven't tried just staying home and feeding feeding. I could do that yes, a but tricky because I also have a toddler to entertain but could try as much as possible. Also do you know if my supply can increase at this stage? I thought maybe it was set and perhaps its less than she needs but it's too late to change that now. I did do quite a lot of skin to skin in the early days and tried to establish feeding with her. But something isn't working.

No one knows for sure - some people say as little as 3 days, the commonly held belief is 6 weeks.

Yes, your supply will continue to increase to hit her demand. Make sure you are eating and especially drinking enough water.

Those are very short feeds. Have you tried offering the first boob again after she has had the second?

Dairy free formula taste vile compared to normal formula and normal formula isn’t pleased compared to bm. Which formula is it? Not all of them are completely dairy free so it may make things worse. If you wanted to persisted with the formula you could try feeding from an open cup.

SeaToSki · 07/02/2023 21:25

Try a faster nipple, your let down might be quick and you are using a slow flow nipple

try a bottle with a different shaped nipple, some are more like a human breast and others less so

try a wet flannel to really wake her up before you EBF her and if she starts to zone out

lactation consultant is a great idea, but dont stop trying to top up as well

did the pediatrician listen to her heart, its a concern with babies that loose weight although not very common

does she have any rashes pimples or, red skin. That is a sign of allergies as well

if you are cutting out dairy, I would also cut out soya. Most babies that are allergic to one are allergic to both. Google for all of the hidden names for dairy and soya in foods, its a minefield making sure you have cut it all out.

AcrossthePond55 · 07/02/2023 21:27

I could never feed DS2 a bottle, he wanted the breast and that was it. He would take a bottle from DH, but I had to be out of the room. We worried about what would happen when I returned to work.

Ok, now this is the crazy part. DH had to hold him in an approximation of the BF position, that is, with DS's face 'facing' DH's chest. He actually put the bottle between his upper arm and his side just below his armpit. Silly, but it worked. Eventually we got it round to the 'usual' bottle feed position.

Needs must.

Glitterstars · 07/02/2023 21:27

My little one is 15 weeks and he has dropped centiles so we are just monitoring weight and doing 2 weekly weigh ins. He also will not take a bottle as I have been trying to top up after a feed but it’s a no go. I think as he was late he was on a high centile but naturally would settle at less but I’ve said that and hv and dr didn’t seem to agree. I have tried feeding him more frequently but he is not interested at being fed more so not much else I can do. Not sure what they will suggest if he doesn’t go back up

ChildminderMum · 07/02/2023 21:28

Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:15

Yes I've gone dairy free now, although it's only been 2 days so I'm not sure how soon that will change with her. I did try to express in the early days but hardly got anything out at all. I think her feeds are possibly not long enough, she does both sides for 5-7mins each. About 9 times per day. She does drift off towards the end often and I have to tickle her cheek etc. She usually poos at least once a day plus probably 7 wet Nappies per day. No I haven't tried just staying home and feeding feeding. I could do that yes, a but tricky because I also have a toddler to entertain but could try as much as possible. Also do you know if my supply can increase at this stage? I thought maybe it was set and perhaps its less than she needs but it's too late to change that now. I did do quite a lot of skin to skin in the early days and tried to establish feeding with her. But something isn't working.

Your supply can definitely increase.

I would offer more than two sides per feed - whenever she comes off one side offer the other, then when she comes off you can go back to the first. This will help with your supply and increase the amount of milk she takes per feed.

I understand it's hard with a toddler, but a baby actually losing weight is pretty serious and I would really prioritise that. Even if your partner has to take some time off work to look after the toddler.

Daisywithastory · 07/02/2023 21:28

As others have said, you probably are best to get a lactation consultant (can’t remember what the accreditation is but something like IABCC?). But your supply is definitely not set yet and can be increased-if you do so by pumping, use a hospital grade pump like the spectra. The breastfeeding group I’m on always recommends breast compressions and introducing an extra feed in these situations (it’s a group for twins and other multiples so weight loss/gain comes up a lot with so many twins being born early and small!) but that can obviously only do so much if there’s an allergy or undiagnosed tongue tie. Good luck ♥

Original poster
Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:30

That is good news that my supply might still increase at this point. No I don't offer her the first boob again after the second I could do that. It's hard to tell when the feeds have stopped, when she first goes on she's seems to be actually feeding. Then by about 4 minutes she isn't sucking so well or frequently, it starts to feel a bit sore/uncomfortable, she doesn't swallow much. So I take her off (or sometimes she just slips off). Sometimes she could be at the boob for longer than 10minutes but it really does not seem like she is actually feeding. That's why I take her off. Does that make sense it quite hard to explain.

OP posts:
RagingWoke · 07/02/2023 21:31

My ds was similar, he was 99th centile at birth and dropped to below 9th. I'd had gestational diabetes and it's possible he was bigger at birth because of that. He was happy, alert and otherwise fine.

Our health visitor referred us to the gp who referred to a paediatrician. They monitored him, said to give formula but ds wouldn't take a bottle, so I carried on bfing on demand (and got very good at feeding on the go!). He settled at 9th line for a while and then by 5/6 months he was well above the 99.6th centile, his growth charts are all over the place.

I'm not saying that this is the case with every baby, but the consultant said some babies just take time to find their natural weight.

I did eventually use nano bebe bottles when I needed him to have them, they were much better than the others we'd tried, I think the boob shape reduced confusion.

Rella357 · 07/02/2023 21:33

Struggled with this with my LO for 5.5 months!! Eventually got a referral for a lactation consultant who diagnosed him with a tongue tie. We ended up having to go private to get it corrected and since then he started gaining weight.

ChildminderMum · 07/02/2023 21:36

Threesmycrowd · 07/02/2023 21:30

That is good news that my supply might still increase at this point. No I don't offer her the first boob again after the second I could do that. It's hard to tell when the feeds have stopped, when she first goes on she's seems to be actually feeding. Then by about 4 minutes she isn't sucking so well or frequently, it starts to feel a bit sore/uncomfortable, she doesn't swallow much. So I take her off (or sometimes she just slips off). Sometimes she could be at the boob for longer than 10minutes but it really does not seem like she is actually feeding. That's why I take her off. Does that make sense it quite hard to explain.

Sounds fine to take her off when she stops actively sucking, but you do need to put her back on the other side. You can offer 2, 3, 4+ sides per feed.
This is called switch feeding and is really important for increasing supply and helping weight gain.
You can also do breast compressions to get more milk into the baby.

There's some info here ibconline.ca/information-sheets/protocol-to-increase-breastmilk-intake/