Screaming and Arching back and refusing milk.

[didsnbump]

My ds is nearly 22 weeks and since 18 weeks as been refusing his milk during the day. After a few onzes he will arch his back, make funny noises and then scream. The only way he will take most of it is by laying down on the floor.

At 19 weeks we tried a hypo allergenic milk under the advise of the hv which made it worse, so reverted back, and he then inproved slightly.

We where advised to introduce solids at 20 weeks slowly to ensure he was getting something which made it improve greatly for about a week and a half. Now he will take his first feed at 7.30am no probs, and his sleepy feed at 10pm no probs, but the other 3 feeds are a right struggle, he is even beginning to refuse solids if they have milk in!

Any advise on what the problem could be??

I have just answered another thread about this but I am going to say the same thing - I think it is silent reflux.

At about 20 weeks DD started to do the same. Arching and screaming. We then moved onto projectile vomiting and constant diarrhoea.

The only way DD would take milk was lying flat on her back in the cot - not the most convenient! Also, started to struggle with ear infects which apparently can happen if a baby with a cold feeds flat as the 'ear goo' pools and stays there without draining during the feed.

We went on battling for weeks and when she did not gain weight from Nov 1st till January 30th and she was vomiting every other to every night the Dr sent us to a Paed Consol. She was diagnosed with Silent Reflux and put on Ranitidine and Infant Gaviscon. I put a thread on MN and got mixed reviews as this as a treatment pathway but we never looked back. She stopped being sick from that very night although the Dr said it might take a few weeks. She is now 13 months and her development has finally caught up and she even took her first steps today which I thought would never happen as she got so far behind with all of the sickness.

Strangely enough DD would always take the first feed and the night feed and refuse the rest. Sounds all very familiar..... any chance this could be the same thing?

Reflux is def worth checking out. GP can prescribe Gaviscon powder which you add to their milk. Elevating the bed is also important if reflux is the problem. We also had luck with NUK bottles, MAM bottles, and Aptamil easy digest formula. HTH

Just a small point about Gavi, I would give it in a small amount of milk ahead of the feed. If you put it in the whole feed the milk turns int o a thick latte type substance which is how it works, however, if your little one is still on a small teat (my darling still on number 2) it can clog the whole up and make them so impatient they don't feed. I mix mine with 15ml of milk and use a Nurofen syringe then I give the feed as normal. Seems to work for us!

But he takes his solids that dont have milk in eg: Sweet pot, carrot, swede no probs. And up to today has been mostly ok with babyrice mixed with fruit. Surely if it was reflux he would not want these either??

Has anyone struggled with feeding when teething because he is chewing his hands obsessively?

Teething can also upset for sure. DD refuses any food whilst teething even now. We just had tooth number 12 arrive and she does not get any better.

DD also took solids even when refusing milk. I was told that solids would help as it stops the acid reflux a bit. Did not stop the vomiting however.

However, there does seem to be a milk trend, have you tried Nanny? I think it is the nondairy one that you have prescribed?

No have only been on Aptamil and Aptamil HA. Unfortunatly i live in germany at the mo, so the choice of milk, or should i say the ones i understand are very limited.

I can get cow and gate, farleys and sma. Just the normal ones so dint know if a change of milk might be worth a go?

Am off for a get together with some mums and the hv tomorrow and i will have to feed ds milk and solids while im there so i really really hope that he reacts as bad as he did this evening so she can see it for herself.

I am getting him to take a good amount eventually through the day one way or another but just feel so cruel when he get so upset. Plus he has still been gaining a hell of alot of weight!

Maybe he is just not hungry? They do go onto a maintenance diet for periods of time when they are not on a growth spurt and you cannot believe they can survive. On the basis no baby ever starved themselves sometimes you just have to take their lead.

My nephew cannot take Aptamil though, it makes him vom. We are now onto Cows milk and I am sooooo happy - and better off financially!

Please do check about SR though. Good luck!!

I will def mention it to hv thanks for ya advise!

Hi again, my DH is from Germany so I know lots about dealing with feeding probs over there! What's really good is Hipp milk and Hipp Fenchel Tee. We used to make up the tea, then mix it with powder (instead of plain water). Good luck with the HV visit