12 week DS feeding less and I'm worried

[Igglybuff]

For the last few days, my DS has been really fussy. Yesterday and today he has started to drop feeds which is freaking me out. So he would normally feed at 8am, 10am, 12pm, 3pm, 5pm, 7pm then night feed a couple of times. Now he has dropped the 12 and 3pm feeds - in previous days he just "snacked" at these times. I ended up getting him to have a little at 4pm yesterday and today I had to express and he took some then.

Possible factors:

• He was diagnosed with reflux a few days ago and is on gaviscon. His reflux wasn't too bad although I think it gave him stomach problems in the mornings and evenings (he would writhe around a lot and was pretty windy). I don't know if it's related? If so, surely he would refuse all feeds?

• He could be teething. He's eating his hands and producing loads of drool. Again surely he would refuse all feeds?

The fact that he's dropped these feeds makes me wonder if he doesn't need them - but it seems too long a gap between feeds in the middle of the day? He feeds well at night although doesn't seem to feeding more to make up for the dropped ones.

I'm at my wits end and it's only been two days! I've had to express as boobs get too engorged with such a massive gap but I don't think it's practical to keep it up!

Any help/suggestions welcome!

Hi, I am a maternity nurse and have several years experience though wouldn't call myself an expert. At twelve weeks I would expect a baby to be able to go 3 to 3 and half hours between feeds.

Is your baby producing wet nappies and gaining weight?

I am looking after twins with reflux and they have always been difficult feeders. They are on omeprazole.

Has your baby got thrush?

Hope this helps. x

Hi posh , DS has always gained weight well and usually has loads of wet nappies. However this feeding issue has been the last two days and he is pooing less (which I had put down to the gaviscon). He's also just rejected his last feed at half 9 despite giving hunger cues. As soon as the boob went near him he got hysterical. He did take a bottle of expressed milk instead.
If he has thrush, would I have it too? I've had no nipple pain. If he has thrush would he reject the breast but take a bottle?
He seems to get pretty upset at any attempt to offer him the breast and reluctantly feeds from a bottle.

As his reflux hasn't suddenly got worse I'm confused as to why his feeding has gone funny now. Especially as he's due a growth spurt so this seems backwards!

not sure about the dropping feeds, but I do know that gaviscon can cause constipation, so that may be helping with the non pooing issue.

Also, if he was throwing up a lot of his feeds before being doagnosed, if the gaviscon is helping it stay down, he may not need to feed as often?

I'm sure there will be someone along shortly who has experience of reflux and giving gaviscon. Perhps start another thread with reflux/gaviscon in the title?

another thought is that teething can cause them to be fussy, especially if ears are sore, as it's uncomfortable to feed.

Do you have anyone in RL you can talk to about this? A breastfeeding counsellor, or the GP who prescribed the gaviscon?

Hi again,

Gaviscon can make babies constipated.

One of the twins is particularly fussy and we really have to calm her down and then try to feed her.

The twin with thrush had it right at the back of the throat as I couldn't detect it at the roof of the mouth. As you are bf this probably would effect you aswell.

If you are concerned I would see your HV or doctor.

I'm going to see how he I after
tonight and take it from there. I
can get him to have milk via the bottle at least.