10 wk old DS dropped from 75th to 25th centile. Help!

[Amiable]

DS started off above 75th centile, but has gradually dropped to below 25th. He is formula fed (SMA, having tried Hipp Organic and Aptamil which he didn't like). He seems generally happy and otherwise healthy, but just doesn't eat well.

On GP'as advice we have changed teat size, so he is getting milk more easily, and are feeding on demand. However, he seems to be hungry, takes a couple of big slurps, and you can hear it hitting his empty tummy - big gurgles! As soon as this happens he starts twisting away from the bottle and refuses to drink more. We wait a few seconds and try again - same thing.

GP and hospital paediatrician have both said not to worry and wait and see how things go - easier said than done! He is our second child, so not a PFB but my mother's instinct tells me something is wrong. Help! Any ideas of what it could be, or am I just getting my knickers in a twist over nothing?

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If he seems in pain when he eats could it be reflux? Could try a bit of gaviscon from the GP.

Thanks for the reply yellowbutterfly. We have tried Gavison but he really hates it, and often throws it back up again - and I thought it was supposed to stop that happening!

I'm trying to not get worked up about it, but it's really starting to worry me. We've also tried all sorts of colic remedies - infacol, dentinox, colocynth granules and gripe water. Only the gripe water seems to make him more comfy, but he is still not eating well at all. For instance today he has had only 160 mls since he woke up at 7am - and that was having slept through since 12.30 last night. It just doesn't seem enough to me, and he clearly seems hungry - he just won't eat.

Any other suggestions very gratefully received.

Is there any way he could be teething? My DD goes off her bottle when her gums are hurting I think.

Thanks for the suggestions. I have considered teething but he doesn't really have any of the usual symptoms, other than not feeding.

The Neocate website was very interesting - I'm going to keep a diary of exactly how much he feeds and when, and state of his nappies etc, so that if necessary I can go to the GP fully armed with all the facts, rather than just sounding like an over protective mum!

He has just had around 140mls, which is a monster meal for him and he had had another 70mls at 2pm, bringing today's total to 370mls so I feel at least he's getting something down.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

Oh, just to be specific he now weighs 5.4kg, and is 10wks + 5 days.

I wonder if he ought to be on ramitidine for reflux which would be the next line of treatment up from gaviscon.
It sounds as though he is in pain and reluctant to feed,so either reflux or milk intolerance. Gp could try prescribing nutramigen hydrolised protein milk which he should tolerate.
Just a few thoughts,but definitely go back and see Dr,never put yourself down as being overprotective/anxious mum,you know your baby better than anyone.

Thanks jaffacake. I agree that he seems to be in pain, which is what is killing me Being a family of greedy guts people with healthy appetites, it's quite a shock to have a baby who won't eat

Go back and chat to the Dr with ideas on reflux and intlorance to milk. You can only try it out and see if he is happier feeding.
For a baby to scream when feeding there is definitely something wrong.

Jaffacake, he is not screaming when being fed, thank goodness - he defintely whinges though, pushes the bottle away with his tongue, twists his head away and generally makes it clear he would rather not be feeding, even though he clearly has an empty tummy.

carabel is an alternative to gaviscon BTW.
Does sound quite reflux like IMO.
Ranitidine is good. Actually there are loads of options such as omperazole, lansoprazole. etc etc. I would go back to GP and have a long chat. Maybe book a double appointment. XXX

My dd2 was on the 98th percentile when she was born, she is now on the 2nd having fallen through the graphs in the red book. She is 23 months now. After all the medication mentioned above, barium swallows, emergency visits to hospital etc they finally decided she was over fed in the womb and grew bigger than nature intended. Compared to her two siblings she is going to be tiny, projected final height of 5'1", compared to dd1 5'11" and ds 6'3".

She screamed after a short feed, but in the end they just decided she was full after the smallest amount. I panicked the doctors panicked...there was nothing wrong with her, and it took a year to work that out.

My counsel would be big hugs to you, keep a record of what feeds you give him, talk to the gp try out different medications in case it is reflux (although it doesn't sound like it to me...I am no expert, it sounds just like my girl) Get a referral to the community paediatrician to get him checked out for your own peace of mind. Thinking of you, know how horrid it feels.

Sparkle,
thanks so much for your post, it really helped - sorry you had such a horrible experience with your DD.

I've started to keep a diary of feeds, when he is sick (not v often now we're not giving him the Gaviscon! ) etc, and will make an appt with the doc, just to talk it through if nothing else.

Once again thanks Mumsnet, just knowing I am not alone is a huge help!

Hi Amiable, hope you are doing ok today.

Thanks again for all the support & suggestions. We saw the GP earlier this week, and talked through everything - all DS's symptoms, and the various options. The GP prescribed Pregestimil, which is dairy and soy free, and also took a sample of urine to rule out the possibility of an infection.

I have to say, since we started DS on the Pregestimil he is like a different child. He is feeding enthusiastically (he has had several 150ml bottles in the last couple of days!) and seems much calmer and happier. He is still a bit windy, and there are still some signs of reflux, but nowhere near as bad as it was. I am frankly amazed at the transformation! Looks like we're on prescription formula from now on...

Fantastic news, I am so glad to hear that