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Children's health

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Original poster

7mo baby refusing all fluids

10 replies

rallytog1 · 05/12/2013 20:39

My last thread on here was about my dd eating too much, so this will probably sound a bit mad, but she's gone completely the other way now and I'm beginning to feel very concerned. I just wondered if anyone has any advice or experience of this?

For the last couple of days, dd has taken no more than 350ml of milk each day, alongside zero solid food and no water. She gets really angry whenever a bottle or cup comes anywhere near her.

Possibly other relevant factors:

she's had a cold for about the last month but it hasn't disrupted her feeding
she has a slightly mucusy cough
no teeth yet
she is producing wet nappies but less frequent and they seem more yellow
her poo is reasonably regular but pretty solid
one minute her cheeks are bright red, the next she's deathly pale, but her overall temperature is ok
she has no other underlying health problems that I'm aware of
she's started waking frequently in the night and is very difficult to settle, which is very out of character

I saw the hv today and she didn't seem too bothered, but I just don't know how much longer a baby can go with so little fluid. If anyone has any advice I'd be really really grateful.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

rallytog1 · 05/12/2013 20:40

Apologies - wrong board. Will get this moved.

OP posts:

MNHQ

RowanMumsnet · 05/12/2013 22:34

Hello

We've moved this to Children's Health now at the OP's request.

LoveSewingBee · 05/12/2013 22:44

I would see GP tomorrow.

In the meantime keep offering milk/water/food. Could she have a very sore throat? Would she lick an ice lolly or frozen bagle?

duchesse · 05/12/2013 22:45

At a guess, she might be teething- do her gums look sore? That could make her too uncomfortable to have a bottle or sippy cup in her mouth. Perhaps you could try offering drinks from an open cup (obviously at this age you have to hold it and let her sip from the edge).

The frequent waking could be from hunger/pain/thirst.

Having said this, I am not a doctor or medical professional and with a small baby it's often best to get them checked out professionally.

Beamur · 05/12/2013 22:47

Second that. Get it checked, could be a sore throat or even something like thrush in the throat which happened to a friend's child - made it painful to swallow.

Original poster

rallytog1 · 06/12/2013 07:21

Thanks everyone. I had a good conversation with the out of hours doctor last night and he recommended I should syringe small amounts of milk into her mouth regularly. Dd has been less than impressed with that, but at least it's got something into her. Will see the gp today.

OP posts:

MrsSpencerReid · 06/12/2013 07:27

In was going to suggest a syringe, DS has been ill and won't drink from a beaker/cup/bottle but will have a good amount, couple of 100mls, via syringe, also, jelly,yogurt will help with fluid intake. Good luck

Original poster

rallytog1 · 06/12/2013 09:49

Thanks all. Took her to the doctor this morning. He couldn't find any obvious problems with her throat, ears, nose, breathing etc, which is reassuring but doesn't bring us any closer to an answer. His best guess is that she's fighting off multiple viruses. So we just need to keep syringing the milk and hope she fights her way out of it at some point.

Definitely going to try jelly though - not least because then I can have some too!

OP posts:

Original poster

rallytog1 · 11/12/2013 09:52

Sorry to bump this but I'm getting to the end of my tether. With the exception of a couple of days where dd seemingly couldn't get enough food and milk, she has basically been under-feeding for a month now. I've been fobbed off by health visitors and two doctors who tell me it's either a virus or teething and there's nothing they can do. But this is a whole month now, ie one seventh of her life, where she has not been feeding properly. I can't see how this can't be doing her some harm now.

She won't take anything from a bottle, as she seems to think it's medicine (which she hates) so just won't trust me putting anything near her mouth and clamps it shut. She won't even look at finger food. I just don't know what to do and if anyone has any ideas I would be truly grateful as I'm honestly at the end of my tether now.

OP posts:

LoveSewingBee · 11/12/2013 17:37

Is she losing weight or has her weight gain slowed right down? If so, you could raise that with HV?

Alternatively, you could see a private paediatrician, they are often more willing to listen to your concerns and have more time (and can be expensive eg £100 or more). If this is an option you want to pursue you could contact the Portland Hospital if you are in/near London or contact your local hospital and ask if any of their paediatricians takes private patients (quite a few NHS consultants also see patients privately).

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