Any medics here? 8 week old only taking 2oz feed because of apparent pain

[CantThinkofFunnyName]

I thought it might be reflux as going back a few weeks she was also sicking up quite a bit too. Took her to the GP who witnesses the distressing behaviour during a feed - pulling off, screaming as though in pain - yet evidently hungry. Was prescribed Gaviscon Infant - but tbh, cannot say it has made any difference, although sicking up has certainly decreased.

However, there is also an horrendous noise when the milk hits her stomach - like a "bodoing" and that's when she screams. GP examined her stomach and heard the noise and has referred her to a paedeatrician.

I chased paed dept today for the appointment and was told it will likely be another 2-3 weeks before an appointment is generated and for when, who knows! Problem is, she really won't take more than 1 or 2oz during a feed and then stops because of the pain. Each feed time is torture because I really have to persevere to get that much down her (she is bottle fed btw). She also seems to want feeding every 2 hours now because she is so hungry - but then only taking a tiny amount = vicious circle. She is averaging 12-14oz per 24 hour day in total, which I think is way too little for an 8 week old. She was taking 4oz at around 2 weeks old.

Any advice on how to deal with this or anything I should be pushing GP for? Quite at the end of my tether with this and utterly exhausted...

If it is at all relevant, she was 9 days early and born via elective c/s. She has had this stomach noise since birth but only since around 5 weeks old has it appeared to cause her pain.

I would take your DD to A&E and get to see a paediarician that way. To be honest you have a baby who can't feed - I think that's an emergency.

Do you Igglybuff? I think I'd just feel like a bit of a fraud - because when she's not feeding, she seems perfectly happy (for that one to two hours)! When I spoke to the paed dept today they did say, if you're worried go to A&E - and I replied - but it's not an accident and not an emergency - but the bloody system of appointments should work better!

Be interested to hear other opinions here.

hmm i thought i replied to this but evidently not,.

unless there are 2 threads?

anbyway, i said that if you have an nhs walk in centre take her to that and see a paed that way.

but if you don;t then yes, a&e. if you can't feed your baby then she needs to be seen. she cna't wait 2-3 weeks

what formula are you using?

ThisisYesterday - oooh, perhaps someone else is posting about the same thing then? I've only posted this one. We do have an NHS Walk In so that's a good point - I may well take her to that tomorrow. She is feeding - just not very much and after a while, is clearly in pain. I guess that's why I'm not seeing it as an emergency - but I know that something is certainly not right.

I am a total non fusser who barely takes her children to see the doctor and tbh, I would take her in too

if she is only feeding that little, the paed needs to look at her

(it may be bad reflux, might be an allergy/intolerance, could be a hernia - either way, we are all guessing and I would suggest you get her seen asap)

Foxinsocks - that's what I thought when I finally took her to the GP over a week ago. This is my third DC so not much phases me with the children. To find out that I have to wait weeks to be given an appointment for a child of this age, I think is appalling - but hey ho, the system!

I started a timeline today of how much she is taking and when so tomorrow, if I take her to Walk In, I'll have something good to show them.

Any medics here for their opinion?

and sorry you are struggling. Is awful when they are so little and feeding is a trial. Good luck and I hope they can find out what the problem is quickly!

what formula are you using?

Sorry - didn't see your earlier post Foxinsocks - SMA Gold.

I second childrens A&E, clinically she is in pain and not feeding well. It could be more than simple reflux.

From a getting seen perspective, if you go to a walk in centre (although they're good) you aren't going to see anyone who is a specialist. I dont think they are going to be able to do anything more than the gp and what you want to do is see a specialist as urgent since her feeding is worsening.

the only way your going to do that is by walking into childrens A&E.
Go prepared for a wait but I doubt they would think your over reacting. Hope your dd better soon.

Can't yes I would take her. Ok it's not an accident but who knows what might happen in the time it takes to get an appointment.

My DS had reflux which we only picked up after a choking incident (I thought it was wind). We saw three GPs - I kept on rebooking appointments until they gave us the medication. I did toy with going to A&E but luckily hassling the GP got us an answer.

In your case, you need to see the paed quickly.

Sorry to sound scary but I don't think it's worth the risk.

Another thing worth trying is telling the paed department that you will take appointments at short notice due to cancellations. But A&E is better!

Thanks all. BTW - she's not sleeping that well either - probably because she's not getting a full tummy! She merely naps after I've settled her, perhaps for 30 mins, although if we're out for a walk, I get lucky and she sleeps longer! However, at night time I am getting generally 4 hours out of her, which is definitely a plus !

ds2 was like this and his was milk allergy initially misdiagnosed as reflux but please don't take my word for it as being the cause for your dd as I have never seen her etc however if you suspect milk allergy/intolerance sma gold is probably the worst milk to give I know our local hospital has an out of hours health visitor available 6pm - 10pm every evening it may be worth finding out if your hospital does and with her agreement changing the milk

Thanks LM1. I googled (dont shoot me) and there are quite a few other chat forums where mums have posted exactly the same problem - albeit, some of the posts are very old. Mostly I'm finding replies that say, oh yes, that's quite normal - feed them what they want and when they want - 2oz every 2 hours is fine. Now uber ! I have lots of allergies (now sound like hyperchondriac) so milk allergy is, of course, always going to be a possibility. I took her to Baby Clinic last Monday and mentioned it to the HV but, tbh, I find them to be not at all helpful and nod a lot, saying oh dear, poor you!

would you consider trying her milk free for few days you can buy soy formulas dd1 had milk intolerance so with ds2 had suspicion but still spoke to gp first as it is quite drastic to change milk like that but if your hv and gp are useless maybe you could give it a try

Have you checked inside her mouth for thrush?
DS2 was the same at this age and it turned out he had thrush so when he was trying to suck it was painfull.After afew suck he would get upset and give up sucking.
Afew weeks later we also found out he was lactose intolerance and was put on lactose free milk.

My DS was also like this, milk allergy diagnosed as reflux, but i was breastfeeding.

You can buy hypoallergenic formula over the counter in chemists, Neocate, Nutramigen are two or you could try soya formula to see if it make a difference until you get seen.

ctofn your posts sound exactly like Jacob apart from the tummy noise Jacob's makes a noise like he was starving like grumbling when the milk hits.

Jacob has now been milk free for just over a week and we are starting to see a difference he has gone from taking 14/15oz to 18/19 I know its still not the required amount but getting better. He also goes 3 hours between feeds even 5 hours at night.

He still has the gaviscon as he is still sick.

I spent all day yesterday chasing up his appointment with the pead and they are going to get back to me.

Hope you are okay x x

Well Olivia took a total of 20oz yesterday - woohoo! She finished off with a complete 4oz feed at 10.30pm - so I'm really delighted with that.

I think logging every feed is certainly going to work for me because it appears that she is not taking much milk, but when you add it all up, it's perhaps not quite as bad as I think.

She took a 3-1/2 oz feed at 5.30 this morning (only 1oz in the middle of the night) and 1oz at 8.30am. I guess it all kind of pans out but it's still not quite the rule of thumb of 2.5oz for every pound of their weight.

She has her 2 month jabs on Monday (ouch) so I get to see the practice nurse and I think I will raise it then rather than go to A&E in the meantime - unless something drastic happens of course.

Thanks everyone for your help with this .

Great news can't. I hope things get better!