Help-baby ill and not feeding!

[Trialanderror]

Hi all

We've got a 5.5 month daughter who until last week hasn't given us any trouble at all. Has fed like a trooper (7-8 oz per bottle) and we started weaning her a couple of weeks ago on the usual (sweet potato etc), and took to it really well.
However for the last few days, she has been right off her food-going from 30 oz or so per day to 12-14 oz; and refuses after a maximum of 4 oz per feed. And as for weaning food-forget it. No chance! Not interested.
Anyway, we've been to the HV today, and she said see the Doc immediately-reckons anything less than 2/3rds normal feed is not good. Doc said 'Don't Worry-she's gettin over a virus'-but of course we are! Particularly as she projectile vomited both of our attempts to get some milk into her tonight.
She's getting over her first cold and still has a bit of a chesty cough. And one of her weaning foods (probably carrot!) did not agree with her bottom at all and set her off on a nasty rash. We just wonder whether either of these has irritated her stomach as well?
She is a big girl (19-20 lb) and lack of milk is not affecting her sleep-she does a solid 12 hour stint overnight. And apart from the feeding, she is pretty much her normal self-not quite as alert and lively, but perhaps to be expected as she is on low rations.
Has anyone else been through anything like this? It is just going on a bit too long for our liking, and are getting a bit confused by the conflicting medical advice!

Thanks a lot

Jo

very common IME - my 9 mo has had two similar bouts of this in the last couple of months. One included vomiting - something he never normally does. It passed and as soon as he felt better he went back to eating normally. I also find he stops eating when he's teething but again it always goes back to normal when things settle.

Having said that - you know your baby best and if you're worrid take her back to the GP.

As for the sleeping - I wish!

Is she wheezy at all ? One of the symptoms of bronchiolitis - a common complication in babies caused by the common cold virus - is poor feeding (plus wheeziness, drawing in of tummy under ribs as they breathe, temperature etc ) although it could equally just be a.n.other virus. Watch out for dehydration and any other symptoms (dd had a pathetic cry for example) if she continues to be sicky.

Thanks for your speedy advice!

She's still got some mucus in her as she has a chesty cough-but I don't think she's wheezing per se.
Doc took her temp and said it was fine. Similarly said dehydration was not a problem. She does get whingey towards the end of the day and does not enjoy her bath any more.
So it's all a bit strange and there is certainly something bothering her...
At least she's plenty of fat reserves built up over the last couple of months!

have just been thro EXACTLY same with dd. She had that horrid lurgy thing that's been doing the rounds. Took her to docs as wasn't feeding as much (4oz per feed down from 7ish. (she's 17 weeks btw) and grouchy. Doc was like, well how do you feel (I had virus too) and was like, grouchy and not totally hungry! So he said it was just the same and that it would be ok. I didn't believe him and was worried (and knackered) for 2 weeks but she's getting better now and back on the food. HV said they do go off solids when poorly. It's hard for them when they can't breathe, poor lambs. Found Karvol plug in thingy invaluable even afte she started to get better. Hope LO feels better soon. My dd came out other side and is now not grumpy again (apart from teething troubles) and started being less sleepy again. HTH

I've been through this with both of mine and it's so worrying, isn't it? I remember being in tears at some feeds with ds because he just wouldn't eat, having always had a massive appetite. But they both got over it eventually - it took a good couple of weeks before they were back to what i considered 'normal' amounts of milk and longer for solids. I know it's awful when it's happening but it will get better. The fact that she's still sleeping well, seems herself and has plenty of fat reserves is also a good thing.

My dd also always gets a rash on her bottom when she has a cold - I think all the snot she swallows irritates her, which also makes her throw up too.

The only real advice I think is not to worry too much . I'd keep offering her milk but leave the solids until she's back to speed on her milk then you'll probably find she'll take up where she left off. It does take a surprisingly long time for babies to get over these bugs, I've found so try not to panic yet!!

I understand the fact that she is getting over a cold, but is it possible that she has started teething on top of it all? Ds refused bottle when he cut his first teeth, his milk consumption went down for about a week until he cut his teeth (both bottom ones) and then it was back to normal with a vengence!

Hi again and thanks.

No improvement today-every time we offer her the bottle she turns her head away, so we've decided not to force it. Max 8 oz milk for the day-not good.
Doc/HV had another look after her fortnightly weigh-in and after she had another couple of vomiting sessions this morning; she's lost 1 lb+ this week.....but they checked her over and reckoned there was nothing excessive to worry about. So I suppose we'll have to wait for her to fight off whatever she's caught-at the moment, she's a very cuddly, sleepy baby!