Bottle Feeding struggles

[Sunisshining12]

Hi,

My 10 week old started off feeding well. But the past few weeks feeding time is becoming more stressful & very time consuming.

She will drink 1-2 ounces fine, then pulls away from the bottle. I burp her, sometimes change her, then when she goes to continue the bottle & I put the teat near her mouth she screams & squeals so much & pulls away crying.

If I put her down or just hold her after the couple of ounces she will root, chew her fists & go on to cry 5-10 mins later so I know she is still hungry.

I’ve tried different bottles & changed her formula to Hipp. I’ve tried various feeding positions for her, more upright, noise/no noise etc.

The only way to then get her to finish her feed is by walking up & down, rocking her & tapping her leg & the bottle!! She will usually drink 4-5 ounces this way & is content after.

If my husband or mum tries to give her a bottle it’s the same, she drinks some, then same behaviour. But won’t continue the bottle at all for them.

It’s becoming exhausting in the night especially as my husband can’t get her to feed. I BF my first so no previous experience.

Have I created a rod for my own back by walking around tapping & swaying her? Or is there more going on?

Have you tried upping the teat size? She could be getting frustrated with having to work harder now and giving up. Or she could be showing signs of silent reflux. Both mine suffered with it. Does she arch her back at all?

Sorry posted too soon. It’s awful and very stressful having a baby who won’t feed. I remember those days well. So you have my sympathies. If she is showing signs of silent reflux it might be worth a trip to the gp. My second started on ranitidine then had omeprazole. She also has CMPA and gerd though. Hop you get some answers and she starts feeding for you soon. Could also be distractions? My second had to feed in a completely dark and quiet room in the end.

Sorry to echo the above posters. What you describe is the only way my LO (18 weeks) will feed. Diagnosed silent reflux (takes omeprazole) and CMPA. They say he has a feeding aversion now. Getting the first 50ml in is an epic battle of wills (used to be impossible though so this is an improvement) and he needs the distractions from walking, and after that he falls asleep after some wailing and I get the rest in then. Been through all the bottles and over the counter formulas, now on prescription formula and NUK bottles. I bought a toddler hip seat to help take his weight a couple if weeks ago since 5x 40 minute feeds a day, all being walked in, were killing my arms.

The stress is immense, I feel for you. My LO doesn't even have hungry queues anymore, would happily starve. I've instilled the feed to sleep habit just to get a pattern of getting it in him now.

Thanks, it is really stressing me out. It’s not her fault but I feel annoyed with her. I chose to bottle feed this time so that others could help me out (as I have another child with additional needs). But no one can seem to feed her so it’s more of a burden on me.

She isn’t sick & doesn't arch her back or bring her knees up. She’s not constipated. After a successful feed she’s happy, will sleep on her back & is content. She doesn’t scream or cry badly, it’s just the squealing when the bottle goes in for the second half. So I’m not sure about reflux? The whole process means one feed is rolling into the next.

What I failed to mention was that she had her tongue tie snipped. Could it be this still?

I’ve tried various teat flows, bottles & brands. She will drink the first 1-2 ounces fine (sometimes 3 if I’m really lucky) but after that it’s the constant walking, rocking, tapping. Doesn’t matter if there’s noise, dark, light, sleepy or wide awake. It’s the same every time.

I’m going to get in touch with the HV but because she’s gaining weight I don’t think they’ll take me seriously. If I didn’t walk, rock & tap her she really wouldn’t feed as much - but I don’t want her to loose weight if that makes sense?!

Try colief drops

Hi. How are you getting on? Is she feeding any better? Could be the tongue tie. Maybe she’s in pain. Is she old enough to try calpol. Just to eliminate pain? Did you try the variflow teat size. I know what you mean about being frustrated. You just want them to feed and it’s stressful when they won’t no matter what. Have you tried dream feeding? Feeding her when she’s more or less asleep?