Baby not gaining as expected (5weeks)

[Lanzy]

health visitor weighed baby today, baby is 5 weeks old and I BF and formula feed, she had been on 90ml and lately I’ve been given 120ml as she was going through 90ml though I have always fed on demand but usually 2-3 hours. Lately baby has been pushing bottle out her mouth then screaming, I peserve because she looks then repeats etc. which is confusing.
she has plenty of wet nappies
and poos are always runny. Today after health visitor seen she said maybe it’s the teat so I have now bought teat 2 size as recommended. Mum had fed whilst out and she was sick after her being more settled lately last weeks. I also fed her when she was up hours later and again sick everywhere. Baby when first born few weeks would be sick a lot and it settled. I give her kendamil as had previously been on cow and gate. I did mention to GP I feel baby has reflux weeks ago because she grunts lots and sick if on back too soon. I always sit up with her 30 mins and now I’m drained on lack of sleep and having baby that doesn’t like being put down at all. Now the pressure to feed feed when baby is going to throw it up!
the gp previously gave carobel? but with that would that then defeat teat size as it thickens things? Would it then cause her pain of constipation would I be better with a different formula or..I broke down in tears tonight. I’m autistic and mum says i’m doing great but to see that she hasn’t gained as expected I feel lost

should i be doing more than 120ml

baby was 5lb11 when born
She is now at 5 weeks 3.1kg which i think is 6 13lb
said she has gained but not where expected

Persevere with the carobel if it’s definitely reflux.

I’ve used carobel with two of mine. The trick is to use it with a bigger teat. So I use a stage 3 (labelled 6 months +) for my 6 week old. Won’t be long before I move her on to a stage 4 and eventually a y cut teat.

The thicker milk needs a bigger teat to get through at a similar speed to normal milk through the correct age teat. If it’s not coming through the teat, or too slowly, baby will exhaust themself sucking and getting nothing. Equally if it’s too big and the flow is too fast it comes out the sides of their mouth and floods.

I use for example 6 scoops milk to 3 of the tiny carobel scoops. Again this is something you can adjust to your baby. If it’s too thick try 6 milk scoops and 2 carobel scoops. As mine got older and reflux calmed down I reduced the ratio of carobel and slowly weaned them off once they were walking (upright, so huge and sudden improvement… hang in there!).

If poor weight gain continues, she’s unsettled and refluxy then I would look at CMPA and tongue tie.

I’d personally see an IBCLC, see if they can check tongue function, then consider allergies after that. Latch not being good can mean poor milk transfer and reflux.

I’m sure you are doing a great job and everything you can. Be kind to yourself. Reflux babies are hard work! Always want to be held. Hate being put down. Cry because they have a sore tummy. Cry because they’ve been sick after feeding and are now hungry again. Cry because they’ve been sick and it tastes horrible. Cry because it takes longer to make the milk with carobel and wait to let it thicken.

I've been driven to tears with professionals telling me there was nothing wrong/nothing they could prescribe etc. You are not alone and I promise it will pass and get better.

Refluxy baby here - screaming, arching her back, vomiting after feeds, etc. After trying thickened milk, which helped but not massively, she's now on 10mg of omeprazole per day. It's really been a game changer for us.

My baby was also 5.11 at birth. It really is harder with a smaller baby to get milk into them. Mine would vomit if I gave more than 60mls for about the first 6 weeks of his life. Keep on at them for ways to help - some babies just need extra help.

Mine is now 8 months. Born on the 2nd percentile now the 25th. Around 8 weeks he started demolishing his bottles.

You are doing everything you possibly can.

This isn't your fault .

Sending hugs hun x

A hug for you because oh my goodness sounds like silent reflux and those babies are very very hard work. They do grow out of it but I would really go back to your GP and ask them to prescribe something.

In addition, find a lactation consultant to check for tongue tie and watch you breastfeeding so they can check latch and positioning too. Improving your / baby's latch will make a huge difference in the amount of milk baby is able to transfer and swallow.