Choking when feeding

[rebeccamum]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question as I don't know what kind of problem this is. Anyway, I'm hoping someone here might be able to suggest me something. My daughter is formula-fed, pretty much from birth, she's been fed quite well although she doesn't have much at a time. She's 8 wks old but can only have 60-90ml per feed so she needs to have it frequently (a feed every 1-1 and a half hour).

Her only problem WAS chucking after feeds (she's a bit reflux) but right now she's also choking during almost every feed. She's been doing this for about a week and I don't understand why. Nothing's changed, I still use the same bottles and teats and I try to hold her differently to see if it'll help but nothing stops the choking. She doesn't seem to be in pain or bothered by it (only when milk comes out her nostrils), but I feel so bad when it happens. What's wrong with her? Should I see the doctor? I'm starting to get very anxious and scared when feeding time comes... :(

[JessandKirra]

Ditto to the above reply. use a slow flow teat or one designed for newbies. Also my DD chucked constantly but did not have reflux. I bought a thickener seperate from the formula so you can still premake the bottle and add the thickener as you go. Or if you make one bottle at a time go the Anti reflux AR formula they a re both great. The thickener is about $15.00 a tin, however you save your sanity as you dont have to do as much washing. :)

[rebeccamum]

Thanks TanUch! I use Avent bottles and teats. I have two sizes, one is size 1 (newborn size) and the other one is size 2. Is the size 2 slow flow or fast flow? I thought the teats were the problem as well but I have used both of them since she was born and she didn't choke on any of them before. So how come it suddenly causes her to choke? :confused: She also chokes on both teat sizes...

JessandKirra, I was temped to use a thickener but have heard and read that it's no use and a waste of money :confused: Now I'm not sure...maybe I'll ask her paed when I see him next month.

[Caitlin's Mum]

I'd definitely give the thickener a go. I have used it with my DS for reflux and it definitely slows them down. You don't need to use as much as it says on the tin though, otherwise it won't go through your newborn teats, you will probably have to use the no. 2 teats, which is what I use now for my 4 1/2 month old.

[Ky]

Reflux is accompanied by excessive crying, arched stiff back when burping, lots of uncomfortable swallowing noises when sleeping, interrupted sleep, and an inability to lay flat comfortably.

Not necessarily!

My son had severe reflux and all he did was constantly bring up his feeds and was never unhappy with it.

It depends on the type of reflux your child has ... silent reflux is accompanied by these symptoms, the other type (don't know a name) can be constant spewing and a slow growth rate along with it.

I had to use infant gaviscon and merbentyl for my son and it seemed to work. Neither of my kids got past the medium flow teat ... they were bottle fed until 12 months old. I used evenflo bottles and evenflo classic silicon teats ... they were excellent.

[rebeccamum]

Well yes...I suspect the teats might be the problem...but she also chokes when she sleeps sometimes, so it's not just choking on feeds. When she does it, it sounds like she's choking on her saliva or maybe phlegm. She also hiccups a lot and they last very long, sometimes 5-10 mins :eek: Does this have anything to do with the choking issue?

I'm so confused :(

I don't know if she has reflux and even if she does, it looks very mild to me. She doesn't scream like she's pain or wake up in agony in the middle of the night. She doesn't show signs of great discomfort even when she does projectile vomitting. I'll leave the reflux thing to her paed, we're seeing him next week so I'll have a chat about it with him. And yes, I agree that reflux and colic are usually misdiagnosed and that's why we're here to discuss and share our experience. :)

[rebeccamum]

Hi, TanUch! Thanks for your reply :)

I talked to a registered nurse this afternoon and she said the same as you - maybe it's a combination of mild reflux and the teats! She said maybe my daugther might have bubbles in her stomach (due to reflux/wind) and that makes her choke. She said try cross cut teats which won't flow if the baby stops sucking but they don't fit my Avent bottles, and Avent doesn't make cross cut teats. I then tried feeding her abit differently - when she stops sucking I lower the bottle prevent the milk to flow and wait until she starts sucking again, then tilt up the bottle. This seems to help a bit. The nurse didn't understand why this choking issue suddenly happens but she mentioned an article she read about using dummies to help with the choking thing. Well, I'm not sure if I want to try this...

My daughter had Nan Gold when she was born but it didn't agree with her (she cries everytime she pooped), her poop was fine though... a nurse suggested me switch to S26 Lactose Free as she suspected my daughter had lactose intolerance. She seemed better so we switched her to S26 Gold as we thought it was better for newborn. She's doing fine with this formula now so I'm a bit reluctant to change it...anyway, I think I'll wait a while and speak to her paed if he thinks we should try AR formulas.

[Heids]

Hi Rebecca,

I also recommend and would try.... Pigeon - Wide Neck Bottles with Peristaltic Nipple ( wide neck bottles with a Peristaltic nipple, designed to minimize air intake and encourages baby's natural sucking action.) Size S ( 0-3months ) has one hole so bub can suck what she likes as it reseals as does size Y ( 2-3months ) which has 3 holes which is prob better for formula as it is a bit thicker than bm.

Only costs 5.95 and fits the Avent bottles, we changed on Monday and have found success :)

Hugs Heids

[Heids]

To Heids, Hi its TanUch. I can't believe u found success with Pigeon Peristaltic Nipple. I did not recommend it previously, maybe u got me confused. What I said was that the Pigeon Peristaltic Nipple flowed way too slowly and the holes were too small. Also, the size S doesn't reseal, that's the Y cut one, and the Y cut one doesn't have 3 holes as u mentioned, it is cut like a Y, hence the term Y and opens and reseals like the letter Y. But if your bub is happy with them, fantastic!
It's just the mums in my mums group have all tried the Pigeon Peristaltic Nipple and they all said the holes were too small and it took 2 long 4 their bubs 2 feed. Anyway, that's just my thoughts, every bub is different. cheers.

Hi !

Compared to the Avent ones, I have found then a godsent.. but which ones do you recommend ? ( cause bub is still getting wind and it does take a bit to feed him )

Do they fit the Avent Bottle cause I have 8 of them and they were not cheap :(

Heids

Ps- Do you find the S better ?? I just though Y had more holes...lol

[rebeccamum]

Sounds like everyone (well at least 2 people here) has bad experience with Avent.

I have the same problem, Heids - I have 6 Avent bottles and if I need to change teats , I wonder if Pegion or Prima teats fit Avent bottles...bottles and teats are so expensive.

[Heids]

Thx Tan for all the info and advice, I think this website is just great ! with all info from mothers with the same experience's.

I purchased the Prima Teats yesterday ( quiet a few... heehee ) Newborn, Slow, Medium and Fast ! as I plan to have another bub hopefully in the near future and will use them for him/her as well. :o

I couldn't locate them anywhere near where I live so ordered direct online www.primababy.com.au ( they were more than helpful and with excellent customer service )

A really good price 2x for 6.95... I had them express post it to me so am waiting for arrival on Monday or Tuesday at the latest......

I have no doubt they will be what I have been looking for !

Hugs
Heids

[Heids]

No worries, Heids. Hope u have finally found luck with the Prima teats. Hugs 2 u too.

Yes Success...... first go ! We are on the Blue ones 3-6 months :D

Purple were a bit slow... but ready for the next bub !

Thanking you
Heids :p