Starving but wont take his bottles.

[FourAngelKisses]

This is driving me absolutely insane and I'm hoping that one of you lovely ladies might be able to help.

This week, Troy has been refusing his bottles. He was always a big eater, about 150-230mls each feed, but then he dropped down to around 60mls. You can tell that he is starving because he gets really mouthy and gulps it down really fast. But most times, you put the bottle in his mouth and he cries and gets mouthy, but wont suck. So I try to burp him and then have another go and he does the same thing. I end up putting the dummy in his mouth and he sucks on it really hard and you can tell he is starving.......yet he will not take the bottle. Sometimes he will take it, then refuse to have more after about 40-50mls.

He is in his pram at the moment sucking on his dummy as if he hasn't been fed in a month, but he will not take the bottle I just made up. I am wasting at LEAST 6 scoops of formula a day on bottles that he wont drink, and at least another 4 on bottles that he will start but not finish.

He is still on Infacol for wind, he is pooping daily without needing Coloxyl. I just don't know what to do, it is stressing me out so bad having him cry and cry because he is hungry.

The ECHN isn't in until Monday so I can't ask her what to do until then. I was thinking it was the formula, but if it was, then shouldn't he have been doing this from day 1?? Other thing I'm wondering is silent reflux.......but he doesn't do projectile vomits....just screaming and refusing food. Oh, when he does it, he always shakes his right leg around as if it is something tummy related.

[Zada]

can u ring the child health nurse line?
the number is 132229

[Chickadee]

That must be so upsetting for you to watch him. I don't have a solution, just some suggestions if you haven't tried these already. These are pretty much in the order that I would try them in.

- Start making his bottles smaller. This won't make him drink more but might cut down on some of your frustration and expense. If he will usually only drink 50-60ml then don't make them much more than that. I used to sterilise a plastic jug (sealable) and make a day's formula up in that. I kept it in the fridge and that way I could just make up small bottles as needed without wasting so much formula in a day.
- if he is having smaller bottles, he will need to have them more often. Bub's often go through a growth spurt so it's quite normal for them to be feeding more often sometimes, no matter if they're bottle or breastfed.
- if he is gulping at his bottles he might be swallowing a lot of air. do you actually get a burp out of him? If not then you might need some help on that (I had to get a midwife to show me her tricks!)
- Try changing the position you feed him in just in case something is pinching or he's uncomfortable. If you normally hold him in one arm then try the other one. Or put him in a bouncer or similar.
- Check that the flow rate is right for him. If it is too slow then he's going to be getting tired of drinking before his tummy is full, and that might also contribute to him refusing bottles.
- Hit the chemist and try an alternative bottle and teat style.

[belinda]

hey jeanette,

it sounds a bit like what luke had when he was around that age and i had him tested for alot of things and he ended up having lactose intolerent and i had to change his formula and also luke had silent reflux he would scream and scream all day and night and would projectile vomiit on occasions aswell... but even after changing his formula he would still vomit as the medication and stuff only stopped the pain not the vomiting so it could be wise to take him to get checked over by a dr maybe....


sorry i am not much help but i hope he gets better soon..

:hugs:

[alanasmum]

At around 5 weeks old my DD started doing the same thing. She would scream and fuss drinking the bottle. It was reflux. I would suggest seeing your doctor. Also, check to make sure you are using the right teat on the bottle for his age. I don't know why but some bottles come with a medium teat instead of a newborn one. :confused:

[FourAngelKisses]

can u ring the child health nurse line?
the number is 132229

Is that a national number??


- if he is gulping at his bottles he might be swallowing a lot of air. do you actually get a burp out of him? If not then you might need some help on that (I had to get a midwife to show me her tricks!)

- Check that the flow rate is right for him. If it is too slow then he's going to be getting tired of drinking before his tummy is full, and that might also contribute to him refusing bottles.

4 out of 5 times I will get a burp out of him. I did think he would be swallowing a lot of air because of the way he drinks it. I was wondering if putting him on a faster flow teat would slow him down because he would be getting more.


hey jeanette,

it sounds a bit like what luke had when he was around that age and i had him tested for alot of things and he ended up having lactose intolerent and i had to change his formula and also luke had silent reflux he would scream and scream all day and night and would projectile vomiit on occasions aswell... but even after changing his formula he would still vomit as the medication and stuff only stopped the pain not the vomiting so it could be wise to take him to get checked over by a dr maybe....

Will ask to have him checked out at my 8wk checkup, if he is still doing all of this then, thanks!!


At around 5 weeks old my DD started doing the same thing. She would scream and fuss drinking the bottle. It was reflux. I would suggest seeing your doctor. Also, check to make sure you are using the right teat on the bottle for his age. I don't know why but some bottles come with a medium teat instead of a newborn one. :confused:

He is on the number 2 Avent teats, he started on those 2wks ago. Might put him back on the 1's for a while, maybe that will help??
DD had reflux, it started at around 3wks. She would projectile vomit more than what she would get fed, but Troy isn't doing that. What are the differences between reflux and silent reflux?

[belinda]

silent reflux i think is when they have the pain but not too much vomiting and are still putting on weight as they said luke had silent reflux as he was still putting on heapes of weight but he was screaming in pain and would vomit regularly...

but you know what doctors are like they have so many different reason and explanation for everything...

hoe he settles soon jeanette....

[Zada]

yep it says on my sticker anywhere in aust

[FourAngelKisses]

Oh, I have some Mylanta in the cupboard, it should be okay to give him 1ml (I think thats what I got told to give DD...I can't remember as it was 8.5yrs ago) shouldn't it??

[FourAngelKisses]

thanks zada, will call the later when i get a spare hand.

[belinda]

yeah we tyed mylanta and gaviscon with luke as well it healped but i cant remember what age you can give it from sorry....

[FourAngelKisses]

Ooooh, this sounds like him.......


Irritability/crying/screaming
Vomiting, posseting or regurgitation;
Recurrent hiccups;
‘Wet’ burp or hiccups
Feeding problems
refusal to feed or only taking a small amount despite being hungry
comfort feeding- wanting to feed frequently
pulling away and arching their back
crying during or after feeds
gagging/spluttering
displaying a fear of food or unwillingness to eat
Sleeping issues
catnapping during the day

http://www.reflux.org.au/presents.php

[nuddle]

hugs sweetie, I have done a lot of reflux research over the last few days, and it sounds like it to me. Let us know what that nurse sais when you call

[belinda]

oh hugs jeanette it does sound like he does have it.. just go to the gp or ring the nurse line......

[FourAngelKisses]

I'll see if I can get him to the GP next week.


Thanks everyone!! :hugs:

[FourAngelKisses]

Okay, all booked in for 9:30 wednesday.

I'll need all the "get ready for school on time" fairies I can have that day with a 60km drive in front of me at that time of the morning, lmao.

[Trumpet]

My DD did this but we found out she had oral thrush.

[FourAngelKisses]

we have success!!! he just downed 120mls in one sitting for the first time in days. no tears, no fussing, just straight forward drinking!! :smiliedance: god bless mylanta!

[SairBear]

:hugs: so glad hes taken a drink without fussing. Its amazing what mylanta can do. Look after yaself jeanette. :kiss: Hope he sleeps and feeds well tonite so u can get some sleep!.

xoxoxox

[nuddle]

that is the best news Jeanette, hope it continues, and hope you can all get some sleep tonight.