My 7 Week Old Has Stopped Eating

take her to the hospital. All childrens, tampa general, some place she can get the full amount of care she needs. It sounds like she might have a blockage or due to allergies might be having a reaction to the formula. My son also was on neutramigin due to milk allergies, and also had GERD. Please take her to another doctor who works with a team of doctors so that you can get the proper tests run to determine whats wrong with her. Please keep us updated!

I had a similar problem...the solution was a bigger nipple size! My son lost interest in eating because it was taking him too long to get anywhere! We have been using 3 month nipples since he was 6 weeks old, and he has been doing fine ever since!

They haven't checked for anything else - like maybe blockage?? - I would see if you can get a referral to a gastroenterologist. I was so stressed out w/ my baby who had GERD (acid reflux, etc. ) but my regular pedi. didn't think so and I was worried sick (literally) over it and nothing got better for either one of us until I got to the specialist and got an upper GI and confirmed that my daughter had a very bad case of it, but it eased my mind that they ruled out nothing else (and there are other stomach possibilities that yours may have???). Not to be negative about your doctor or worry you about your daughter, but I worked in the medical malpractice field, so I'm very jaded and always second guess things that maybe, just maybe they missed or that maybe someone else may find (like in my case). So, maybe you can ease your mind by just getting a specialist's opinion. I went to a WONDERFUL specialist - named Dr. Winesett in Tampa @ St. Joseph's Children's Medical Center right there @ the hospital and it was covered by insurance. They put her on medications that the regular pediatrician could not put her on and again, ruled out other blockage issues w/ an upper GI. They just have the baby drink this white stuff out of a bottle and do the xray to see how/if it goes down and if there's a blockage or if it comes back up, etc. Best of luck. Moms sometimes know best - trust your instincts and keep looking for answers!!

I would go to another pediatrician ASAP, even just for a 2nd opinion. It doesn't sound normal to me for a 7 week old to be eating so little and gaining so little, especialy at the time of a growth spurt.

Is the nipple flow too fast or too slow making feeding frustrating or difficult for her? Will they be willing to try something else (maybe its the taste?)? What about buying breastmilk from a milk bank.... she is sure to like the taste and it will be extremely healthy for her if anything else is going on (easier to digest, etc). Is the head of her bed raised to help keep acid down? I would keep her head elevated and burp often and most importantly consult another Doctor ASAP!

Dear J.,

I completely understand your concern, I was nervous when my son would refuse to eat, or change his eating habits. Have you considered taking her to a nutritionist? There is an excellent one in Clearwater - Dr. Susan Player - who can do non-invasive muscle testing and determine if your daughter needs anything that she's not getting from her food.

Maybe she have a thrush? White patches that look like cottage cheese or milk curds on the inside of cheeks,tongue or mouth .In this case call a doctor . She have a reflux or they don't now ?
I now that with my son all the medication that you say they did not work . I feed him every hour .He had a reflux and he was eating small amount but very often ( I was breastfeeding). He was also on allimentium .In this case even 1 oz is a good thing .Good luck .

I would be very cautious before switching to soy. My niece (8 mos) was on the hypo allergnic formula since birth, as well. The ped suggested soy, without ever testing for milk allergies. She had such a severe allergic reaction my brother had to perform cpr on her. Thank God he recently finished his EMS training. She's back on the hypo allergenic formula.

My son had terrible spit-up (projectile) as an infant. I disagree with the mom that said that acid reflex is overly diagnosed. In fact, because their systems are so new and underdeveloped MOST infants have some form of reflex. Most peds will diagnose it, but most won't actually treat it with anything. My niece was diagnosed, but she still isn't on any meds for it.

I agree that you should go to a pediatric internal medicine specialist. Just make the appointment for one. If you need a referal, make the appt. and tell the dr's office to fax it over after the appt. has been made. If you don't need a referal, then get on it! Sometimes pediatricians aren't right. I had a "wonderful" experience with mine when I said my son was no longer talking and seemed distant. Know what he said to me? "Turn off the tv and talk to him." I never went back again. He was later diagnosed with mild form of Autism. That doctor's name is Stanley Rosenthal and he still practices here in Temple Terrace.

Parents have to learn to be their child's advocate. Call/go to an ER, or go to an children's after hours (they usually have x-rays and that sort of equipment, too) as suggested since it's the weekend. At the ER, they should do bloodwork, take tests, even give her a MRI or C-Scan if necessary. From there they should even suggest a good specialist. In the meantime, google her symptoms and you'll be surprised at the medical pages that pop up these days.

If it's a blockage, stomach, or intestine issue, it can be fixed, but how will you ever know if she's never tested? I wouldn't put it off a second longer.

I'm not sure but I'd be worried too. I'd take her to a different doctor to see what they say. It's not normal for a newborn to not eat and gain weight. My daughter was premature and I know that they used a nipple that was a little faster than the typical #1 nipple for newborns because the milk came out faster. That way when she did eat, she would get more. They told me to make sure to wake her up for her feedings and than to feed her and to keep nudging her lip and moving the nipple around in her mouth to make sure to keep her focused on eating. They also had me give her vitamins that you can buy at CVS or just about anywhere called Polyvisol. She was one and a half months premature and now she's 3 1/2 months old and growing very well. Try the nipple change and just making sure you wake her up to eat regularly and also the vitamins to see if that helps. If not, you need to get her to see a new doctor asap. Maybe she just isn't taking to formula. Have you considered breast feeding? That may make the difference. Good luck and let us know what you found out and how things turn out.

You are right to be concerned and I think at this point i would find a new doctor asap or just go to the ER or after care center. Something just doesn't add up. My peditrician always said a child won't starve themselves on purpose, and its true.

You'll be in my thoughts and prayers,
L.

Find yourself a new doctor NOW! Something is not right and you need a more aggressive doctor!

She needs to be evaluated maybe by a gastroenterologist if your pediatritian cannot do anything. That is not enough for her to be drinking and she will get dehydrated and you may need to take her to the hospital if she if lethargic and not having wet diapers. It can be very serious if she does not get enought to eat and get very sick very quickly. If this has been going on for two weeks of only taking one ounce every three hours you need to seek medical attention for her.
I am a pediatric nurse. I would think your pediatrition would be more concerned with her little intake especially since she is so little there may be something else wrong.
Keep us posted
W.

I have not had this experience, but as a mother of 4 I can say that I do not think this is normal at all and if this were my child and the ped wasn't aggressivly trying to find out what was going on and why, I would find a new ped...but first I would call All Children's Hospital's ER ASAP and ask a nurse if this was normal and what they reccommended and if they thought she needed to be seen. I would be so afraid of dehydration.......

Good Luck!

run don't walk to the doctor-there is an issue that should be addressed and done so asap.............

At the end of the 6th week, beginning of the 7th they go through a growth spurt which would naturally cause them to eat more. They then reduce the amount needed. As long as she is gaining, she should be fine. When did you switch to that formula? I know it is one for babies that have allergies, . She might be rebelling to the taste; my son hated it. Did you try soy first? We thought he had a milk allergy and they switched him to the hypo one. I had them double check it with a blood test to ensure he was allergic, he wasn't and we went back to soy. If she has a spit up problem, hold her upright for 20 minutes after feeding.

My experience with Prevacid is that it takes up to two full weeks to work fully for acid reflux. So, hang in there.

I assume the doctor has checked for Pyloric Stenosis (spelling?)...a condition where the food just can't get through the stomach to the intestines? If they haven't, they need to!! It's easily fixed, but gravely serious if not detected...

Good luck. Melissa O'B :)

I think your dr should be a little more concerned. Also, I believe reflux in infants is extremely overdiagnosed. I know there are infants who truly suffer from reflux, but I would make my dr take a closer look. You know your baby better than anyone- follow your instincts. I will be thinking of you.

Please tell me you took her to the hospital!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!