We are slowly having more and more issues with trying to get my daughter to eat. She has been formula fed from the getgo (milk didn't come in until a week after she was born, and she wouldn't take to latching on).
She is 9lbs 8ozs, and is only taking about 14ozs or so of formula.....maybe a little more.. Dr. is conserned but not sure how to proceed with this.
First of all I would be greatly concerned that my Dr does not know how to proceed. I would change Dr.'s. I would not be concerned with the amount she eats as long as she is gaining weight and seems happy.
First congrats! We had some serious breastfeeding issues too with my son!So I totally understand!
How is her weight gain? Does she seem hungry right after she eats or does she seem satiated? How often are you feeding?
Does she seem like she is having a problem with actually drinking--difficulties or uncomfortable? What is the temp of the formula? Some babies don't like it cold.
Can she keep up with the flow of the nipple? If she is spurting and choking it is too big. Does she spit up a lot right after she eats (sign of acid reflux).
I can't believe your Dr is concerned but doesn't know how to proceed? I would definitely get a second opinion!
I would also check and try the the following things:
*Get her on a feeding schedule--at 9 weeks every 3 hours or so(moving to 4 hours around 12-16 weeks) By keeping a schedule she will learn to take more at a time instead of snacking and also it will help you understand if when cries she is actually hungry or is tired, uncomfortable etc.
*Check nipple size--could be too big or too small. For example, if she is on a 0, try moving to a 1 so she can get more at a time. When you do move up a size, they will get more on them at first and will take a couple of days to adjust to the greater flow. They should not however choke
*Give her time to eat, some kids are slow eaters make sure she refuses more offers and doesn't just pull away.
*Check her position when she is eating. Keep baby's head straight in relation to the rest of the body. Drinking while the head is turned sideways or tilted back makes it more difficult for baby to swallow.
And like I said, get anther pediatrician's advice. There are different physical issues that can cause her not to eat well too -allergies, acid reflux, esophagus problems, etc. So they should be ruled out too.
My son had the same problems. He's almost 5 months now and finally gaining a good amount of weight. We tried 5 different bottles before we found one he would latch on to well. It was the playtex nurser with latex nipple. It was irritating cuz you have to buy liners for it, but we were just happy he would eat. Then after he started gaining weight better - about 3 months old, we tried different bottles cuz he seemed to be getting mad at the Playtex Nurser. He picked the Dr. Brown bottle with silicone classic style nipple. (when he first tried it he latched on perfectly but was sucking in a lot of air just at the effort of sucking, cuz the nipple # was too small. we had to go straight to a #2, and he's just now moving to a #3) It's a real pain to try a bunch of different bottles, nipples, and nipple sizes but if she takes to one of them and starts eating well, then it's worth it. I hate it for you that you're a first time mom going through this. My almost 5 month old is my 3rd :) so it's not so stressful for me as it is for you. I wish I could make it better for you!! Just know that you aren't the only one going through this. And you will get through it and so will your baby :)Just for the fact that you have posted your questions here shows that you are truly trying your hardest and best. And that is all anyone can ever do. I wish you best of luck and pray your baby starts eating and stops stressing you out!
Jen
Mom of 3 boys : 4.5 yrs, 23 months, & 4.5 months
My son was in INCU for 20 days after he was born and didn't start to take bottle for a good 2 weeks. While he was there we found out that he had a sucking problem (which was normal for what he went through.) So he had a nurse that was pacificly for retaining him on how to suck. I don't remember what it was that they did or I would pass it along to see if it would help you. But we might want to talk to your doc about something like this beening a issue. It didn't take long for my son to start taking the correct about of milk. Now he is only a little under weight for a 2 1/2 yr old.
M., my daughter was the same way and would only take 12-14 oz a day. I was tracking it every day and if she drank 18 oz I was THRILLED. As long as she is happy and is thriving and gaining weight there is nothing to worry about. (I know that is hard to imagine but if you were nursing you would have NO IDEA exactly how much she was drinking). Babies are miraculously good and knowing just how much they need! My daughter was 9 lbs when she was born so you would have thought she'd be a huge eater but she's just not. (well now she is 1 and she is on solids I swear she eats more than her 3 year old sister). Just keep getting her some weight checks and as long as she is growing, there is nothing wrong with her :) Good luck!
What formula are you given to her? I have always used Enfamil Lipil w/ iron for my two kids and it has been great!!!Also, pls check the nipples, maybe they are on slow flow and need to be swicth to fast..
go back to formula.At her age her intestines can't absorbe the milk'd nutriants. And when you re-start milk start 3/4 formula-1/4 milk if that is tolerated up oto 1/ 2 and halfthen3/4 milk 1/4 formula thenmilk. She might be allergic to moomilk if sobuy a goat
Had the same problem with my daughter. Tried breastfeeding but she had problems latching and she refused after about 1 month. She refused to eat and would only take about 10 oz. a day pumped milk in bottles at 2 months old. Doctor sent her everywhere and had every test. She had reflux but it was controlled with meds. Still didn't eat. Fianlly had to go see an occupational therapist who specialized in feeding disorders in infants. Made a ton of difference. She had a poor suck reflex amount other things. She is still small and doesn't eat alot - not even on the growth chart for weight - but is perfectly healthy and fine. Doctor had to diagnose her as Failure to Thrive for insurance to pay for therapist so I would check with insurance co. if you proceed.
Hi M., if your doctor does not know how to proceed, I suggest changing doctors. My nephew also had trouble eating for a while. We found out his (asophocus?) was a bit small. He also had a touch of acid reflux. That was about 26 years ago. He is doing very well, since they fixed the (asofocus?). But by all means, please get a second oppinion! What one doc does not find or know, another may be your answer to OUR prayers. Best of luck! Love in Christ, C.
Have you had a occupational therapist look at her?
Maybe try changint the type of formula. She may not like it. I had to change my son on 4 different kinds of formulas, he ended up liking Similac Advanced and we had to to Similac Sensitive because he was so gassy from almost every thing I put in him.
