Worried about my 4 month old

Hi,
I stopped breastfeeding when my DS was about 3 and a half weeks old as he was not getting enough out of me. I put him onto NAN gold formula and he was ok until he got reflux. I then moved him onto Karicare AR formula for his reflux which is good as he no longer has the reflux on this formula but, that was roughly 2 and a half to 3 months ago and since doing this he no longer eats properly. He very rarely eats a full bottle. I thought that maybe it may have been to thick for him so I put him back on Normal formula and was going to get him properly diagnosed by a doctor for his reflux, but he is doing the same thing on normal formula. He will not eat a full bottle, for example his last full bottle today on normal formula was at 2:00am this morning. I have tried feeding him since but he has about 20-40 mls and then he wont take anymore. He also screams when trying to feed him and has done this now for about 2 months. It is like he is fighting with his hunger. I have spoken to the health nurses but they have been no help. I am at a loss, feeding your baby is supposed to be a nice quiet relaxing time together, and its not that at all. I get so upset because I am constantly fighting with him to drink his bottle everyday. I have really had enough I dont know what else to do anymore. Any suggestions on what could be the problem? Please Help!

Just wondering if you have made the holes bigger in the teats with with thickend formula. I only ask as both my kids have been (DS still is) on the HA-AR thickend formula. With my first she would only drink a small amount as it was such hard work to get the formula out of the teat and she was too tired or exhausted to drink anymore. Once I made the holes bigger she was great. As he is the same on the normal formula if your bub has reflux it may be burning going down the throat (I'm no doctor but just a thought). Is your bubs gaining weight? Are you feeding him at 2am because he hasn't had enough during the day and he wakes at that time hungry? How often during the day is he being fed - maybe it needs to be small amounts more often. I don't really know the answer. I'd probably book into a pead to see what they think especially as he is screaming with each feed and you are getting no where with MCHN's. As it has been going on for so long I'm guessing it can't be an infection or you would have had a temp well and truely by now. I've woffled on without giving any help so I will go now!

Im sorry to hear about your DS. I dont have any advice but i hope some one can assist you.

DD went thru phases where she wouldnt drink either. I tried new bottles, new teats, different temp for her milk. I got best results changing teats though.

I guess if he isnt drinking milk, u need to make sure he is getting fluids other ways then. Water in a bottle, sucking on wet face washes, ice cubes, warm water.

HTH :)

nikbrad i did that when i first put him on the thickened formula forgot to change the teats and he was sucking and getting nowhere lol. The teats i use now are the cross teats at the top of the teat not the side of the teat as the side cross teats are to hard for him. I am yet to get him weighed this month but every other time i have gotten him weighed he has been on a good curve. Yeh he seems to wake between 2 and 4 during the night as he is hungry. when he was 3 months he got into a good routine 11:30pm untill 6:30am, and then all of a sudden that went out the window. Well I have been demand feeding because of his eating habits, I tried to change this the other day because i would like to get him into a routine but I cant because he wont eat. It says on the tin 4 to 5 bottles a day but he does not have that much. i have him booked to see a doc on the 5th of next month but it just seems so far away. kimbaz i try and offer him water as much as i can through a bottle but thanks for the idea on wet face washes, ice cubes. one question os there any chance he could be lactose intolerant?

Hi Mel... sorry to hear you're having such a hard time :( I haven't been through this personally, but one of the mum's in my mother's group has a little bub who they worked out finally was indeed lactose intolerant. She was having probs with bubs feeding. She is now on a soy formula and has grown so fast she's in fact overtaken so many bubs in our group. I don't think you can get these formula's in sachets to try though, I think you have to actually buy a FULL tin. I hope you find something which works for bubs so it can be a relaxing time to feed him.

Hi Ozziehoffy, I rang the health nurse again today and spoke to one that was not dealing with my case to see if I could get a different answer than "Idont know" I explained my situation and she then pulled Jonathans file (my son) to have a read. I asked her if he could be lactose intolerant and she said from reading his file he is no doubt lactose intolerant and to go down and get lactose free formula. She said if he still fusses over his bottles by Monday next week than she will have to have another look at what it could be. I wish now I had spoken to her in the first place instead of the other one who kept on saying "i dont know" all the time. So hopefully this is the answer and he will start drinking again :)

Hi Mel, I know what your going through, my DS acted the same around that same age and stil now! He is nearly 7 months. If your DS is not lactose intolerant then some other suggestions are that the formula might be too hot, I had this problem at one stage, I think it burns thier throat a bit then any feeds after that can be painful as well. Maybe the flow is too fast in his bottle teat, this also upset my DS. Check inside bubs mouth as well to make sure there is no ulcers, also teething can make them naughty with the bottle.
When my DS was quite bad I was very stressed becuase I felt like he wasn't getting enough and no one could give me answers so I just had to push on. I got around it by offering small amounts over whole awake periods, say 20mls every 10 mins, annoying I know but it makes YOU feel better. My DS always seemed to be ok with the midnight feeds though, it was strange. Since my DS turned 6months he is too big for me to try and hold down and feed while he is struggling and screaming so I found out the most fantastic way to feed him! Put the handles on his bottle so he can feed himself! When your DS is old enough you can try this, I have avent bottles and you just buy the handle attachments.
If none of my info helps and there doesn't seem to be anything medicly wrong with him just be patient, he will change his routine again soon enough, oh and never mind what it says on the tin about how much they should have, its just a guide, my DS has 4 bottles of 180mls in 24 hours, sometimes more, sometimes less. I hope have some luck because I know how frustrating it can be!!

Hi everyone, Just to let you know I had Jonathan at the doctors today, He is not lactose intolerant, he has severe reflux, the doctor has put him on Gaviscon Infant, I have to try that for 4 weeks and if that doesn't work I have to take him back, and he will prescribe something else. He is pretty sure the Gaviscon will work though. Thank you for all your help, and kind words. We will just see how this goes and if it works. Thanks again. :)

Hi there,

Both of my kids had reflux so I've been through all the meds, etc with them. Thought I'd let you know what you may be in for:

I found Gaviston a real pain to give, as you need a sterile bottle to dissolve and give to them. I recommend using normal adult Mylanta, just give 2ml with a syringe, no more than 3x day.

Once you find that stops working (which it normally does in severe reflux) your doctor will probably prescribe Zantac liquid. If that one stops working (which it may after a few months) then you'll be moved to Losec. I hear the liquid doesn't work so well but the pills are really good, you just put it in a syringe with water then shake until dissolved.

When reflux kids are 1 year, 95% of them are all better, and by 18 months 98% of them are fine. The last 2% are the problem kids and they may have to go through horrible tests, etc.

Finally (sorry for the long post!!) if you're seeing a specialist, make sure it's a Pediatric Gastroenterologist who specialises in reflux. There are many GPs who don't acutally know what they're doing.

Good luck and I hope this helps!! I'm happy to share reflux support if anyone needs it!

:) Lauren

Also just a thought you cant use Gaviscon with thickened formula. My Dr recommended it too but when i read the info that came with it i couldn't use it.

Hi Caro I read your reflux/colic/windy baby post. Very interesting, if this stops working then I may have to get some details off you about that pharmacist. I had to change JP's formula he was on Karicare AR, but as you can not use the gaviscon in already thickened formula I put him onto normal Karicare for infants. The gaviscon infant that I buy is in powder form and I just heat his bottle and then add the gaviscon into it and make sure it is shaken in properly. He has now been on gaviscon with the new formula since Friday and he is a different baby. No more regurgitation, or vomiting and no more screaming at feed times. The only time he cries now is if I take the bottle out to burp him lol. I am much more relaxed now than ever feed time now is not a fight its a blessing. I will keep that miracle cure in mind though just in case this decides to stop working. But at the moment everything is running so smoothly I cant believe the new little man I have.:D

Mel
I am glad that you have found some relief for your little man.
My little guy also has reflux, and originally, before being diagonised, was on karicare gold. When he was diagonised, i was told to give him mylanta, which i did, but, whilst it helped the reflux, i believe it gave him huge tummy pains. So, i now give him losec. You can go to the chemist, and get it made up in a liquid, but, under advise from my paed, i get the tablet form, and crush, dissolve and give that to him, as my paed says that its a stronger dosage then the liquid form. The results are instant. You should really see a vast improvement.
I then put Aiden onto novalac for reflux, but, again, under the advise from my paed, have put him onto Nan 1 HA Gold. Aiden started to throw up again with the reflux formula, and it was starting to get little white solidish bits in it. When i asked the Paed, he advised me to stear clear of 'thickened/reflux' type formulas, as they mask the symptoms. I have had no problems with Aiden on the thinner formula....
Except that is, forgetting to change the teats back! He was getting the getting the milk way way to fast :lol: