I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

I had posted last week about the feeding concern with my baby. Then it looked he was starting to do better but now this week it's been bad. He's having even less ounces and even if he has a 3 or 4 ounce bottle it's a major struggle.

I feel like people just think i'm being the paranoid mother. There is a problem with the way he's feeding. He starts off sucking the nipple at his normal pace but then after an ounce (sometimes ounce and a half) he will stop and get fidgety. So I burp him and you would think after the burp he would pick up again with a steady sucking motion but no. Instead he slows down and ***** very slowly and it looks like he's drinking but when you look at the ounces intake you will see that it hasn't moved much. Feeding takes over an hour where it used to take shorter but that's not even the problem. He starts getting figety again after the first burp, he turns away from the bottle and even pushes it away or when he's sleepy he closes his mouth tight shut after you burp him. Or he'll fall asleep during a feeding and when he closes his mouth and you put the bottle down he wakes up but won't take the bottle again. He sometimes cries that he does not want it. He went 5 hours last night of sleeping through the night. I thought he would wake up hungry but instead we had to wake him up and you'd think he'd be hungry but he wasn't. He had 2 1/2 and stopped. Today he had a 4 ounce meal and a 3 1/2 but we felt like we forced it cuz he wasn't drinking it with hunger.


Between yesterday and today he's been sleeping more than usual. Yesterday he had his hepatitis shot and I don't know if that has anything to do with the way he is. Or if it's the fact that he is no longer on the Mylicon drops because he was on it for like 1 week and a half and the doctor said he didn't need it since he was feeling better. I don't know what to do here anymore. Doctor said he should be having 24 ounces withing a 24 hour period but that is not happening. I also told him what was happening wit the feedings yesterday but he said to just encourage him to eat more faster but I have tried everything I don't know what else to do...

Maybe the problem is the nipple but he never had a problem with it before. I am using a size 2 avent nipple. Maybe it's the milk. I don't know.

I have to call the doctor again tomorrow. Something has to be done. I don't know what is wrong with DS. I am so worried that he will loose weight at this rate and will have to be hospitalized.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

sounds like he has reflux...when my dd was about 2 months old she starting doing this...feedings would take about 1.5 before she would finish the bottle. she would fight me, turn her head and scream like she was hurting...turns out she had reflux, which is very common in babies. I know how it feels to not want to call the pedi, but trust me, they are used to it. They gave my dd Zantac and it helped. Let us know what happens.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Oh and sometimes he even cries when pushes the bottle away. I spoke to one of the doctors that's partners with DS's regular doctor cuz she was the only one on call and she said to check his temp. But he hasn't been crying of a temp.

But she said that sometimes they could still have a temp, especially with him sleeping more than usual.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Was your DD sucking slowly as well?

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

yes she was...DR said the reason for this was b/c the milk was burning as it went down...

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

are you BF or FF? If FF, what kind?

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

It sounds like maybe AR-

But what level nipples are you using-


Ryan had some issues s ucking as well- and has been on level 2 nipples since he was 2 weeks old...he was just a lazy s ucker. The first time we tried it- it was a little messy (because it will take time for them to adjust) but as long as he isnt choking.... the higher level nipple is fine...

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

No I am Bottle Feeding...

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Are you using Enfamil AR?

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Something similar happened to my friends baby and it was the formula she was using. I am not sure if you are using breastmilk or formula, but maybe he is allergi to what you are feeding him and it makes his stomach upset. Or he may just be a finicky eater.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

I dont remember what nipple size is for when but its sounds like you need to switch. IF they have to ssuck too hard to get the milk out they get tired. If it comes out quicker you may be able to get him to tale more in that time period.

Also DS always slept alot after shots.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

I don't know if it is AR, only that dd had bad AR and she was hungry, but cried hysterically through her feeding, arched her back, grunted- it was awful.

I would call your Dr. again if you are concerned, he can also do weight checks to make sure baby is gaining enough.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

How many ozs is he getting in a 24 hour period? Significantly less then 24? My DD drinks between 20-24 everyday and has been gaining weight steadily.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

We deal with the same thing with Katie. She has reflux. Ask your ped what to do and if he isnt gaining weight fast enough then they will do something.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

I am a big believer that a MOTHER KNOWS...if your doctor will not listen, find a new one. You are not being a new mom..you just don't feel right about something. He could have a gastro issue, try a new bottle totally..get a Playtex silicone nipple bottle. Maybe he doesn't like the nipple. My niece would not take ANY bottle but the ortho nipple from Playtex. Molly would not take ANY bottle but the silicone Playtex nipple- slow flow (for newborns). The stage 2 nipple might be too fast for your 1 month old son. I would get a slow flow nipple. Try the new bottles and see if that helps.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Do you use powder formula? If you do the nipples might be getting clogged. Their were time where Luka would do this and I would check and he wasnt getting anything. It could also be from the shot, Luka appietite wasnt the same when he had his shots at 2 months but the Dr. did warn me that he would sleep more and eat less. Maybe try another bottle he might not like that one anymore.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

My best friend has twins that were preemies. Her little one has AR and she has a had a hard toime getting her to eat. We have to force her to eat. Also we hold her cheek in with one finger to help her ****. All the other advice you got sounds good, but you should definitely ask your Dr about prilosec or some kind of AR prescription. Does he spit up? My friends baby actually spits up out of her nose!

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

ISnt AR when they spit up constantly, all day, and cant keep a dry outfit on for more than half hour? Ive seen acid reflux babies where that was almost always the case.
I dont think spitup is the problem, right ?
I think its more his lack of interest in eating/s* ucking, and therefore getting fewer than the required amount per day.

Im going to agree with Michele, in that you feel something is not right, mommy knows best, trust your gut and demand answers, and if need be, check out a different pediatrician.

HUGS TO YOU SWEETIE, I wish there was something I could do to help

Message edited 7/5/2006 9:56:25 AM.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

Well he doesn't really spit up a lot. He does but it's very little. The formula I am using is Enfamil Lipil With Iron. I use the Avent bottles nipple size 2. He's always done fine with it so that's why I don't understand what the problem is. He did however have 24 ounces within the 24 hour period. 24 1/2 actually. What concerns me is the way he is eating. He acts a little fussy so I burp him after an ounce sometimes ounce and a half (cuz he acts fussy) and then after the burp he is supposed to resume drinking but that's where the problem starts. He starts acting a little fussy again and sometimes let's out a cry as he drinks. Or he'll just slow down the drinking. His mouth moves verrrrrrrrrrrrrrry slow and you can just tell he's not drinking.

I don't know if it's the milk that's bothering him. Then the doctor said that eventually he wants to see him drinking 32 oz in 24 hours. Lost of Luck! We keep our fingers crossed if he'll take 3 oz. at a feeding. I don't know what all of a sudden this is happening. I understand he had shots but the effects should have worn off by now and not last for 3 days.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

After the feeding he seems fine and happy. The problem is in the feeding.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

It def sounds like reflux....My dd outgrew it by 6-7 months....in the meantime she needed Zantac, I would def call your pedi...The meds will help him eat without the associated pain. From what you describe it sounds as if hes eating very slowly b/c of the pain he is experiencing. My dd did the same exact thing...getting her to eat was such a struggle..and I was so worried about her getting enough milk on top of it.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

But sometimes he doesn't cry during the feeding, he just seems fidgety and like he wants to burp a lot. He passes gas a lot too.

But like Anna said if he had AR wouldn't he be vomitting and spitting up more. He's not really doing that. Zantac makes them **** quicker?

See I don't know if he does need Zantac or maybe he's a slow drinker sometimes. At one month should they be drinking a lot more of 4 oz bottles? It just took us an hour for him to finish a 4 oz.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

My dd had Silent Reflux.....What happens is the acid comes up but then goes back down, resulting in no spit up...Your pedi should be able to tell you over the phone what he/she thinks is the problem.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

But how can I tell for sure it's AR? He does not spit up or vomit. Sometimes he arches his back and sqirms around as if to say "i,m uncomfortable" so i burp him but then after that he still squirms around and drinks the rest of his bottle slowly or will push it away. Some feedings are fine but most of them are struggles.

When he sleeps he's fine. No signs of colic. When he cries sometimes during a feeding it,s more like he,s whining. It's noy like he continues to cry for hours on end.

So now his next feeding was supposed to be at 2 but he's been up since 10:20. He had a feeding at 11 and has been up since. Then he fell asleep for 20 minutes. This was around 12:50. Now his next scheduled feeding was for 2pm. But he fell asleep without even drinking half an ounce. Now what should I do??? wake him up in 3 hours to eat.

Re: I just want to cry...I don't know what to do anymore

If you search "silent reflux" you will get a list of symptoms...sounds very similar to what my dd was doing when she had it. Theres no real way of knowing. Most DR's will try an antacid...mostly trial and error. I would let him sleep...when he wakes up he should be real hungry and then maybe he will take more than 4 ounces..have you tried gripe water?? I know that is helpful also.