DS suddenly hates DF! Should I just ditch it?

[~anna~]

Hi guys.  Just wondered if I could get your opinion.

DS is 19 wks, he's 13lbs, and at the mo is taking around 140ml / 4oz - 5oz every 4hrs, (which 'is not enough' so I keep being told! what do I do, force feed him for goodness sake!... sorry for ranting!!!) so including a DF, 5 bottles per 24hrs. 
For the last few weeks his feeding has been slightly erratic and quite stressful as he can get quite upset, and everyone is of the opinion he's having teething pain...

Anyway, DH and I have DF since day 1 at around 10.30, and he's always been fine, even if he woke up, he still carried on feeding and went back to sleep no problem afterwards, and slept until 7am... the last few nights though, he's either taken a small amount.. 2oz maybe, and then started crying, or started crying immediately once he realizes the bottle is in or near his mouth.   

So basically we don't know if its worth all the upset.  Last night we decided not to do the DF and just see what happened, and he slept from 7pm till around 5.45am!  I was quite surprised really, but at the moment I'm just not sure if he's going to take enough during the day to allow him to still sleep through the night as usual.  I've just been to get him weighed and spoke to the health visitor. She said in theory, he should take a little extra during the day, over the next few days or so to make up for what he's missing.  If he doesn't seem to do that then she recommended going back to the DF. 

If his feeding wasn't so erratic at the moment I wouldn't be so concerned, and I don't want to mess up his good sleeping pattern either.  Also, is 4 bottles enough in 24 hrs?  It doesn't seem right to me!   
So the question is, do we drop the DF and just see what happens like last night, or do we persevere even if LO is getting upset?   

Thanks in advance,  Anna

[hlatreille]

My DS was on 5oz until about 4 months old and he ate every 4 hours with a DF at 10:30pm, but I dropped it because I found that he truly didn't need/want it.  So I don't know if that isn't enough, seems about right to me that I can remember.

As for the DF, if he isn't waking, then I would drop it, especially if he is getting upset by it and not taking very many oz's.  So in order to make up that DF, offer more oz's in his daytime bottles.  If he doesn't drink all of it, oh well, you will get days like that.  He will let you know if he isn't getting enough during the day by his waking in the night. 

Try cluster feeding before he goes to bed for the night if you are worried about him not getting enough.

 

[* Paula *]

Huge hugs Anna, sorry you are going through a rough time 

If he is fussy during the day, and his feeds are erratic, he could quite possibly be teething, or perhaps coming down with a bug or something.

Is he showing any of the typical signs of teething?  Although he may not actually be cutting a tooth, they can still be moving up in the gums which is causing him some discomfort.

Have you tried rubbing some teething gel on his gums a few minutes before a feed to see if that helps him take a better feed.  If this seems to help, you can always offer a bit of teething gel before bed, and hopefully that will ease the discomfort for the DF.

What time are you doing the DF?  Have you tried playing around with the times, perhaps doing it slightly later?

What size teats are you using?  Do you think that DS could be bored with the flow, and perhaps be ready to go up a teat size?

I would not worry too much about the amount that your lo is taking per bottle.  As long as he seems content, and is having wet nappies, and is able to go the lenght of time between feeds, then he is doing perfectly fine.  Some lo's have a bigger appetite than others.  Every lo is different.

[cbald1976]

Agree with PPS.  sounds like he is happy to be getting the long sleep periods and doesn't want to be woken up for a feed.  Think that at this age, they are developmentally able to sleep through consistently.

Would try teething tabs but only if he is so fussy that he won't go to sleep, etc.  Try to increase his daily caloric intake.  Maybe offer more formula or if your HP is really that worried some cereal mixed in with formula?  I'm not sure if your HP suggests starting solids at this age, but mine was suggesting it at 4 months!!! (which i did not do so as to not mess with my milk supply BF) but as you're doing bottle, that wouldn't be an obstacle. 

[~anna~]

Thanks for the replies!   

Ok, so we do think he may be teething... drooling lots, constantly has something in his mouth, and you can see the white of the teeth under the surface of his gums.. I know it could be a while before they actually come though! We tried teething gel, but it didn't seem to make any real difference, and its obviously not affecting his sleep.

We do the DF at 10.30 now, we did it at 11pm for a while, but DS was waking early and the change helped with that. 
We're also using cross cut teats for his bottles so he can take as much as he needs...but because he's not taking his usual amounts, it would be hard to up his calories during the day. KWIM? 

With the solids thing, we're going to hold off for a little while as he has a mild case of reflux and apparently its better if we wait.

So, it may just be a case of forgetting the DF and just go back to it if he starts waking again??   

Paula, I definitely agree with you on trying not to worry about how much LO is taking, but its really hard!  He used to feed SSOO well and abt 6 wks ago, he just changed over night.    I know he wouldn't starve or anything, and he's still gaining weight, so I guess he's just got a smaller appetite, or we just need to ride it out, and wait for these peggies to arrive!!!

Thanks again, Anna   
   
 

[* Paula *]

Hugs Anna, I know what you mean about trying not to worry it is hard.  My DD was doing 4 x 9 oz bottles, and when she started teething her intake dropped dramatically.  Thankfully when the teeth cut through, she started taking her bottles well again.

keep on offering the feeds, and perhaps give a bit of a break inbetween the bottle.  We offer DD her bottle, she will drink about 5 oz in one go and then push the bottle away.  I generally leave her for about 20 mins or so, and then offer it again, and she does take a bit more.  May be worth a try.

Please keep us posted on how you get on.

[~anna~]

   Thanks for that Paula... we've been trying the same as you.. waiting a while then offering DS a bit more... doesn't work very often though!  Health visitors just do your head in when they keep on at you with 'he's not really taking as much as we'd expect!'  Anyway!!!   
I'll def post again with update. 

{{hugs}} to you too, and thanks again! 

[* Paula *]

Yes HV really do my head in too.  When DD was first born, she was feeding every 3 hours, and they told me I was over feeding her as she should be feeding every 4 hours    I asked them what they expected me to do when she was screaming for a feed after 3 hours.  They said she should be on a 4 hourly feeding routine.  I just ignored them and DD did so well on her 3 hour routine and pushed herself to 4 hours at around 3 months when she was ready.

[cbald1976]

Sometimes it's better to know your own baby than to worry too much about what the HP says he *should* be taking.  I think you're doing really well, listening to his cues and he looks adorable!  Really, each is an individual and it mostly evens out eventually anyway.