Hi there mamas,
My lb was 10lb 4 oz at birth but has never been a great eater. He dropped half a percentile but HV not concerned.
He was initially breastfed but was constantly feeding... Not sure whether it was just me popping him on the boob every time he cried but he was forever bobbing on and off and never seemed full.
We moved to formula at 3 weeks and he was on Aptamil but was constantly spewing and saturating his bibs and clothes. He was/is very fussy around feeding times. The doctor diagnosed reflux and he was prescribed Omeprazole for 3 weeks and Carobel thickener. The thickener definitely worked in terms of spewing and he was taking feeds of around 4 oz 3 hourly. He would very rarely finish 6 ounces at 6-12 weeks.
We took him off the carobel and just gave him Aptamil No. 1 and he was fine for a few days but then the excessive spewing and wind issues arose so we put him back on Carobel. However, he has begun to refuse his bottle and fuss and cry when offered it.
He was always very difficult to get to sleep but now he is very unsettled most days. I'm not sure whether overtiredness is the issue or if he's in any discomfort (reflux again). Is it normal for a baby to fight sleep all day everyday? Lol His naps have never been longer than 30 mins (maybe 45 mins the odd one). He will usually sleep in the pram when we're on the move or in the car seat but that's it. Unless he's feeding to sleep, he doesn't like being rocked, cuddled or bounced to sleep etc.
I don't know whether he doesn't sleep well because he never really has a fully belly (only at nighttime).
The only way to get him to sleep was feeding to sleep but now that he's refusing the bottle, that's not an option. At night, he would feed to sleep but always wake 30 mins later and take more of his bottle before falling asleep. It can take 1-2 hours to settle him for the night. He usually goes to bed between 8-9 and can sleep for 8 hours, another feed (usually 3 ozs) and then back to sleep until 6:30-7. He seems contented in the mornings but won't touch his bottle until 2-3+ hours of being awake. Then he'll maybe take an ounce or two. So spacing out his feedings doesn't seem to help.
He hates lying back. If you sit him on your knee, he will strain his neck forward to sit up and only seems comfortable sitting upright or upright over my shoulder but yet he enjoys lying flat and playing on his mat so not obvious signs of reflux? Maybe this is because he is a very alert baby?
Also, I can't feel anything along his gum line but again, his bibs are saturated with saliva. Seems excessive to me. Could it be teething?
any advice mamas? I'm pulling my hair out because my lb isn't eating well (or sleeping well).