what do u think?

[yaya]

As some of you may know, emily 5.5 months has been giving me major feeding issues (refusal to feed) BUt the last couple of days I've actually managed to get her to latch on HURRAY! She's feeding for about 3/4 mins which is very very little but when I express I can get about 120ml in 6/7 mins....
I am obviously happy shes feeding again and I dont insist whne she pulls off as I have done before and she threw it all up BUT I am pretty worried as her milk intake is sure to be low, she hasnt put on any weight in over 1.5 months (going to specialist moday...reflux) Well today she fed and I was pretty engorged after still as she snow having a solid lunch so I 'skip' a feed, anyway I thought I'd express from the side she fed from and got about 20ml. Does this give any indication as to how much shes getting from a feed? Not really sure whats going on with regards to how much milk shes actually getting....
Anyt ips?

[zed]

I don't know the answer to your question per se, but I have found that I could pump 1 or 2oz less than I figured my boys actually ate, (based on what they drank from a bottle.)  If that is any indication then I would assume that your LO is very efficient and getting all she needs in a short time.  However, the weight thing concerns me.  I think it might be worth your while to go to the Dr. or Health Nurse and have her weight done before a feed and then after to measure what she is actually getting in a feed.  The other thought I have is to count how many wet diapers she has in a day.  I don't remember how many wet and dirty diapers they are supposed to have at this age but I remember changing my guys 8-10 times in a day at or around 6 months old.

I hope this helps.

[Samuel's mum]

Glad she's latching on.

I don't whether or not this is good news but pumping really isn't a reliable indicator of what a baby is getting. Time and time again I encounter mothers who struggle to even cover the bottom of a bottle with milk but their baby is then glugging down a full feed of many oz or weight gain is absolutely fine. Sam trebled his birth weight before 6 months and I was never much of a pumper although I had oversupply issues.
As the pp mentions the indicators are a combination of weight gain, wet diapers (6 obviously wet nappies in 24 hours) and behaviour - alert, meeting milestones, good muscle tone, satisfied after a feed.

In 3/4 minutes she could really be getting a lot if she'san efficient feeder. Getting 4-6oz (around 150ml) in that time is not unheard of.

Her reflux really could be at the heart of a lot of her issues. Hope the specialist is good.

[yaya]

Thanx guys. I am pretty sure it is the reflux coz she'll feed well but fidgety for 3 to 4 mins then pull off arching back and screaming, poor love. Not sure whether its worth insisting but this is what has worked last few feeds: When she pulls off shh hher and and calm her, rub back etc and talk quietly to her trying to coax back on boob, and she will about 3 times so all in all shes probably latched on for 5 mins but suck is pretty weak at this point, mostly coz shes very tired after the whole ordeal but has NEVER fallen asleep on boob so pulls off irritated and rubbing eyes and wants to go to her bed.

I am thrilled as she finally eat her solids for lunch! AND she then took subsequent BFs very well...maybe shes learning how to feed in order to not be in pain?

i have also tried to offer boob every 2 hrs due to short feeds and she will actually latch on she never used to come near boob before 4 hrs!
What do you think? step backwards?

[zed]

I think that it sounds possitive to me... I wouldn't think it is a step backward since things are getting easier not harder.  Not only that, once you and your LO learn how to feed with little or no fuss then meal time (BF or high chair) will be more enjoyable for both of you.  The end result will be you'll have a better relationship with your child.  How can that be negative?

[yaya]

well said thanx! So you'd continue to offer every 2 hrs?

[zed]

Personally, I think it would be good to build on the success you've just got.  In the short term I think that it would be best to continue until you have the reflux worked out.  After the reflux has been resolved then start to stretching out the time between feeds.

To me, the most important thing is having a happy, healthy child and relationship with that child.    Everything else comes secondary, even feeding routines. 

Best to you, and I hope it all gets worked out quickly for you.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Yeah - shorter intervals between feeds is better with reflux anyway.  That's what I did when I started suspecting reflux but before I could get to the doc.

What you describe sounds SO much like Samantha before we started her on meds for reflux.  And we had to try 2 kinds before we got one that worked (the Zantac didn't really help, but the prevacid worked WONDERS!).  She was 6 months before we even tried...kind of like you.

Good luck and feel free to PM!

[bethann]

Hope you get it all sorted out, michelle!  best of luck to you both and major hugs!