Help!! 3 month old refuses to eat

[Squiders]

Hi I am having a hard time getting my 3 month old to eat anything.  He used to eat 5-6 oz a feed before he got a case of thrush.  We took him back to the Dr a couple times and the thrush has cleared up. but my ds still refuses to eat.  The Dr does not seem to concerned with him and won't do anything.  This past week has not gotten any better. Each day he seems to take less and less.  Today so far he has only had 8 oz all day.  It is affecting sleep too as he is hungry all the time, but will not eat.  Our easy schedule is out the window, as eating and sleeping times are off.  The only time he eats semi decent is about 1/2 an hour after putting him to bed at night.  He wakes up hungry and will down up to eight oz, even if we tried to feed him right before bed.  For the most part he is still a very happy baby, but recently starting to need his soother more and more often as he always seems hungry now.  We thought it could be reflux and are making sure his mattress is raised and that he is in a raised position when he is awake,  we have also tried thickening his milk but nothing seems to work.  Doing these has not made a difference.  He is also all of a sudden has a lot of lower gas and has a horrible time getting them out.  We have tried so many things to help. ie: gas drops, gripe water, bicycling his legs, all to no avail.  I made a Dr's appointment tomorrow, but I am half expecting him to say that he is fine and to live with it.  I do have a pediatrician appointment booked now for June with a pediatrician I trust, but I can not get in any sooner to that appointment.  I do not know what people can suggest. but I have tried just about everything and I am worried about my ds.  The Dr's keep saying bring him in when he seems dehydrated, but I don't want to wait that long.  The days are getting harder already.  Right now he is beside me and is fine as long as he has his soother, but the minute it falls out he is crying.

[Lainey]

I am so sorry you are having to go through this. I posted yesterday on the colic, reflux and crying board about exactly the same thing (except the thrush). Have a look- hopefully some of the replies may be able to help you.

This started with my ds at 11 weeks and he is now nearly 17 weeks and I am at the end of my tether. Could it be a milk protein allergy? My ds has just started on Wysoy milk, although it has not made any difference so far!

I went to the doctors and demanded to be seen by a specialist. He has rushed through a referral for me and I should be getting a call with an appointment today, hopefully.

Hang in there I know how hard and stressful it is. You just may have to be really assertive- even ruse- to make sure you get this sorted out before it becomes a huge problem.

As yet ds has not lost any weight but he has not gained any either. I am fighting to get some assistance before he gets really dehydrated and loses weight.

How often are you feeding him at the moment? What time does he go to bed?

Elaine xx

[em_here]

Hi there and massive hugs to you, I was wondering if it could be something simple, sometimes it is.... have you tried increasing the teat flow? Some mums have found just something as simple as this can help. How does he act when presented with the bottle. Is he screaming? Arching? Or is point blank refusal to eat more but happy with it?

[Squiders]

Hi, thanks for the post.  I read your post and it is very similiar.  We currently have my ds on a lactose free formula as when he was younger we had very similiar circumstances, only he was really screaming in pain and the formula helped for awhile.  I know what you mean about being at the end of your tether.  I am also suffering from ppd and this is really stressing me.  I have been trying to at least feed him every three hours or more if he seems like he is hungry, but other nights I have been at least able to feed him more at night.  Starting this evening he even refused to eat more than two oz.  I have been trying to keep him as much as possible on a 3 hour easy, but when he is very restless andnow won't settle well into sleep.  Normally he is in bed between 6:30 - 7:30 depending when he wakes up, but last night refused to settle until 11:00.  He would wake up every 1/2 hour.  I would try to feed him and put him back down, but he kept waking up and even in the night was quite restless.  He just woke and had 2 oz at 2:30 a.m. here and is having a rough time falling asleep again.  I am going to demand that if my dr won't help that he rushes an appointment to see a specialist as I am in the same boat with you, my son has not lost weight, but is not gaining either.

Thanks for the help.

I have already upped the nipple and it has not made a difference.  Some times it is down right refusal to eat, but most often seems happy to eat until it hits him and then starts to squirm and cry and then refuses to eat anymore.  Like tonight he had 2 oz, stopped by himself and I burped him and then he refused to eat anymore, he kept pushing the bottle away with his mouth.

[huntersmummyinoz]

could be wind or silent reflux. i know you've tried a lot of wind remedies but maybe try baby mylanta or baby gaviscon (antacid for reflux) as you can get this over the counter, might be worth a try at least until you can get into specialist.  if not getting results, empathy from your doctor can you try another, or a health nurse?

hugs

[em_here]

Hmmmm it does def sound like reflux (silent), my dd had it.  You could also pop over to the reflux boards and post and get some great advice from some mums who have been through reflux. They were my saviours when I first came to the boards

Hugs x

[Lainey]

Sam does exactly the same and it is sooooo difficult. I am really hoping things get better soon. He had a 4oz bottle this morning and I was celebrating- sad eh! he used to finish off 7oz no problem.

I have found sometimes that if I take Sam off the bottle after about 10-15 sucks (literally just take it out of his mouth and put it back in again) he sometimes takes a bit more. At the mo he sleeps from 8pm to 11pm and then al hell breaks loose and he wakes once or twice and hour after that!

Definitely go back and see your doctor. Hopefully I will get my appointment very soon. If I find any magic solutions I will let you know. I will update after the appointment as well. Hopefully the advice I get may be helpful for you as well.

Chin up
Elaine xx

[Squiders]

Thyanks for all the advice.  I have made a list to bring to the dr.  Last night he only woke a couple times, but only ate 2 oz.  When he woke at 6 I tried to feed him and refused to eat anything.  He just took another 2 oz. a few minutes ago.  The problem last night was that after eating it took him forever to settle.  He slept in his bouncy chair and was upright the whole time, but kept making sounds for up to an hour and a half, before he finally drifted back into a decent sleep for only a couple hours.  I am planning on asking the dr today for a referal too.

[Squiders]

Well I went to the dr today and he suggested to buy a thickened formula.  I said I was hesitant, because we have our ds on a lactose free formula.  He was hesitant to prescribe antacids for him.  He said to talk to the pharmicist to see if their was a thickened lactose free formula but no such luck.  Although she did give me a can of thickener.  I tried it when I got home and was plesently suprised when my ds ate 10 oz. in less than 3 hours.  I don't know if it was because he had only eaten 6 oz. all day and was starving or what.  I guess I will find out in the night and tomorrow.  I am also going to try to dream feed him tonight and see how long he goes.

[huntersmummyinoz]

at least your little man finally had a good feed.  you said he took 10oz in 3 hours, so was he still only taking small amounts at a time? and if so, what was he doing when he stopped? (eg. arching back, turning to side, etc)

good luck with the DF

[Squiders]

Well he seems to down 5 oz at a time now without screaming and crying and pushing the bottle away.  I think it might have been acid reflux and the thickened formula is staying down.  He is also spitting up a lot less.  Thanks for everyone's advice.  He just ate another 5 oz in 20 minutes without any crying or fussing.  I am praying that tomorrow brings the same results.

[huntersmummyinoz]

5 oz at once is great! sounds like may be silent reflux then.  keep trying the thickened formula and if you have more probs go back to doctor (at least you should have enough 'evidence' to get a script then  )

all the best

[Lainey]

Excellent. I'm glad you've found something that helps.

Elaine xx