Major issues- medical advice is not getting results and baby will not eat

[Shiv52]

Thanks!  She's a wee dote!

Hope doctors goes well.  Think what has become apparent is there are lots of babies who refuse milk but will take solids or vice versa.   Just need to make it clear to the doctor that she's not really taking either and hope he takes you seriously.  And you are trying everything!  Also remember to get him to check out her weight in relation to her height because given the measurements you gave me I don't think she's overweight for her length according to the graph the health visitor gave me. 

Hope it goes well today and the doctor is helpful! 

Good luck!!

[*~goldie~*]

many thanks Im really nervous about the docs as I just feel theres something up more than a phase. I mean milk went back in november and food since beginning of january. eeeek.
shiv- Has she got a pair of tights on her head lol
x

[Shiv52]

I'm sure you're a nervous wreck but as with anything early intervention is the key!  In my experience oral motor problems (if indeed she has any, not sure if she's already a genius at speaking!) are easily recitified.  May mean sticking to pureed food for a while but so long as she's eating.  And if there are no other medical problems and the doctor is happy with her weight then at least you can be confident in keeping your shorter mealtimes etc and just monitoring her! 

Don't let the doctor fob you off!  If you are not happy with his response push for a referral-your LO is lucky to have you worrying about her so much!  There is bound to be a paediatric dietician at your local hospital.  Make sure DH knows to speak up.  I usually have to glare at mine or give a bit of a nudge so he knows its his turn to speak! 

And yes they are indeed tights on poor Maeve's head-the things i do to amuse myself during the day!    I often wonder what she'll think of all the photos when she's older- she may not be impressed at the tights or the strawberry costume at halloween or the santa outfit at christmas!!   Must think of one for Easter now too!!

Again, good luck today!!

[LucyA]

Just read through your thread, {{{hugs}}}
You were looking for finger food suggestions, have you tried the organix range of finger foods? You should be able to get them at a decent sized boots. Thet have a few different things, all healthy and natural.
And good luck with the doc today.

[*~goldie~*]

hey yup the organix carrot sticks and sweet corn cakes but she just sits and breaks them up into little peices. Bless.

she's already seen the PeadDietician but I think we need to go back. She is ridiculously tall. One time we went to the docs they didnt have the equiptment to measure baby weight or height so they wouldnt really talk to us.

I cant get mashed food to stay in but the only way purees will is if i leave the spon in her mouth for a moment put it quite far back and then stroke upwards with the spoon on her chin/bottom lip..... dont kow if that means something.... A lot of the time is an effort even to get the spoon in her mouth like she's just not hubgry though. However since I started this thread Ive realy moelowed out - in front of her), if she battles the first time I try a meal I just dont bother persisting  and let her down. But its not worked.....

I just feel enough is enough and something needs doing she needs nutrients. I have a syinge for hey vitamin drops and she even spits that out now!

Im babbling LOL I just need this sorting. Its a mothers first instict to feed her child and this cant happen with her...

Shiv- Im thinking easter bunny

xxx

[*~goldie~*]

Ok... so the doctor didnt't seem to grasp the comlexity of the problem. Like I said she doesn't eat. Then two minutes later the doctor is telling me which foods are high in calcium to replace the milk. Like she just didnt get it Hubby was no use, he had to leave halfway through for a telephone call then came back in and got Atlanta all hyped up shrieking and laughing.
The doc didnt have equiptment to weigh or measure her so no luck there either.She gave no further advice but said she will talk to someone who can come an watch her eat at home. No mention of going back to dietician.
Atlanta also had a rash I noticed whist there but the doctor just exclaimed "oh".
We were in and out in ten minutes. This is the NHS for you
Oh well.

Thanks for your support guys
xxx

[Peek-a-boo]

{{{Hugs}}}  I'm SO frustrated for you that the doctor wasn't more responsive!    I don't understand your medical system; do you have the option to see someone else?  Or can you just keep scheduling appointments with this doctor hoping if you just keep coming back he'll listen?

[Shiv52]

Oh for goodness sake.  I am so frustrated for you.  What sort of a doctors doesn't have the facility to weight and measure a baby!?  Do they send you to your HV for that? 

I think the only thing you can do is to stick to your plan (three meals of 30 minutes/shorter if frustrated/providing milk etc) for another 2 weeks.  With your LO being sick its hard to see progress but I think you were starting to make head way and to be honest it can be weeks before any progress is really apparent.  In two weeks if you are not seeing any progress I would go back to the GP with your plan and show what exactly she has eaten and just ask for a referral back to the dietician.  Who were they suggesting come out to see her eating?  Was it someone like a speech therapist to assess oral motor? 

What has your HV said about it all or was she the one referred you to your GP?



 

[*~goldie~*]

no i made the GPs appointment myself as I already didnt think I was getting anywhere with HV, but the GP is sending the HV or a Speach therapist to watch her eat- all sounded pretty vague so dont count on that materializing. Yes they said to go to the next HV clinic on next Thursday lunch time to get weight and height if I wanted although the doctor said "she looks healthy".
Shiv when you say "..... shorter if frustrated/providing milk..." what do you mean providing milk? If she takes milk I dont need worry so much? Today 0oz milk and a couple of teaspoons of food for the whole day.
Peek ab boo- the system is NHS or Private- NHS is free and probably what the majority do whick the goverment runs. Does make you feel slightly like a statistic. There is a doctor surgery where a few doctors work and you're registered to one but can see a different one if you want within that surgery. Today she was the only one who had free appointments.
The doctor said she might now need many calories at the moment - but Im sure her requirements shouldnt dip for as long as they have.
Many thanks girls
xxx

[LucyA]

{{{hugs}}} How frustrating. If I were you, I would go back and see a different doctor, and also make an appt with the HV and insist that they take you seriously. Good luck!

[frano]

I agree with LucyA, I would make an appointement with a different doctor and insist that your concerns are taken seriously. A mothers instinct is never wrong. I'm actually infuriated for you

[Shiv52]

I was only writing providing milk as an example of one of the things you are doing.  Sorry didn't make myself clear.  Was just saying to keep providing milk as well as  solids the way you are doing.

I would see your health visitor on Thursday and get weight and height done properly!  And maybe go through everything with her again and if she's still not helpful make an appointment with another doctor. 

When the doctor said she may not need any calories at the minute, did the GP say how many calories she should be having?  Or is that too specific for our NHS?

[deb]

I'll try to stop back later - wanted to m@rk my spot!

[MLK]

Gosh the medics all sound so hopeless! Isn't there a clinic which specialises in babies at the NHS where someone can take you seriously?

[We Three]

Been watching this thread, and now am all caught up.  All the advice you've been given is so great, I can only echo that, and offer hugs!!

I am SO happy that you've shortened the mealtimes, as this really will remove any pressure from both of you, and you can start fresh.

I also agree that the solids aren't as important right now...just keep offering them, they are more for experimentation than anything.

Oral motor issues are so common, and so treatable. There are very few pofessionals who fully understand them. In the US, there is something called early intervention, where a speech therapsit will come to the house and watch the child eat, suck, and swallow, as the way a child does any of these can be very telling.  It seems to me that since your lo ate different textures at one time, that perhaps an oral motor issue may not be the problem? I'm thinking that if she did have motor issues, that she never would have accepted that food in the first place. Just thinking out loud here.  If she does have oral motor issues, the sooner she gets treated the better.

I found with my dd, she definitley had some texture issues. Sometimes she'd refuse food, but take it if I allowed her to feed herself. Sometimes she's refuse something if I cut it up, but would happily eat it if I gave her the whole thing (like a whole apple instead of chunks I cut up).  Sometimes she wanted it on a plate, other times right on her tray. Sometimes she wanted to use a spoon, sometimes her fingers.  It takes alot of trial and error.

I too, have lived with an eating disorder, and many members of my family have as well. I am determined that food will not be an issue for my dd, so I understand your position on that too. In my house, food has nothing to do with rewards, punishment, or entertainment. I do try to keep her diet low in sugar and in salt, but that is just because my mom created 5 suger junkies!!

I do hope you can get some answers or at least some attention from these doctors.  If they blow you off, just say "You'd better get very used to the sight of my face and the sound of my voice....because I am not going anywhere until I get some type of help."

It seems as if you were making some real progress there before she got sick...that's wonderful!   

I will be lurking and hoping for more success for you!!!  Remember that your girl will feel your anxiety...breathe Mommy!!!  I promise she will not starve herself. This will pass....one way or another, whether it's a power thing, whether it's an oral-motor issue, or even if it's just that she wasn't ready for solids just yet and you end up just going backwards for a while and doing more of a BLW approach....no matter what, it will pass.