Author Topic: At my wits end! Need advice or maybe just a hug.  (Read 1889 times)

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Offline Mypunkin

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At my wits end! Need advice or maybe just a hug.
« on: June 30, 2009, 01:07:59 am »
I don't even know where to start, so sorry if this sounds confusing...  We've been around and around trying to figure out why my now 8 mos old dd is losing weight and refusing food (again).  We know she has milk/soy/egg intolerances.  We thought she had reflux and treated her with Axid for 4 months and then took her off b/c the GI specialist said he didn't think she needed it (not a "spitter") and that her food refusal was due to food avoidances not reflux pain.
To make a really long saga short, I was pumping for her and then started her on RTF Alimentum for supplementing during the day.  I thought things were going okay, but over the past few weeks she's started refusing bottles again and now solids as well.  The only thing I'm having success getting her to eat is ebm.  She won't drink Alimentum at all, but I'm down to only 2 pumps/day so I'm looking at having to relactate if things don't change. She's waking up a lot at night again and only taking about 2 ounces at those feeds as well.  We went to the Dr today and I was expecting them to offer us another reflux med, but they don't think it's reflux either.  The Dr was so concerned about her weight today  (lost a few ounces in the past couple of weeks) that they got her into an allergist right away.  So, that appointment is tomorrow (Tues) and I'm trying to be optimistic but it just seems like no one is able to give me answers.  What's up with that? She was diagnosed with MSPI at 6 weeks.  Surely she's not the first baby to refuse food or show these symptoms before?  Our previous pediatrician thought reflux was her problem, but her new ones (we moved 2 months ago) don't think that's the issue.   

Anyway, as you can probably tell I'm tired and worried. My 8 month old isn't eating much of anything and therefore losing weight and I don't know why.  I've been reading page after page trying to find other people's experiences that sound similar to our own, so if anyone out there has any insight into where I might be going wrong I would LOVE some advice. 
Jena

Jalen Sylvia Jean
12/23/02

jena@thebabywhisperer.com

Offline Spectra

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Re: At my wits end! Need advice or maybe just a hug.
« Reply #1 on: June 30, 2009, 02:02:31 am »
Sorry to hear things are not going well for you right now.  You say she will drink breast milk, is it from a bottle straight or do you mix it with the special formula?   I know that the breast milk probably tastes a whole lot better, and so I could see her choosing that over the straight formula.  Can you mix it with every bottle so she can slowly get use to the formula to the point that perhaps there's more formula in the bottle than breast milk, or if you still want her to have breast milk to use it to top it off?  I hear many times that the babies HATE the taste of those special formulas, and usually have to add it slowly to their normal feeds.

My son at 8 months wasn't eating much solids either, and at that time we still were not on prescription formula, his weight gain slowed, but he never lost any weight.  As soon as he was fully on the Neocate he just gained weight and grew!  Neocate is designed for bubs who cannot eat much of anything, so they are so nutritionally packed.  Technically he could still be on it without eating solids at all and be fine.  Thankfully he stopped gagging on every piece of solid food that entered his mouth, that was about when he was 15 months old, and now he eats like a horse!!  So don't give up on hope! :)  

I really hope the Allergist is able to help you tomorrow.  Please let us know what happens.  Write down anything and everything you want to ask the Allergist, so you don't forget a thing!  
Melanie
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Offline clh

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Re: At my wits end! Need advice or maybe just a hug.
« Reply #2 on: June 30, 2009, 04:33:52 am »
All I can offer are {{hugs}} & hopes that the appt tomorrow gets you some answers...  :-*
Candice



Offline Mypunkin

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Re: At my wits end! Need advice or maybe just a hug.
« Reply #3 on: June 30, 2009, 10:41:54 am »
I started giving dd Alim RTF about 3 months ago and did have to start off mixing it w/ ebm, but about 2 weeks ago I tried giving it to her straight and she ate it w/ no problems.  I was down to 2 pumps/day thinking I was going to be finished with bfing in a few weeks.  Now, she's refusing the Alim all together mixed or not.  We tried Neocate several months ago, after having a failed attempt at powdered Alim (caused fussiness and yucky poo), but then switched to Alim RTF on people's suggestions here on BW. I'm wondering if the Allergist will recommend she go back on Neocate at this point.   I was ssoooo hoping we were on to something with the Alim and she was eating her fruits and veggies so well.
We're off to the allergist this morning bright and early.  Dh is going w/ me and if we don't get answers there I'm going to see if we can see a GI spec again very soon. 
Thanks for the support, ladies. 
Jena

Jalen Sylvia Jean
12/23/02

jena@thebabywhisperer.com