What is a realistic feeding size for refluxer?

[rachelusc]

Hello, I have a 14 week old DS who was diagnosed with reflux.  He has been on Zantac for about a month.  He is generally a happy guy and the only time he ever really fusses is at feeding time (probably why it took so long for us to get meds started).  This has gotten a bit better, but his feedings continue to be about 3 oz, or maybe 4 oz once in a while (he is FF).  I am trying to move up to a 3.5 hour EASY but these small feeds are making it a little tough.  I'm wondering what other reflux babies are eating at this age?  Thanks!

[rach321]

My ds2 is 18 weeks and will still only take 3-4oz in any one sitting. No idea his we will ever get to a 4hr easy!

[mokey_cat]

DD2 is 18 weeks and will usually take 4oz.  Maybe once a day she will have up to 6oz but the rest are small bottles.  Im also trying to move to the 4 hour easy but not got a clue how I will get her to take enough on only 4 bottles so will be intersested to hear other responses.  We did go through a phase of her having 6oz bottles all day but im sure it coincided with a GS  .  I think its pretty normal for reflux babies to take smaller amounts.

Do you feel the reflux is under control?  DD also only fusses at feeding times so we also struggled with a reflux diagnosis but zantac only helped a little.  She now gets omeprazole which helped a lot.  She still takes small bottles but is happy and putting on weight.

[Lolly]

Both mine were up to 6oz feeds by then but would take less in the morning/ lunchtime (4ish oz) and then more in the afternoon/ evening.

I think providing they are gaining weight, lots of wet and dirty napies etc babies are good at taking what they need. I know DD very rarely took more than 25oz in 24 hours, but stayed at the top of the weight charts even though for her size she *should* have been taking 32+oz.

If they are still very fussy at feed times and you have tried a faster teat it would be worth reviewing meds to see if they need an increase. Those that are on zantac/ ranitidine it is very weight sensitive and babies who are not on the full 4mg per kg dose often need increases up to that point for it to be effective.

Laura

[rachelusc]

Thanks for the input!  Was planning on calling the MD for a weight check today anyway.  He is on the big side (9lb 4oz at birth, around 16lb now) but also only takes about 24 oz on a GOOD day.  DS does take 5 oz for his dream feed, so we know it's possible.  He also doesn't like us talking while he eats or any other commotion. 

[lesliemarie]

It really depends on the baby.  My DD2 was eating between 45-56oz a day by 4 months so we had to start solids.  She is now on 3 good meals a day and still eating about 35oz per day.

[rachelusc]

After keeping a log of feeds, we are lucky to get 23 oz in him in a 24 hour period.  He never seems hungry or fusses for food - this is so different from DD who inhaled everything.  I am really not concerned with the amount except that he has major sleep issues and I don't want to be starving him if he really needs to eat.  So we are trying to look at everything and put the pieces together to get him on track.  I appreciate all the input!

[lesliemarie]

It sounds like your meds need to be reviewed.  If he is only eating 23oz it may be due to pain or it could just be that he isn't a hungry baby.  My DD1 didn't eat a ton when she was a baby but DD2 is a little piggy

[PeepersMom]

Hopping in here, as i was going to start a similar thread. My dd is almost 8 w and will take only between 15-18oz/day. we still have some feeds with just 1oz most are 2 and some are 3oz (also formula fed) I have been logging for 5 days.  The kicked is that she has slowed down how much she eats.  She can go longer than 3 h without feeding, she sleeps very well and isn't showing any signs of lethargy. She has at least 1 poop and her diapers are wet.  She has gained weight, I can tell by looking.

But, the thing that is killing me is that she was up to mostly 3-4 oz bottles and now she is back down to 2oz/feed.  Its pretty stressful, but I guess hearing that others have the same issue helps.  Maybe she is just a small eater. but like one of the pp my son inhaled 8oz bottles and never stopped even when he switched to milk he was drinking 32-40 oz/day along with large solids appetite. 

[rachelusc]

Yes around 8 weeks 2 oz was a "good" feed for us!  We are now a bit more consistent - we might get a 2.5 oz at one feeding, the 4-5 oz at the next, then smaller again, and so on.  I think the main reason I am so concerned is because I want him to STTN!  But alas, whenever we feed him over 4 oz he seems to spit half of it back up.  So I guess I will sleep in a year or two...

[7yeargap]

Hi I have just joined as I am trying to start my 6 week old DD who has reflux on EASY. I have a few questions about how EASY works for a baby with reflux as im struggling. sorry if ive put this in the wrong place......
I started breastfeeding her but after 2 weeks of screaming (from both of us) I moved to bottle. She was draining 4oz every 3hrs but within a few days started bringing the whole feed back up   the doctor put her on gaviscon infant which seemed to work but she was still hungry all the time. I moved her over to the hungry baby milk and by 3weeks old she was sleeping 11pm till 5am!! just as I decide to make her an easy baby she starts waking up at night again so after thinking she was having a gs I tried increasing her feeds a little. DD had other ideas as she will now only take between 2 - 4 oz every 3hrs. She will fall asleep almost as soon as she starts feeding making E time very long (sometimes taking over an hour to take 3oz) as i have to try and wake her up to take more. this is not making EASY very easy as it eats into A and S every time. I'm woeeied that she is turning into a snacker as she is taking little bits all the time. I have tried putting her back onto the normal milk as I figured the hungry milk was staying in her tummy for too long but she started being really sick again so have gone back to the hungry milk. she is also not getting rid of her wind and just screaming in pain, ive tried infacol but this makes her REALLY sick. sorry for all the questions but I dont want her getting confused with me changing the routine every 5mins as I dont know what im doing!!

[rachelusc]

What does your doctor say?  I finally stopped allowing DS to "snack" and gave him 30 minutes to eat, and only fed every 3 hours.  He eventually started doing a bit better...we still struggle though.  We are on a 4-hour EASY and I don't let him eat in between because then he will just refuse his next feed.  Your DD is so young, you may just have to wait a bit for her to mature and stay awake better.  It will happen soon, even though right now every day feels like eternity (or it did for me!)  Hugs and good luck.