Author Topic: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?  (Read 3242 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Hi

I have posted recently on NW board and as those awesome ladies have put us on the right track sleeping wise I was hoping you may be able to do the same for feeds.

Afi is on neocae formula since both as her brother has MPI. She has always been a very slow feeder taking upto an hr per feed ( I have gone up teat size and it doesn't make a difference!). Upto two weeks ago she was drinking upto 30 oz in 4 bottles per day. No night feeds. However,I now struggle to get her I drink 20oz per day.

So my questions are,
1. If this is teething related how long is it going to take to get better?
2. Should I wait to wean?
3. I was going to do BLW is this a good idea as I know it's a slow process and she doesn't few well already!
4. She can wait 5 hrs! Between feeds and still only take 5-6 oz so where would I fit solids in?

This was easy so far today it varies feed wise dependant on her appetite

WU 7 am
E 7.30-8.30seemed hungry drank 6 oz in hr
A
E 9.30 1 oz top up before nap (I've only started doing this to increase milk intake as she feeds better when a bit sleepy-limited success)
S
E 12.30- 1.30 5 oz
A
E 2.25 3 oz top up before nap

Total so far 15 oz
 
Between now and BT she'll prob only have another 6-10 oz if I'm lucky!


I Hope u can help. She could be teething but this has been going on for two weeks, doc doesn't think she have reflux silent or otherwise. She was constipated for a few days ago but water sorted that out and is generally a well and very happy baby. The only solids she's had is a little pear- think also helped with constipation. I think that's all the info.

Tia!!

aishi :)

Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #1 on: July 23, 2012, 18:27:31 pm »
Hi again

I've just read FAQ section and now I'm wondering if she could have dysphasia? I thought she had reflux when tiny but gaviscon did nothing so stopped using it and the spit up has eased up now she's 6 months old. She does gag during most feeds and I've noticed shes been coughing for a few weeks (no cold or virus). It still takes up to an hour or more for 7-8 oz but she doesn't cry when she sees bottle. She's on neocate from birth which is very thin grainy formula. Im using nuk bottles as thise only ones to guve dcent flow. do you think that neocate would make dysphasia worse and is it painful for her cos she doesn't cry during feeds. She just refuses bottle when she's had enough usually 3-4 oz and she def feeds better when sleepy!! I generally let her have 10 mon breaks to et her to have 6-7 oz at mo. is this normal? Dyt it could be dysphasia and Idaho can I just try simply thick to see if it would make a difference? How do thickeners help? Would she drink more formula and quicker? Does thickener add calories and how much to use for neocate?

Sorry for all the questions. I'm very worried now!

Ps does force feeding cause pain to her :((
aishi :)

Offline creations

  • Feeding Solid Food & EASY
  • Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 496
  • Posts: 21993
  • Location: UK
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #2 on: July 23, 2012, 20:12:03 pm »
Hello
I can't answer all your questions but I can tell you what I have experienced with my DS.
He has silent reflux (at it's worst he did sick up) and is medicated.  Not MPI though and he took regular formula.

From birth to now he only drinks half the guidance amount of milk.  It was a constant worry to me for a long time, esp before weaning.  However his weight gain has been fine.
We control his reflux with meds and a milk thickener.  Gaviscon is as good as useless IMO although i was glad of it for a very short time as it did help just a little temporarily.  The thickener is carob powder, here it is by Cow and Gate and called carobel I get it on prescription.  It is calorie free, has zero nutritional value, harmless, doesn't constipate, and can be used in varying quantities to make just a bit thick or a LOT thick.  because it is a thickener rather than a specialist formula it can be added to anything so we were able to transition from formula milk to cows milk fine and continue to use the thickener (I realise you won't be going to cow's milk, but whatever you move to when you stop the formula...I'm looking ahead there).

I did not wait to wean.  I planned to start at 6 months on the dot.  DS had different ideas and wanted food much earlier, I managed to hold him off until 5.5 months but in the end it was getting ridiculous, he was crying for solids, I couldn't eat anywhere near him, he was so upset and so hungry.
I also went the BLW route, DS has never had a puree.  He has had a few soft foods like humus and cream cheese but no purees.  In our case (and others I have read of) it was not a slow start.  He was hungry and he wanted the food NOW.  Babies weaned the puree route don't necessarily take to it immediately either.  It isn't a race and whatever route suits you is fine.  For us BLW was a huge success.
Starting solids actually increased DS's milk intake, odd as that sounds.  He suddenly needed an additional milk feed following every solids meal (was also given water or milk in a sippy cup to drink during meal).
Honestly I felt like I'd been starving him since birth.

I would not recommend ever force feeding a child.  If your LO is losing weight this is a matter for professional medical help, not force feeding.

Like I said, I can't answer all your questions but maybe something here helps a little.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do x


Offline ENMS

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 63
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 5189
  • Location: Quebec, Canada
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2012, 01:30:35 am »
Hi! I also can't answer all your questions but what you're describing sounds a little bit like my DS.

We have been going back and forth with these long, interrupted feeds. For the longest time, DS would drink 3-4 oz and then stop. If I was lucky, he'd take 3-4 more 20-30 minutes later, sometimes it would take 3 tries. Like you, I felt like I spent my day getting him to feed. He was also getting 1-2NF's because he needed more but couldn't get it all during the day.  Getting his tongue tie clipped helped us, and so did having the reflux better controlled. I'm not sure if your LO could be TT, or maybe reflux could also be a possibility, especially because of the coughing?

We tried simply thick but it didn't work for us because DS has lots of allergist and it gave him tummy pains. But he did drink much much better the thickened formula.  I believe Simply Thick does not add calories but I could be wrong. If you buy the individual packets, the instructions say one packet to thicken 4 oz of liquid, but you can adjust it and see how much she really needs. I think for both dysphagia and reflux, the thickening can help.

What you're describing does sound like dysphagia could be an issue, but I'm no expert. For a while I thought DS had that too but now it's passed. He barely chokes while feeding these days.

I think Creations had great advice about weaning, I can't really offer much more. :)

Good luck!
Elise



Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2012, 07:05:40 am »
Thank you creations, Elise! It's aLways nice to know you're not alone even in unfortunate situations. I've ordered some thickener so I'll give that a try as soon as it arrives and will go to doctor again to make sure nothing else is going on. Re weaning I guess I'll just not the bullet and start since she's just over 6 months now but still not interested in solids...

Thanks again for your input x
aishi :)

Offline creations

  • Feeding Solid Food & EASY
  • Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 496
  • Posts: 21993
  • Location: UK
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2012, 13:25:25 pm »
I'm sure you know this already but just a reminder to check the milk can still get through the teat when thickened.

There's no hurry for solids so although I don't see the need to wait if she isn't interested yet then that's ok too.

Hope things work out for you x


Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2012, 06:37:08 am »
Thanks for getting back to me creations. She had 6 oz BT feed at 5.30pm yesterday, slept through the night (yeay) it's now 7.30 and she's not interested in her bottle at all. I'm pretty sure she's not teething ( but even if she is it's been like this for 3 weeks) is this normal? She looks healthy and is happy but I know how quickly things can deteriorate :( do you think it sounds like dysplagia even tho she doesn't have nf's? She does feed much better when sleep- yesterday (5am) she had 4 oz in 3 minutes- normally that takes at least 20-30 mins. I can't wait till that thickener arrives. Sorry for the rant!
aishi :)

Offline Jo1stbaby

  • BW Aficionado
  • ***
  • Showing Appreciation 1
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 128
  • Location: Plymouth, south west England
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2012, 06:59:26 am »
Hi,

Just wanted to pipe in and say, don't always listen to the professionals when they say your LO is fine.  You know when something is wrong.  I've known for ages there has been something wrong with my LO as since she was 12 weeks (shes 19 weeks today) she has fed properly from her bottle, taking about 2 -3 oz and then it's a battle to give her more.  Not that I force fed her but just coaxed her a little.  I was convinced it was reflux as she had a lot of the symptoms, the doctors kept saying its not because she hasn't a problem laying flat.  Well last week I decided to try her on some gaviscon that she had been given a few m ths ago for her colic.  Well every bottle for the rest of the week she took.  I was told it definitely wasn't reflux (silent), I have heartburn and am on mess so if it runs in the family, she'll definitely have it.
Anyway I'm just trying to say if you feel there is something wrong with your LO then there probably is so keep persisting at the drs.  My LO was still putting on weight but it was a worry since she had gone from drinking 6 -7oz bottle previous to her growth spurt at 12 weeks and then down to 2 -3oz.  Just research a little what you may think the issue is reflux or dysphasia and then go to the doctors and say why you think they have that problem.

Good luck
Xx ;)

Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2012, 08:33:48 am »
Thanks Jo! I'm sorry it took so long for your LO to get help- health professionals can be soo stubborn. Luckily I spoke to another doctor ands he prescribed her with carobel without even having to go in!! I'll see if it makes a difference and decide if we need another trip to doctor. I really hope it works cos I don't know what else it could be- I don't think it's reflux...

Fx'd!!!

Thanks again for posting x
aishi :)

Offline creations

  • Feeding Solid Food & EASY
  • Moderator
  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 496
  • Posts: 21993
  • Location: UK
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2012, 19:04:49 pm »
Sorry I don't have any experience with dysphasia so can't help with that (maybe start a new thread on the health board to get fresh eyes?).

I totally agree with pp regarding pushing at the docs if you feel there is something not right.  My LO was suffering for far too long with silent reflux because I was relying on my health visitor and GP to give me answers, advise and to know about these things.  They didn't.  When we had our appointment with the paediatrician at the hospital I listed DS's symptoms and the paed immediately said he has silent reflux and prescribed meds.  I had had a battle on my hands with people saying I was over protective, a worrying first time mummy etc - no, I was right that my DS was in pain.

With regards going over 12hrs without a feed.  I would have been very surprised had my DS done that at 6 months.  He still had a dream feed then because he took it so well that was a good time to get a better quantity of milk into him.  Now at 18 months he will go more than 12 hours (last feed 5.15pm, then first feed around 6.30am) but that's totally different to a 6 month old.  Sorry I can't be more help for you.

hugs, I hope you get some answers soon.  I would push for an appointment with a paed.
xx


Offline Jo1stbaby

  • BW Aficionado
  • ***
  • Showing Appreciation 1
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 128
  • Location: Plymouth, south west England
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #10 on: July 26, 2012, 06:46:40 am »
Hi

Thanks Jo! I'm sorry it took so long for your LO to get help- health professionals can be soo stubborn. Luckily I spoke to another doctor ands he prescribed her with carobel without even having to go in!! I'll see if it makes a difference and decide if we need another trip to doctor. I really hope it works cos I don't know what else it could be- I don't think
Thanks Jo! I'm sorry it took so long for your LO to get help- health professionals can be soo stubborn. Luckily I spoke to another doctor ands he prescribed her with carobel without even having to go in!! I'll see if it makes a difference and decide if we need another trip to doctor. I really hope it works cos I don't know what else it could be- I don't think it's reflux...

Hi

I hope the meds are starting to work for you and things are settling down.

I saw a midwife (training to be a HV) yesterday and she saw my LO when I was trying to feed her and she said she definitely thought my LO had reflux by the way she was feeding.  Hooray someone believes me now.  That really cheered me up that now someone agrees what I've been thinking all along.

Good luck.
Xx

Offline Aishi

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 105
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 6363
  • Location:
Re: Should I wean 6 month old even if she isn't drinking enough milk?
« Reply #11 on: July 27, 2012, 12:40:55 pm »
Thanks Jo, creations for your advice and comments. I've also posted on health boards and had useful feedback so will see how it goes. I started her on thickened feeds and shes drinking much quicker but not alot more. Maybe itll just take time to get used to it? Just waiting for an app with the doc now....

Thanks again for your help!
aishi :)