Question on getting EBF baby to take bottle

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

I think a person would have to be incredibly malnourished for milk to be affected...and I don't think an ED would do that to a person. I did a similar ED with DD3 (never did figure out exactly what it was, but I did lose some weight myself) and I was far from malnourished. I was considerng the drastic one like mentioned above but then I did see improvement (DD never lost weight though) so did not bother.

Neocate is supposed to be quite nasty tasting stuff so if she won't even take ebm I am not sure how that would even work. How far did her weight drop?

[*Ali*]

I agree Heidi. There is more info here http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-diet/

[~Jen~]

Thanks Heidi and Ali.  I feel better about my diet and made sure today I ate proper meals and drank plenty of water.  I think I am grasping at straws trying to work out what is causing the slow weight gain.  She hasn't lost any weight yet but hasn't gained anything in 3 weeks.  She has dropped 2 centile lines from birth.  I agree and I know she is not going to take the Neocate.  Doctor told me if she won't take the bottle we would have to feed her by cup or syringe. 

I noticed today that I think she has a lip-tie.  I can't tell on the tongue-tie - I wonder if that could be causing the weight gain issues.  I was reading symptoms and she has most of them.. I think I have to see someone about it to know for sure.  Could be why she is gagging and can't properly suck the bottle. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Ok well not losing weight is something at least, ebf babies do tend to have a slow down in growth compared to ff babies - is your Drnusing the growth charts meant for bf babies?  Lip tie &/or tongue tie could for sure be a factor, and definitely worth getting checked out.

[*Ali*]

I'm sure it would be the up-to-date WHO BF-based charts Heidi as all UK mamas have the same ones in a red book called My Child's Health Record. We have to take it for all weigh-ins, scheduled check-ups and imms etc. So weight can be plotted and vaccinations recorded and so on. They have been correct in that book since at least 2009 when my DS1 was born.

If you suspect tongue tie I would defo get it looked at as that could certainly cause problems with transfer of milk and therefore weight gain. I think the gagging is just a mechanical response to having a bit of plastic stuck in their mouths when they aren't used to it. My kids all did it and none has feeding issues otherwise.

[~Jen~]

Ok good to know on the gagging with bottle. Does anyone know who I could speak to in London about a possible TT and/or Lip tie?  Should I try and find a lactation consultant or just speak to our GP? I've been reading it can often be overlooked or not correctly diagnosed. Are there specialists for this?

[*Ali*]

There is info in this FaQ (see the UK link) on places you can get a TT seen to. You normally need to be referred by a medical professional. I imagine your gp could refer you on. Information on Tongue Tie in babies and children