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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
I panic before feeding them these days because I never know what we're in store for. Sometimes feedings go perfectly fine-they finish a bottle of about 3 oz in 20 mins. More often though, the entire feeding is filled with SCREAMING, one of the girls gets stiff as a board, arches her back and it takes over an hour to get her calm (intermittently) and feed this bottle. She's super congested and it sounds like its so hard for her to breathe. My other  just recently started doing the same thing... not to the same extent though.. she just cries and gets stiff-no congestion issues... and I have no idea why. it's not gas because sometimes it starts only 5 minutes in.
I recently transitioned from exclusive BM to partial FF, it's about 50/50 at each feeding. First has been having this issue since before we transitioned. My second started having this issue around the time she switched.
They are 6 weeks old-1 week adjusted.
I have no idea what to do. Feedings take FOREVER and with 2 babies Im ready to throw my head through a brick wall some nights! 
Any insight would be sooo much appreciated!
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Posted 10/30/12 9:31 PM  |
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ShhhTTCin11
3 under 3?!
Member since 5/11 2229 total posts
Name:
Coleen
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Hey there girlie.
Arching the back and crying during feedings makes it sound like reflux. Tyler went through the same thing when he was about 4 weeks adjusted.
I would call your pediatrician - he can put the girls on Axid or something which will help a ton. Tyler is 7 months (5 months adjusted) and still on Axid.
Hang in there!  
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| Posted 10/30/12 9:53 PM |
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
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| Posted 10/30/12 9:53 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Thanks ladies!! And HELLO SSHHTTC!!!
I suspected Reflux but thought against it because one of the girls throws up. The other one has never thrown up/spit up so I figured she didn't have it. DD 1 though, has thrown up about 1 X per day... sometimes every other day.
She also was on the small side and is not gaining as quickly as the DD who does not throw up... does that make sense?
Ive heard of thickening with rice cereal but wanted to speak to the Dr first... can I ask, what nipples have you tried that helped?
Also, is it reflux if it only happens during feeding-never an issue to fall asleep or any other time, and also sometimes starts before she gets only 10 cc's.
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:04 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
This is so helpful! Did you being a diaper in to have them tested for a milk protein allergy?
We're going to the peds tomorrow.
Also, is reflux likely with BM? or does it not matter if its BM or formula?
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:07 PM |
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Champ
2 little ladies
Member since 1/11 2918 total posts
Name:
Rose
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Journey33
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
This is so helpful! Did you being a diaper in to have them tested for a milk protein allergy?
We're going to the peds tomorrow.
Also, is reflux likely with BM? or does it not matter if its BM or formula?
Both my twins had reflux and only had bm. I also had to cut out dairy and veggies. with everything I cut out of my diet, they still had reflux but were more comfortable. Acid helped them a lot.
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:16 PM |
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ShhhTTCin11
3 under 3?!
Member since 5/11 2229 total posts
Name:
Coleen
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Just because she isn't throwing up, doesn't mean she doesn't have reflux.
My pedicatrician (and all are different) had the mentality of "try the medication and see if it helps". And it did - a lot. There could be a lot of reasons why one DD is gaining faster than the other - or it could just be that they are different babies. Either way, I would call the doctor regardless (unless your appointment is in the next week or so).
My doctor was against us thickening with rice cereal because of his immature digestive system. But I'd ask your doctor - he might have difference advice. We never thickened and when he was 5 months actual, we just started giving him cereal with a spoon.
I found this on kellymom.com
Allergy or food sensitivity
Some babies with allergies or food sensitivities exhibit fussy nursing behavior. Often when there is a sensitivity to something in mom’s diet, baby will come to the breast hungry but when she tastes/smells something in the milk that will cause her GI distress, she pulls off, bats her head back and forth, etc. Sensitivities to foods in mom’s diet are rare. If this is the problem, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent congestion or runny nose, or excessive gas. More information on food sensitivities in babies and links to more allergy information can be found in my article Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies.
And here is some information on reflux:
http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/reflux/
It is probably reflux or maybe even a milk protein sensitivity / allergy?
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:18 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by ShhhTTCin11
Just because she isn't throwing up, doesn't mean she doesn't have reflux.
My pedicatrician (and all are different) had the mentality of "try the medication and see if it helps". And it did - a lot. There could be a lot of reasons why one DD is gaining faster than the other - or it could just be that they are different babies. Either way, I would call the doctor regardless (unless your appointment is in the next week or so).
My doctor was against us thickening with rice cereal because of his immature digestive system. But I'd ask your doctor - he might have difference advice. We never thickened and when he was 5 months actual, we just started giving him cereal with a spoon.
I found this on kellymom.com
Allergy or food sensitivity
Some babies with allergies or food sensitivities exhibit fussy nursing behavior. Often when there is a sensitivity to something in mom’s diet, baby will come to the breast hungry but when she tastes/smells something in the milk that will cause her GI distress, she pulls off, bats her head back and forth, etc. Sensitivities to foods in mom’s diet are rare. If this is the problem, you will most likely notice other symptoms, such as excessive spitting up or vomiting, colic, diarrhea, rash, persistent congestion or runny nose, or excessive gas. More information on food sensitivities in babies and links to more allergy information can be found in my article Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies.
And here is some information on reflux:
http://kellymom.com/health/baby-health/reflux/
It is probably reflux or maybe even a milk protein sensitivity / allergy?
Thanks so much Colleen, just read through it all. It does sounds like there is some kind of reflux issue there.
I wonder if changing my diet and the formula could help.
I have an appointment tomorrow actually.
It breaks my heart to see them in pain :(
Thanks for all this info..
PS Tyler is ADORABLE!!!!
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:27 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Champ
Posted by Journey33
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
This is so helpful! Did you being a diaper in to have them tested for a milk protein allergy?
We're going to the peds tomorrow.
Also, is reflux likely with BM? or does it not matter if its BM or formula?
Both my twins had reflux and only had bm. I also had to cut out dairy and veggies. with everything I cut out of my diet, they still had reflux but were more comfortable. Acid helped them a lot.
I can cut out dairy and veggies easy!! lol now that Im introducing formula, I've added a whole new element though. I know we'll figure it out eventually, this part just sucks,
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:28 PM |
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Journey33
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
This is so helpful! Did you being a diaper in to have them tested for a milk protein allergy?
We're going to the peds tomorrow.
Also, is reflux likely with BM? or does it not matter if its BM or formula?
Yes I had to bring in one of his diapers. He was actually only on BM at first...all 3 of them were. And then once they detected a milk protein sensitivity (blood in his stool), they put him on nutramigen. So I had him on Nutramigen and the other 2 on BM. So reflux can happen on either!
As for the bottles/nipples, we had tried them ALL. We ended up with the born free bottles for my boys. The DS with reflux that we put the rice in his bottle, we just put a tiny slit in a level 1. We found that worked out best. We tried level 2s, 3s, and the multiflow. The slit worked best for him. It took my DD a while to adapt to any bottle. She was actually on the little medela bottles from the hospital with the disposable nipples that they use in the NICU for the first 6.5 months of life. It was crazy, but the only bottle that worked for her. Other bottles would come out too fast or too slow, would cause her to choke. She eventually switched to the born free bottles at about 6.5 months. I just also wanted to add that ontop of the reflux, my DD had/has a lot of feeding issues. She started feeding therapy privately at 5 months and then started receiving it 2x a week through EI at 8 months. She is now 16 months and still receives feeding therapy 2x a week and a nutritionist once a month. She is a peanut (16.5lbs at 16 months) so thats why they were always so aggressive with her feeding. She is doing so much better now. Things really changed for us around 7 months. She definitely enjoys eating now and is slowing gaining weight 
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:32 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
Posted by Journey33
Posted by Pleaseletthisbeit
It sounds a lot like reflux. Very common with preemies. It happened with 2 of my triplets when they came home from the NICU. My DD would scream throughout the whole feeding, become stiff as a board, it would take an hour to feed her (and the doctors only wanted us to feed her for 30 minutes tops bc then they said she was losing more calories than taking it...she was also very tiny). My DS on the other hand would take down the feedings no problem, but he would vomit and spit up uncontrollably. When I brought them in to the peds he said both cases sounded a lot like reflux. He suggest i see a GI specialist. The GI put both of them on Zantac. My DD took very well to the zantac. She took all her feeds and the crying and stiff back really decreased. Her spitting up then began to increase so the GI thickened her milk with rice cereal. That did the trick. My DS still had a lot of the spitting up on the Zantac so they also thickened his with rice and we tried Nutramigen as he predicted a milk protein sensitivity. That did the trick for him.
It was definitely a long road that required a lot of trial and error and working with different doctors. They were both on Zantac until about 10 months! Talk to your peds. See what he/she thinks. Reflux is very painful to a baby and could definitely cause feedings to be difficult. There are ways to help with the reflux, medication, thickening milk, keeping a baby upright after a feeding for 30-40 minutes, different flow nipples, so many different things you could try.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
This is so helpful! Did you being a diaper in to have them tested for a milk protein allergy?
We're going to the peds tomorrow.
Also, is reflux likely with BM? or does it not matter if its BM or formula?
Yes I had to bring in one of his diapers. He was actually only on BM at first...all 3 of them were. And then once they detected a milk protein sensitivity (blood in his stool), they put him on nutramigen. So I had him on Nutramigen and the other 2 on BM. So reflux can happen on either!
As for the bottles/nipples, we had tried them ALL. We ended up with the born free bottles for my boys. The DS with reflux that we put the rice in his bottle, we just put a tiny slit in a level 1. We found that worked out best. We tried level 2s, 3s, and the multiflow. The slit worked best for him. It took my DD a while to adapt to any bottle. She was actually on the little medela bottles from the hospital with the disposable nipples that they use in the NICU for the first 6.5 months of life. It was crazy, but the only bottle that worked for her. Other bottles would come out too fast or too slow, would cause her to choke. She eventually switched to the born free bottles at about 6.5 months. I just also wanted to add that ontop of the reflux, my DD had/has a lot of feeding issues. She started feeding therapy privately at 5 months and then started receiving it 2x a week through EI at 8 months. She is now 16 months and still receives feeding therapy 2x a week and a nutritionist once a month. She is a peanut (16.5lbs at 16 months) so thats why they were always so aggressive with her feeding. She is doing so much better now. Things really changed for us around 7 months. She definitely enjoys eating now and is slowing gaining weight
We're also still using the little medela bottles.. we were using the disposable similac nipples up until about 2 weeks ago. I changed to medela (i think CHAMP recommended it) and it comes out a little faster. They've been able to keep up and it makes the feedings go faster so we stuck with that. I have the born free and Dr Browns.. Ive tried switching to both but no such luck. Going to call the Dr in the morning to see if I should bring a diaper in.
Im mostly worried that they will ask 1 or 2 questions and then throw meds at us.
I guess time will tell.
Thanks for all you help! so glad your little peanut is gaining well!
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| Posted 10/30/12 10:38 PM |
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Superkat
More a stranger than a friend
Member since 5/06 9730 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
They could also have what is called "silent reflux". It means no throwing up but the reflux is still there. My oldest son had it and was much like what you are describing.
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| Posted 10/31/12 2:02 PM |
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Strawberry2468
It's summatime
Member since 3/09 4739 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
My one girl was in nicu for minor breathing but they wouldn't release her ultimately for feeding. She eats the right amt but is so much smaller than her sister. (takes at leadt a half hr -40min for 2 oz at 16 days old) My eater girl does this. She constantly grunts while eating and makes gassy faces and sounds while sleeping. She hardly ever spits up though. I just tried gas drops and I'm not sure they did anything. She likes laying on her belly on me but I can't do that at night when I'm falling asleep.
I feel you on the feeding. Everyone says they should be finishing a bottle in 10/15 mins but mine take a half hr each plus changing time and eat every 3 hours.
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| Posted 10/31/12 5:13 PM |
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Strawberry2468
It's summatime
Member since 3/09 4739 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
I forgot to add- I'm going to the ped for weight checks so I'll let you know what they say. I know all peds have different theories though.
Your girls were a bit early too,right? Mine were on the cusp of 36 weeks but 35 week size and they told me premies tend to be refluxy. They are still under 6 lb as of last week, the peanuts.
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| Posted 10/31/12 5:16 PM |
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Journey33
LIF Adult
Member since 12/11 1402 total posts
Name:
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Re: why is it sooooo hard to feed my babies??
Posted by Strawberry2468
I forgot to add- I'm going to the ped for weight checks so I'll let you know what they say. I know all peds have different theories though.
Your girls were a bit early too,right? Mine were on the cusp of 36 weeks but 35 week size and they told me premies tend to be refluxy. They are still under 6 lb as of last week, the peanuts.
Yeah, my girls were born at 35 weeks. They also like to lay on their belly, it helps calm them down but I can't do that all day long.
There's now way we could finish a bottle in 15 minutes!! 
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| Posted 10/31/12 10:12 PM |
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