Feeding questions

I just posted a question on reflux vs milk intolerance, but I've been thinking that DD's spittiness may be due to over-feeding or pushing too much on her (since we're bottle feeding formula and EBM). I definately envy the BFing ladies who only have to count wet diapers and weight gain.

She's almost nine lbs, 5 weeks adjusted (she was born 12 weeks ago at 3 lbs 3oz), and we give her 4 oz every 4 hours (since 24 oz/day is what we were told). She gets really fussy after the first 2.5 oz, and we keep trying to feed her the rest (trying not to go past 30-45 min). She ends up taking 21-22 oz/day and is gaining weight fine. Her brother takes 4-5 oz in 15 min or less and is an eating machine (with NO spit up at all) and is gaining weight like crazy (he's almost 11 lbs). Since these are our first babies, DD is probably unfairly compared to her eating-crazy, spit-up-free brother and we keep thinking she has a problem... any thoughts?

I may try feeding her less more frequently (but I really really like the 4 hour schedule!).

Ugh, there's so much to figure out.

Thanks again!!!

Alechia

 

I would try and feed her more frequently and less EMB or formula. This is what I had to do with my reflux babies (not saying that yours has it). Also you can keep her upright and stillish for about 30 minutes after each feed and see if that helps. I wish we had a 4 hour feed schedule but we were more like every 3 hours if lucky at that age.

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head. I think she probably needs lesser quantities more often. Try 3 ounces every 3 hours. Maybe you could do a little less with DS more often too so that they still stay on the same schedule. I guess I'd try it and see if she seems happier that way.

We're having feeding issues too (similar with one little piggy and one we have to coerce to eat), so I feel your pain. Hang in there.

 

I was told that you should feed babies with reflux very small amounts more often-which is hard when you have two babies...trust me I know...how hard it is. Also keep them elevated (upright) for a half hour after feeding.
My ds (with reflux) would gobble down his feeding so fast and then throw it up-then act like he was starving and it would just repeat all day long-have you tried Enfimil AR? This fixed our problem, it was thick enough and he didnt spit it up-you could also try adding 1tbs of rice cereal per ounce of breast milk to see if that helps-
I am sure you have already explored these options but just some advice that worked for me.
PS it got alot better around 8 weeks-

 

at that age.. i fed 2 oz every 2 hours still. my DD was very hard to get to eat. she ended up with a milk intolerance is on nutramagen. GL

 

I have to second the more frequent feedings; remember, her stomach is TINY; i personally think that four hours is too long for a baby that age, esp. if she is having difficulty. My girls were in the NICU for a month and i nursed one and the other got bottled EBM (latching issues)....when I found out the NICU nurses were pushing a four hour schedule I threw a FIT -and hospital's lactation consultant backed me up AND went to the head of nursing.....I know lots of babies do it, but esp. if she's got eating issues I would try greater frequency, less amounts.

And yes, have her upright for 30 mins afterwards; it DOES make it feel like all you do is feed and hold and feed and hold but -well it is! But it doesn't last forever.

I will tell you that my two had reflux and basically puked between three and seven times a day; it would take an HOUR to get two ounces into Tessa....and at a year they just stopped - well, that was a month ago and i can count on one hand the times both of them have thrown up since then (and it had gotten less and less over time)

And Miss Tessa who i used to agonize over getting just a few ounces into now gobbles food (sometimes) and can drink a whole eight ounces in less time than it takes her sister, the former little piggy!

So - try not to worry too much,(easier said than done, but if she's gaining weight and you've got wet diapers than you really don't need to agonize over it too much) and try more frequent feedings; even though it feels interminable now, it really will pass. These first few months are so difficult, and yet somehow they pass.

Good luck!

 

Oh, and - yes, i was feeding both of mine every two hours; i did SIXTEEN FEEDINGS a day; 8 nursed and 8 bottles. INSANE - but we all survived, somehow!

They didn't go four hours until - well, until VERY late. But taht wasn't despite my trying; for the longest time they couldn't take any more than 5 or six ounces, no matter how much i tried to push the time. I finally realized that instead of agonizing over it i would simply continue to follow their lead since THEY knew what their bodies could take better than i did!

 

I agree with pp's. Follow her cues. If she is done at 2.5oz, then having her finish the bottle is probably pointless because as you've seen it just comes right back up. I had two refluxy babies, and one major spitter, so I feel your pain. You may have to feed her more often than her brother, but eventually she will grow a bit and be able to tolerate more at a time. For now though I would just follow her cues and let her spot when she is done. GL!!!!