Please help, my 8 month old has developed a feeding aversion, failure to thrive.

Anonymous
(Not OP) how would you re lactate?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Didn't see if you posted where you live - but in MOCO Infants and Toddlers can help with feeding issues (after a medical clearance) and it's completely free if you are found eligible. If you are in DC or VA they have early intervention services but I believe there is a sliding fee. Dr. Chatoor at Children's in DC is an expert in feeding issues. You could also find a speech therapist that specializes in feeding issues or an OT. If you go to Children's, they take insurance.


I am many years out from the FTT and food aversion period of our lives. I am glad to hear that MoCo added feeding issues to the infants and toddlers services. The County did not offer then when my son was little and the social worker and psychologist didn't have any recommendations. It was a scary time. In addition to Children's Kennedy krieger in Baltimore has a feeding program. At far as speech therapists, The Language Experience has therapists who are trained in feeding therapy.
Anonymous
OP - BTDT.

A few poster talk about whole milk. Don't go there. Stick with formula. Cows milk is fine for kids who are eating a balanced diet, but it is not a balanced diet. Don't even think of weening from formula until this is over.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Have you tried ensure? If you've done everything the ped. has told you, then try the fail-safe method - melted vanilla ice cream. Works like a charm. Then work back to Ensure, etc.


Baby possibly has a dairy allergy, OP did say she was dairy free when she pumped so I would not do this. Stick to elecare for now. Get a second opinion with a PED GI doctor right away, see if your pediatrician can expedite that. Then see if they can refer your baby to their feeding clinic. Best to you OP. This is so heartbreaking.
Anonymous
OP, why not do the endoscopy. I know you probably don't want to give a baby anesthesia and then do a scope down your baby's throat but that may give you more info?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:(Not OP) how would you re lactate?


Domperidone, fenugreek, lots of water, pumping round the clock. It is a lot of work but it can be done. I was able to do it after being dry for about 4-5 days. I imagine it would be harder if it has been months, but still possible.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:Honestly this sounds serious enough you should be getting advice from every doc who will talk to you -- not so much DCUM.


Not OP, but what is the problem with posting on DCUM to see if others had a similar experience and can recommend a particular doctor or clinic?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Honestly this sounds serious enough you should be getting advice from every doc who will talk to you -- not so much DCUM.


Not OP, but what is the problem with posting on DCUM to see if others had a similar experience and can recommend a particular doctor or clinic?


In my opinion, there is no problem with OP's request and it can be super beneficial to her to talk to those who have been through something similar. Obviously, doctors should consulted and are the ones who can help but you need to figure out what type of specialist to use and sometimes a pediatrician without experience with a specific issue doesn't even know what specialist to refer someone too. I am the PP who had a breakthrough with a speech pathologist and we went to a zillion GI docs, but my own research uncovered that sometimes speech pathologists specialize in feeding issues and I was able to book an appointment with one who saved our situation (and I got us in very quickly by leaving a detailed message about our dire situation and followed up twice quickly). When I told the pediatrician about my idea of the speech pathologist, she said fine, but she never suggested it, neither did the GI docs.
Anonymous
OP. The pediatrician GI's opinion is that despite the 10-12 oz for days now, we should wait and watch. "Give her milk when she wants it" which is almost never. Easier said than done. We were told never to distract which we did earlier, anyway it does not work anymore.

The only time she feeds without issue is the midnight feed, she will take about 3 oz and sometimes the morning feed another 3oz but after that it takes 1-2 hrs of trying to get anywhere. Actually last 24 hrs has been 9 oz. she is dropping on our home weight scale.

Could there be something mentally, developmentally wrong because this looks like regression. She used to recognize the bottle and we did have to coax with the formula but she at least opened her mouth.

This is how it typically goes now...she give me all the signs of hunger, thumb sucking (she has just woken up from her morning 1hr 10 min nap), the milking sign which she learned herself, then she gets increasingly angry and frustrated, she gets red in the face, straining. Then she starts crying. She can be distracted and may even laugh in between a good bit. We have tried feeding her at different stages in this process. She does not even recognize the bottle anymore and swipes it away. I try to put the nipple in the mouth but she won't take it. So don't do often. Nanny is just watching since I have taken over weekday routine too and that's all we are doing, trying to feed.

She has only tested sweet potato, oatmeal, blueberry and baby crackers so those are the only things I can try to put on a plate and let her play with it, for baby led weaning.

She poops 1-3 times a day so not sure if there is a delayed emptying issue. I am unable to get an appointment with children's till mid April without a recommendation. Will try another doctor.
Anonymous
OP. The other other thing we were told strictly no feeding lying down since it will lead to ear infections in reflux babies and in desperation I did just that, lucky me, she fed 2.5 oz fairly easily. She is always staring at our food, we try to eat in front of her and make exaggerated yum sounds. I even filled her dr browns bottle with milk and started drinking for it to encourage her.

Prevacid could be giving her a tummyache. Her reduced feed coincides also with the start of Prevacid.
I have posted on DCUM a couple of times in the past but mainly about car seats and strollers and the like. Your responses PPs have been great.
Anonymous
I feel for you, OP. Your issues are so much more challenging than mine.
I was the PP whose child fell off the growth charts. I also have a 2am feeding and 6 am feeding, even though my 7 month old should be sleeping through the night. The sleep deprivation does not help.
Seems like you're trying everything possible. I'm not a medical professional, but if she eats lying down, then so be it.
Have you tried the sippy cup yet?
When you say it takes 1-2 hours to coax her, is that constant or do you take breaks?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:.

Prevacid could be giving her a tummyache. Her reduced feed coincides also with the start of Prevacid.


Might be worth bringing that up with the doctor.
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:(Not OP) how would you re lactate?


In my country milk banks teach moms to eat oatmeal, drink lots of water, hand express while the baby is on their skin, share the bed, feed on demand and offer the complement through a SNS. Absolutely no bottles and no pacifiers. Very rarely babies need to go on formula.
Anonymous
How about dipping a cloth in milk and letting the baby suck on it?
Anonymous
Anonymous wrote:


In my country milk banks teach moms to eat oatmeal, drink lots of water, hand express while the baby is on their skin, share the bed, feed on demand and offer the complement through a SNS. Absolutely no bottles and no pacifiers. Very rarely babies need to go on formula.

What enlightened country is this?
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