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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They supplement during relactatation with milk they've expressed?

Their country doesn't provide formula to poor people (which even the US does), and their country doesn't provide clean water to poor people (even the US does that), but they have access to a milk bank and to a SNS? (What kind of water do they wash the SNS in?)

What country is this?

Why do you want to know?

They keep it in the fridge and boil at night. After boiling the water they'll use inext day. The issue with formula is not just dirty water but the lack of education. Relatives try to "help" and convince the mom to water down the formula, to add corn starch to it or rice/oatmeal flour to make it thicker, etc. They prefer to tell mom to stick to BM. Which we all know is the best option.

Maybe when you say "milk bank", you mean something different from what I mean when I say "milk bank"?

When I say "milk bank", I mean an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and dispenses donor human milk. I'm finding it hard to imagine a country where the public infrastructure is bad enough for poor people to have no access to clean water, refrigeration, or affordable formula but good enough for poor women to have access to an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and affordably dispenses donor human milk (and SNSes). That's why I want to know what country it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They supplement during relactatation with milk they've expressed?

Their country doesn't provide formula to poor people (which even the US does), and their country doesn't provide clean water to poor people (even the US does that), but they have access to a milk bank and to a SNS? (What kind of water do they wash the SNS in?)

What country is this?

Why do you want to know?

They keep it in the fridge and boil at night. After boiling the water they'll use inext day. The issue with formula is not just dirty water but the lack of education. Relatives try to "help" and convince the mom to water down the formula, to add corn starch to it or rice/oatmeal flour to make it thicker, etc. They prefer to tell mom to stick to BM. Which we all know is the best option.

Maybe when you say "milk bank", you mean something different from what I mean when I say "milk bank"?

When I say "milk bank", I mean an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and dispenses donor human milk. I'm finding it hard to imagine a country where the public infrastructure is bad enough for poor people to have no access to clean water, refrigeration, or affordable formula but good enough for poor women to have access to an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and affordably dispenses donor human milk (and SNSes). That's why I want to know what country it is.

That's exactly what a milk bank is in my country and there's also free baby care classes, free LCs, free supplies for moms who donate milk, the firefighters to pick up the donations twice a week from the donors house. While you keep talking like that you'll be left to do your own research. Show some respect and I might share the info you're looking for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They supplement during relactatation with milk they've expressed?

Their country doesn't provide formula to poor people (which even the US does), and their country doesn't provide clean water to poor people (even the US does that), but they have access to a milk bank and to a SNS? (What kind of water do they wash the SNS in?)

What country is this?

Why do you want to know?

They keep it in the fridge and boil at night. After boiling the water they'll use inext day. The issue with formula is not just dirty water but the lack of education. Relatives try to "help" and convince the mom to water down the formula, to add corn starch to it or rice/oatmeal flour to make it thicker, etc. They prefer to tell mom to stick to BM. Which we all know is the best option.

Maybe when you say "milk bank", you mean something different from what I mean when I say "milk bank"?

When I say "milk bank", I mean an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and dispenses donor human milk. I'm finding it hard to imagine a country where the public infrastructure is bad enough for poor people to have no access to clean water, refrigeration, or affordable formula but good enough for poor women to have access to an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and affordably dispenses donor human milk (and SNSes). That's why I want to know what country it is.

That's exactly what a milk bank is in my country and there's also free baby care classes, free LCs, free supplies for moms who donate milk, the firefighters to pick up the donations twice a week from the donors house. While you keep talking like that you'll be left to do your own research. Show some respect and I might share the info you're looking for.

In my country, there's an expression, "That's for me to know, and you to find out." Usually adults don't use this expression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They supplement during relactatation with milk they've expressed?

Their country doesn't provide formula to poor people (which even the US does), and their country doesn't provide clean water to poor people (even the US does that), but they have access to a milk bank and to a SNS? (What kind of water do they wash the SNS in?)

What country is this?

Why do you want to know?

They keep it in the fridge and boil at night. After boiling the water they'll use inext day. The issue with formula is not just dirty water but the lack of education. Relatives try to "help" and convince the mom to water down the formula, to add corn starch to it or rice/oatmeal flour to make it thicker, etc. They prefer to tell mom to stick to BM. Which we all know is the best option.

Maybe when you say "milk bank", you mean something different from what I mean when I say "milk bank"?

When I say "milk bank", I mean an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and dispenses donor human milk. I'm finding it hard to imagine a country where the public infrastructure is bad enough for poor people to have no access to clean water, refrigeration, or affordable formula but good enough for poor women to have access to an organization that accepts, pasteurizes, and affordably dispenses donor human milk (and SNSes). That's why I want to know what country it is.

That's exactly what a milk bank is in my country and there's also free baby care classes, free LCs, free supplies for moms who donate milk, the firefighters to pick up the donations twice a week from the donors house. While you keep talking like that you'll be left to do your own research. Show some respect and I might share the info you're looking for.

In my country, there's an expression, "That's for me to know, and you to find out." Usually adults don't use this expression.

Good luck with your research.

[Anonymous]

OMG you PPs. I am one of the early posters and came to DCUM just to see if there was an update from the mom, she seemed really exhausted and I find 3 pages of junk that OP will have to sift through. Jeez some of you.

OP, I love the suggestions that some PPs posted to not worry about how messy it gets but let you dd play with the food. I would stay away from allergens like dairy and wheat though till you have a confirmed diagnosis it's not an allergy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agree with PP, you need to consult a medical professional. 12 oz a day is less than half what your baby needs.
My 7 month old was previously tracking the 5th and then fell off the growth charts. Doc said not to give too much solids; milk has more calories. Food is just to develop his palette, so don't worry about solids for now.
Have you tried giving milk in a sippy cup or spoon-feeding milk?
My baby doesn't have bottle aversion, but cheering and clapping and yelling "bravo" whenever he took a bite or drank from the sippy cup made him more enthusiastic to eat.

OP, don't give a sippy cup, those are bad. Go for a straw cup instead in a few months.

Sippy cups aren't bad, goodness. If the kid is eating the kid is eating. If a sippy cup gets the kid to eat THAT is what is important. You can deal with dental issues later.

I am sorry you are dealing with this OP, I don't have much advice that hasn't been shared here but I hope your baby starts to eat soon.

They are bad!! OP, you don't want another problem while trying to fix an existing one.

See this:

http://www.raisehealthyeaters.com/2011/06/5-things-parents-should-know-about-starting-and-stopping-sippy-cups/

[Anonymous]

I took 6 months off of work to focus on my DS's feeding issues...worth every minute. He is now a totally healthy, thriving 4yo.

I spent so much time and energy on his wellness...it was a hard decision but needed to avoid the gtube.

Get aggressive, OP.

[Anonymous]

OP. Thank you all. I am going nuts. Still not able to get a second opinion GI appt till late this month in children's even via pediatrician with any of the 3 docs we would like to see.

Also I had looked into dysphagia a few days back and asked my ped who had dismissed it. Thanks to the PP who posted about that - I spent half of last night researching it and think this may be it. I looked at the checklist and it matched.

We did try avocado - mashing and trying to feed via spoon, finger, adding to the dr brown's bottle with the y nipple but she refused.

Sippy cups are here but I read that for babies with dysphagia they don't have the sucking ability - I am looking at you tube videos to see how how I can encourage/teach baby to drink from it and see if that works.

Also apparently there was a product called - Thick It - for babies with swallowing issues and that has been taken off the shelves or at least is not recommended. I am going to try thickening the bottle with oatmeal and see if it helps some.

I am trying to get an appointment now with the ENT dept at childrens but am having a hard time convincing the ped we need to explore this option. I stumbled upon this thread while searching DCUM and posters here said chilren's hospital is bad except for the GI department.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/85190.page#740166

Any recommendations in VA to ENT docs, occupational or speech therapists who could help us explore the dysphagia option greatly appreciated. I think I would need a doctor to prescribe the test.

My DH thinks I am being too aggressive and that I should not ask these many questios or send a fax with my concerns (since I am not getting a call back from my ped's office in a timely manner) that I will end up antagonizing the doctor.

I read this on one of the threads and it resonated with me:
"I think that you are going to get more help from parents than from experts, sad but true. I hope some of the parents who have been in the trenches will reach out to you at your new address. We spent a lot of time trying to find a doctor who could help, they don't seem to like cases that don't demonstrate their authority/mastery. Or the parents of those cases."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

OP. Thanks - I did and I was told that is not advised. I am continuing for now in case the gagging and low intake is not swallowing and is esophagitis related which in turn is not from the milk protein in the gerber soothe we fed her but worsened reflux.

Also PP who asked, it takes a while to get her to take the bottle sometimes an hour since it's only gentle coaxing and I try to keep it totally stress-free by laughing, playing music etc. Once feeding starts she typically pushes the bottle away after an oz or so most times. Except the last feed of the night when is tired and sleepy and one feed around 2am which are the best ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP. Thank you all. I am going nuts. Still not able to get a second opinion GI appt till late this month in children's even via pediatrician with any of the 3 docs we would like to see.

Also I had looked into dysphagia a few days back and asked my ped who had dismissed it. Thanks to the PP who posted about that - I spent half of last night researching it and think this may be it. I looked at the checklist and it matched.

We did try avocado - mashing and trying to feed via spoon, finger, adding to the dr brown's bottle with the y nipple but she refused.

Sippy cups are here but I read that for babies with dysphagia they don't have the sucking ability - I am looking at you tube videos to see how how I can encourage/teach baby to drink from it and see if that works.

Also apparently there was a product called - Thick It - for babies with swallowing issues and that has been taken off the shelves or at least is not recommended. I am going to try thickening the bottle with oatmeal and see if it helps some.

I am trying to get an appointment now with the ENT dept at childrens but am having a hard time convincing the ped we need to explore this option. I stumbled upon this thread while searching DCUM and posters here said chilren's hospital is bad except for the GI department.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/135/85190.page#740166

Any recommendations in VA to ENT docs, occupational or speech therapists who could help us explore the dysphagia option greatly appreciated. I think I would need a doctor to prescribe the test.

My DH thinks I am being too aggressive and that I should not ask these many questios or send a fax with my concerns (since I am not getting a call back from my ped's office in a timely manner) that I will end up antagonizing the doctor.

I read this on one of the threads and it resonated with me:
"I think that you are going to get more help from parents than from experts, sad but true. I hope some of the parents who have been in the trenches will reach out to you at your new address. We spent a lot of time trying to find a doctor who could help, they don't seem to like cases that don't demonstrate their authority/mastery. Or the parents of those cases."

Best of luck to you, OP. You're doing the right thing by being a persistent advocate. If your doctor is not helpful, it is time to find a new doctor. I think Children's has a good reputation overall, the main problem I've heard is that it can take a long time to get an appointment. You might want to start a new thread asking for recommendations for specialists in NOVA.

[Anonymous]

Have you gone to a pediatrician to rule out any regular sickness? (Like strep throat, sore throat, etc.?) If your baby had a sore throat and it hurt him/her to swallow, he wouldn't be able to tell you, so I wouldn't be suprised if a baby cried at seeing food if his throat hurt.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Thanks - Per Ped GI's advice I increased the calorie content of each oz so instead of 20 calories, making it 30 calories so it's either that or the prevacid but naps have been horrible last 3 days and DD keeps moaning interspersed with crying and seems to be in some kind of discomfort/pain. I have been feeding her water via a syringe but still can't make that to be a few ounces a day. I will start a new thread to get medical professional recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you gone to a pediatrician to rule out any regular sickness? (Like strep throat, sore throat, etc.?) If your baby had a sore throat and it hurt him/her to swallow, he wouldn't be able to tell you, so I wouldn't be suprised if a baby cried at seeing food if his throat hurt.

OP. Yes we went yesterday - Ped took a quick look at the ears and throat so I am assuming it seemed OK.

[Anonymous]

Get a new ped ASAP. We had a doctor that didn't like being told he was wrong. Our child had food allergies, an autoimmune disease and hypotonia all which our pediatrician failed to diagnose and treat even after I pointed it out. We found a different pediatrician and finally addressed her issues. My only regret was waiting around 9 months to ditch that stupid doctor. Our new pediatrician was such a wonderful professional! Worked WITH us instead of against us and addressed all the issues we pointed out. Dd started PT right away and we finally caught up.

Please look for another pediatrician willing to work with you and listen to your concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get a new ped ASAP. We had a doctor that didn't like being told he was wrong. Our child had food allergies, an autoimmune disease and hypotonia all which our pediatrician failed to diagnose and treat even after I pointed it out. We found a different pediatrician and finally addressed her issues. My only regret was waiting around 9 months to ditch that stupid doctor. Our new pediatrician was such a wonderful professional! Worked WITH us instead of against us and addressed all the issues we pointed out. Dd started PT right away and we finally caught up.

Please look for another pediatrician willing to work with you and listen to your concerns.

Please recommend your Ped PP.