Please don't take unscreened milk for your baby. If I knew who you were, I would call cps. Actually, cps should already be involved since most cases of failure to thrive are for social/parental reasons.

OP, I can't help you with BM, but I noticed you mentioned getting a tube. I'm the parent of a former g-tuber, and if by tube you mean g-tube, I wanted to let you know that that, in and of itself, should be a ray of light in your tunnel.

Getting the tube was very very scary for me, and sort of felt like giving up, but once we had it I could see my kid getting healthier every day, and removing the burden of constantly worrying about feeding let us concentrate on normal baby things like exploring the environment and acquiring new skills. I was also very worried about how we'd get off the tube, but that turned out to be far less of a worry than I anticipated. My child's issues were different from yours, it appears, but I still think our experience might be helpful.

I don't want to intrude by sending you an email since I'm not answering what you asked, but if it would be helpful to hear from a "Been there, done that" tube mom, just reply here and I'll email you right away.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you do soy formula (I know it's not ideal, but can you try it?). Or maybe try CVS Gentle - it's made by PBM, so it's different than the other brands. It was like our 5th or 6th try and it worked for us.

I would focus equally, if not MORE, on food. At 8 months, food should be the primary source of nutrition. What solids have you tried? At 3 months, we started with rice cereal, then added wheat cereal or oatmeal. By 6 months, DD was full on eating food (plus 2 or 3 bottles a day in between meals), but she was picky about the brand. There is a big difference between brown-ish Gerber carrots and homemade or Earth's Best. I pureed a lot of food in the baby bullet - the options are endless, so please try it. DD liked carrots, peas, chicken and rice, and macaroni with a little parmesean and teeny but of tomato. The Giant brand baby food is great (Beechnut)- it's the only brand of baby food that has something other than veggies that tastes good IMO. Good Luck!

Why are you giving such bad advice???
"Even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement breast milk as the infant's main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains an ideal addition to the child's diet." http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm?s_cid=cs_1011

+1. Take your bad advice elsewhere, PP.

This is a failure to thrive baby - it needs to get calories however it can. But buying breastmilk from strangers off the internet seems like a much worse idea than trying more solids. OP, if this is as serious as it sounds, your pediatrician should be helping you to figure this out. I wonder if your baby would take formula from a different caregiver.

Post on milkshare.org. I donated my stash a few years ago to a woman there who needed it for a child in the NICU.

OP, if you still need BM please post again and let us know. I have a deep freeze with probably still close to 100 bags of 5oz each. BM is suppose to be good for a year in a deep freezer and I still give it to daycare twice a week for my Dd. she is now 7 months so I would be more than happy to give it to a child more in need.

Anonymous wrote:Can you do soy formula (I know it's not ideal, but can you try it?). Or maybe try CVS Gentle - it's made by PBM, so it's different than the other brands. It was like our 5th or 6th try and it worked for us.

I would focus equally, if not MORE, on food. At 8 months, food should be the primary source of nutrition. What solids have you tried? At 3 months, we started with rice cereal, then added wheat cereal or oatmeal. By 6 months, DD was full on eating food (plus 2 or 3 bottles a day in between meals), but she was picky about the brand. There is a big difference between brown-ish Gerber carrots and homemade or Earth's Best. I pureed a lot of food in the baby bullet - the options are endless, so please try it. DD liked carrots, peas, chicken and rice, and macaroni with a little parmesean and teeny but of tomato. The Giant brand baby food is great (Beechnut)- it's the only brand of baby food that has something other than veggies that tastes good IMO. Good Luck!

Btw if they've gone the route of hypoallergenic formula it's because baby cannot tolerate soy formula or any of the other things you mentioned here. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Btw did you ever get into Hopkins. ? I was reminded this week how amazing their GI dept is for kids. Is your dd closer to 10 mo now? I'm praying for you

Can you tell us generally where you are located? I don't have a huge stash but could pump and donate

A couple months ago I googled a milk bank and it turned out to have ads for people to sell their BM. Most seemed to be selling theirs for $1-2/oz. It's not cheap, but perhaps manageable in the short term.

OP, several years ago when I had excess milk I found an online forum for donating BM. I can't remember what it is called, but I found it by searching google. I donated to a woman in Manassas, but people were located all over the country. GL!

Op - check out the Human Milk for Human Babies milk sharing site in Facebook. There is one for the DC Baltinore region. The milk banks are pretty exclusively for preemies so that they avoid potentially fatal complications so I don't know how much luck you will have here. The for profit milk banks are about $5/oz I've been told by my LC and take milk donations from people and then turn it around for a profit. I think you will find generous local donors who will be honored to help you and your LO - especially at a time like this.

Also- I will email you separately win another suggestion for a list serve I'm on.

Hugs to you. I'm sorry you are going through this.

I do have a freezer stash and would happily give it to you for free (my daughter refuses to take any of my frozen milk from a bottle )...Unfortunately I am located in Florida. Good luck, I hope you get what you need1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you do soy formula (I know it's not ideal, but can you try it?). Or maybe try CVS Gentle - it's made by PBM, so it's different than the other brands. It was like our 5th or 6th try and it worked for us.

I would focus equally, if not MORE, on food. At 8 months, food should be the primary source of nutrition. What solids have you tried? At 3 months, we started with rice cereal, then added wheat cereal or oatmeal. By 6 months, DD was full on eating food (plus 2 or 3 bottles a day in between meals), but she was picky about the brand. There is a big difference between brown-ish Gerber carrots and homemade or Earth's Best. I pureed a lot of food in the baby bullet - the options are endless, so please try it. DD liked carrots, peas, chicken and rice, and macaroni with a little parmesean and teeny but of tomato. The Giant brand baby food is great (Beechnut)- it's the only brand of baby food that has something other than veggies that tastes good IMO. Good Luck!

Why are you giving such bad advice???
"Even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement breast milk as the infant's main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains an ideal addition to the child's diet." http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm?s_cid=cs_1011

+1. Take your bad advice elsewhere, PP.

Anonymous wrote:Can you do soy formula (I know it's not ideal, but can you try it?). Or maybe try CVS Gentle - it's made by PBM, so it's different than the other brands. It was like our 5th or 6th try and it worked for us.

I would focus equally, if not MORE, on food. At 8 months, food should be the primary source of nutrition. What solids have you tried? At 3 months, we started with rice cereal, then added wheat cereal or oatmeal. By 6 months, DD was full on eating food (plus 2 or 3 bottles a day in between meals), but she was picky about the brand. There is a big difference between brown-ish Gerber carrots and homemade or Earth's Best. I pureed a lot of food in the baby bullet - the options are endless, so please try it. DD liked carrots, peas, chicken and rice, and macaroni with a little parmesean and teeny but of tomato. The Giant brand baby food is great (Beechnut)- it's the only brand of baby food that has something other than veggies that tastes good IMO. Good Luck!

Why are you giving such bad advice???
"Even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement breast milk as the infant's main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains an ideal addition to the child's diet." http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/index.htm?s_cid=cs_1011

I'm not in a position to help at the moment, but I will definitely keep your request in mind, and I've written down your email. IF I can help, I will.

There's a meteor shower tonight. I promise that with each shooting star I see I'll spend my wishes on good will for you and your family!!