Fussy Feeders - Dysphagia - a possibilty other than reflux

[orbmom]

Can I just vent about how confusing motherhood is?!!? Today was another crappy feeding day with a total of about 9 oz for the day until his evening bottle and then a 40 min fight to get him to take it.  He did not have a bm today, so it could be related to that as well.  Anyone had experience where lo's refuse to take a bottle when they don't go?  He isn't technically constipated, since when he goes the bms are not hard.  So why does he have such trouble having them?  I would think by 3 months he would be getting it together, plus it seems worse lately.  On the constipation side, I am giving a mix of apple and prune and water also several times a day to help.  I hate introducing those sugars this early.  My daughter had constipation too, but when she went you could tell it had been firm AND I don't remember her refusing to eat because of it.  AND he seems to give up pretty quickly.  Is that common? 

I am still pursuing both routes.  He does seem like an uncoordinated eater and I am hoping the speech therapist can take a look at that too. 

You just worry so much about the eating thing.  I would hate to think my baby wasn't getting enough... plus he is a terrible daytime short napper which I feel may be linked to the eating.  You have to get the eating right to procede sucessfully with the sleep.

[orbmom]

Well, a few days with regular bm's and no improvement.  It is pretty much the same pattern.  A few oz's down, then fussing, then 20 mins of soothing, and then he'll take more, sometimes.  We have to work really hard at getting about 20 - 22 ounces per day.  He is over 12 lbs, so that seems like the minimum he should be getting to me.  I am going to call the Dr. and schedule the speech therapist.   The easy schedule is always out of sorts because of his eating habits.  IF we can get a good evening feeding in before bed, he'll only get up once at night.  Otherwise it is pretty erratic.

I feel pretty discouraged right now.

[Luke-n-Me]

I am only sporadically getting emails about replies to this message, so sorry for the delay (I don't check in here much anymore beyond responses to this message).  I completely feel for you and how discouraged you are!  I thought that you were already working on getting in to see a speech therapist?  What type of formula is your lo on?  My oldest was had trouble with bm's until we switched to Good Start by Carnation.  I know some individuals don't endorse anything by Carnation d/t some issue I know little about (but I have read about it), however, there formula has different proteins that make bm's easier for some and this was definitely the case for my lo.  Just a thought, because, while it may not be the main problem you're dealing with, it does all go together. 

The speech therapist should be able to evaluate the whole problem for you (if not, find one who can!).  I hope you get help soon and try do something to keep yourself calm in the meantime.  Meditation really does work, find a quiet spot and breathe when you have a few moments!  It will get better, it has to!

[orbmom]

Thanks.  It just helps to talk it through.

Yes.  I thought maybe I was jumping the gun a little so I told my Dr. to hold off.  I am calling tomorrow to get back on track for the speech therapist.  It is definitely not related to the bm's as he went this am (5 AM to be exact) and then fought his bottle at 7 AM.  It took my husband an hour to get 4 oz down.  I am so glad he helps so i am not the only one working with him.  He did okay for the next two bottles though.

He is on Infamil Lipil.  The Dr. suggested Gentlease, but I am having to mix it in 1/3 at a time because he refused the new formula outright.  We started mixing yesterday, so I am going to gradually work him onto it.  I am giving him a little fruit juice and water every other day as well.

I know it does get better, eventually.   I have a five year old and I keep telling myself, he only takes a bottle for a year!  My daughter had colic, it was horribly traumatic and took me five years to get brave enough to have another!  Deep breath.

[JoHo]

I am going to call the ped. tomorrow and see if we can get my son checked for this. So much of what you've described is him. He is now exactly three months old but only started crying the past couple of weeks about the feeding. He has, however, always been difficult to feed.

I'm wondering if this is a life-long condition? Or do they outgrow it?

[orbmom]

Mine outgrew the crying and refusing stage but is still a squirmy eater.  He is very distracted but has increased his overall oz.  He never drinks a ton until just before bed and the night time.  We just went for our 4 mos. appt and he is 15lbs and moved up in the % for weight, so it seems that he is getting what he needs.  I was so frustrated at your stage, but it did get a little better.  Hope that helps.

[JoHo]

The ped. said it wasn't any sort of dyspagia (sp?) but that he was so congested and his nasal passages were swollen. I've been doing everything the ped. and nurses suggest for this (his sister is also chronically congested.) which includes, humidfiers, steam "bath" (sitting in the steamy bathroom for 15 minutes), saline in the nose and suctioning. He still cries for seemingly no reason sometimes before a feed or during.

But speaking of the squirming--I was wondering about that too. His sister (twin,) is so squrimy during eating. I've wondered if this indicates something other than reflux, for which she is on Prevacid. I try many positions, and it isn't necessarily always like she is uncomfortable. She is a very squirmy girl overall. It makes me paranoid that it indicates something is wrong with her developmentally! But maybe it's just baby / infant behavior?

Anyone?

[grahamsmama]

The ped. said it wasn't any sort of dyspagia (sp?) but that he was so congested and his nasal passages were swollen. I've been doing everything the ped. and nurses suggest for this (his sister is also chronically congested.) which includes, humidfiers, steam "bath" (sitting in the steamy bathroom for 15 minutes), saline in the nose and suctioning. He still cries for seemingly no reason sometimes before a feed or during.

But speaking of the squirming--I was wondering about that too. His sister (twin,) is so squrimy during eating. I've wondered if this indicates something other than reflux, for which she is on Prevacid. I try many positions, and it isn't necessarily always like she is uncomfortable. She is a very squirmy girl overall. It makes me paranoid that it indicates something is wrong with her developmentally! But maybe it's just baby / infant behavior?

Anyone?

How old are they again?  Mine got very squirmy around 3.5 months and still is.  Or could it be that the reflux isn't well controlled?  When Ebby, my 3 year old was a baby, she was always congested and was difficult to feed.  We had her evaluated by a speech therapist, who said her adenoids and nasal passages were swollen because of reflux.  When was the last time the Prevacid dose was adjusted?  Is your ds on any kind of reflux med?

[JoHo]

I am going to be getting her the liquid form of Prevacid tomorrow, just talked to the doc. today again. I don't know why they adminster the dissolving kind to babies, it never truly dissolves in the bottle! It often gets collected in the nipple and rim! Hopefully this liquid form will address reflux if it is there.

The squirminess started I'd say at about 2 or 2.5 months? She (and her brother) will be 3.5 months tomorrow.

[grahamsmama]

I hope that solves everything for you guys.  At least you'll be able to cross one thing off the list!

[Luke-n-Me]

Sorry, again.  I don't get notifications, I just happened to check to see if anyone had posted lately.

I would check this out for both of them further.  They are both showing signs/symptoms and that is not atypical.  This definitely goes hand in hand with reflux. 

The answer to the "life long" question.  These little ones, as long as they are otherwise typical, do "outgrow" this as they learn to compensate and gauge their drinking.  There is really nothing more complex than bottle drinking.  The timing is easily thrown off. 

As far as positions (not sure if I've ever mentioned this), have you tried side-lying?  With your legs together, hold them in the crease between your legs on their side.  Give them good head support and try feeding that way.  It gives them more control as gravity isn't working against them quite as much and if they are getting too much liquid, it will fall into their cheek and out the side of their mouth rather than down their throat.  If you can hold them slightly elevated in this position, even better.

HTH

[JoHo]

Nancy (and others!)
So the squirminess could well be part of reflux, you think? I really don't think DS has reflux though. He doesn't cry as if in pain, he sleeps on his back, yes, he does spit up but don't all babies? It doesn't seem excessive. DD likes to sleep on her tummy, among other things, and reflux seems likely. They've become a lot squirmier these past couple of weeks, and they're about to turn four months old. Is age a part of this do you think? They're discovering their hands, etc.

I will try the side lying thing for sure, though. Couldn't hurt!!
Thanks!

[grahamsmama]

I think age can definitely be a part of it! 
Check out this link.
I'm going insane with 3.5-mo hardly eating, HELP!

[JoHo]

Well, the more I think about it, the more I wonder if DS does have some reflux. I have been trying to feed him on his side but it's been somewhat disasterous--messy, and he hasn't really taken to the new position. But I wonder if I need to persist so that he finds that it helps.

I have some Zantac that my daughter was initially on that I was thinking of putting DS on just to see if it helps. How long do you think it would take to notice if it's helping?

[Luke-n-Me]

My apologies, again!  Did you ever get any relief with the feeding?  At 3/4 months, babies become more alert and are often more alert during feedings, therefore, they may actually start squirming and showing more signs of difficulty with feeding throughout the day because they are actually noticing something isn't quite right.  Quite often, night feeds will go rather well though due to decreased alertness.  This isn't always the case, but we see this a lot.