Infant Feeding Problem - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Aidyns Mom · 08-01-2008, 10:09 PM

I have a 9 1/2 month old son (adjusted to 7 1/2 months for his prematurity) We have always had a problem getting him to eat, however, it has gotten much worse. He rufuses a bottle, and when forced only will intake an average of 17 ounces a day. The "experts" claim at 17 pounds he needs to eat 31 ounces to stay hydrated and 45 ounces for nutrician? We have now been hospitalized for 5 days, (due to dehydration, and an ongoing refusal to eat) Prior to being hospitalized we saw a feeding specialist weekly to help avoid this step. Since being here, we have seen speech, physical and occupational therapists, neurology, nuerosurgury, GI, the feeding team, speech, dietician....no one has an answer. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS ISSUE? When you try to feed him he becomes enraged and fights to get away, he screams when you put a bottle in his mouth. All of the traditional tests including: Upper GI, Stomach emptying test, Ecostopy, CT scan, Swallow study have been done...........WHAT IS EVERYONE MISSING???

dina08 · 08-02-2008, 05:01 AM

I have the same issue with my premature baby girl. Have you tried to feed him when he is asleep? Every little cat nap, pick him up and put the bottle in. It's the only way my daughter drinks. She went from drinking 17 ounces (forced) to 30+ now.

nicoledegrado · 08-15-2008, 02:14 AM

Our daughter who was also premature had the same problem. She is 6 months old (4 months corrected) and still only weighs 11 1/2 pounds. She would kick, scream and refuse to eat unless we forced her. I would pray before feeding her that she'd finish a bottle. In the last 4 days this has all changed! I have Rowena from Babycareadvice.com to thank. She's a feeding specialist that we hired over the internet. After answering a very lengthy questionaire she sent back a 16 page assessment with a plan to follow. The moment we implemented her plan things turned around. We are on our fourth day and Gabrielle has gone from BARELY eating 550 cc per day (with a major struggle)to willingly eating 750 cc. I too was at a complete loss. I was desperate for help because we didn't want to end up hospitalized again. So far, things are going better than I ever imagined. She explained to me that we were unintentionally forcing Gabi to eat which in turn made the feeding experience a negative one. Her learned response was to fight us. There are obviously other factors as well but hopefully the days of struggling with Gabi to eat are behind us. Good luck to you.

dina08 · 08-15-2008, 04:28 AM

Thanks for the information you just provided. I checked out their website and I think I am going to sign up. I was starting to talk about going to a feeding specialist anyhow. Thanks.

Sienna123 · 08-20-2008, 11:05 AM

Have they considered oral sensory issues? An OT can help with that, my daughter has some. We've been working with a Z-Vibe kit with her and it has been helpful (it also helps low tone issues). Oral sensory issues apparently are not uncommon and can majorly affect feeding.