Failure to Thrive/Supplementation

ElTrain5

Anyone else have their LOs diagnosed FTT while BFing? Were you told to supplement? If so, what was the reccomended schedule/amount of formula that was suggested? Did it work?

SecondTimeinMSU

I was never diagnosed with FTT with DS #1 but he wasn't gaining the minimum and they kept doing weight checks. For me since I was pumping and bottle feeding a ton due to a lazy latch they had me fortifying my pumped milk with Neosure. The pedi gave me a recipe to follow as far as the ratios to mix. For us it was a failure since it seemed to make him fountain out his entire feeding rather than just part of it so the losses outweighed the gains and we stopped. The solution for us was just finding the right reflux meds to keep down enough of his food rather than him eating more.

steprozz

B was FTT and I was told no more BFing. his situation was a little different though as he wouldn't eat at all. I think if he would have wanted to eat we could have supplemented. I hope your LO gets what he needs!

FWIW I was told I could EP and fortify the breast milk to 24 cal/oz. I think the extra calories have been what's really helped B start gaining well. and you can always PM me if you want to chat/vent/commiserate over FTT. it sucks. hugs mama!

MrsCase1

No. However, my son was a tiny peanut. I EBF him with zero exception in the beginning. My daughter is ginormous and I attribute it to this difference:

When we brought her home from the hospital she was miserable for some reason. Her first night she screamed NONSTOP for SEVEN HOURS! My mom finally came at 2 am so we could take her to the hospital because we assumed she was ill. It was literally that bad.

We had some formula on hand and my mom suggested we try it because she was too pissed to eat. So, we fed formula.

The next night she only screamed for five hours (progress, right? LOL.) More formula and she settled.

I started a little routine. I would nurse her (if she wasn't too hangry.) Then I would give formula. While she was getting the formula I would pump so the next time I could give breastmilk instead of formula.

It really didn't take that long to get into a good groove. I think the formula in the beginning really helped with my nursing if that makes any sense. I know it is contrary to everything the experts say, but I had the blessing of our pedi and LC and now she is putting on weight being EBF so I am at peace with it.

diagonalley

@ElTrain5‌ sorry you guys are going through this. When in the NICU Max's feedings were supplemented at night. He had bm mixed with neosure. The ratio was 1/2 teaspoon per 3 ounces. They recommended we continue this when he came home for 50% of his feedings. I typically did only 2 feedings a day since he was gaining and didn't want to be a slave to the pump. What did your Dr. recommend for you?

ElTrain5

Thank you for the advice ladies. H just isn't gaining. If I don't get him up a few more ounces by his appointment next week he'll drop below the 5% for growth, which is why FTT is a concern my doctor has actually been really great at not making me feel like a failure so far, but I know we need to start getting some meat on this little dudes bones so I'm willing to do whatever it takes. We've been BFing during the day and giving 2 bottles at night of AR formula for reflux (I've been pumping) Dr suggested adding in 2 oz of formula after every other fed during the day, but that hasn't helped so far (a friend lent me a baby scale and he still hasn't gained.).

I decided to just BF him as much as humanly possible over the next few days until his appointment and keep up with the formula every two hours (1 oz) and up his night bottles from 2 to 3 oz (although it's hard for him to keep that much down) ... And we'll see where we are at his appointment. At this stage it feels like I'm just transitioning to FF...which isn't a bad thing, just disappointing given how much work we've put into this so far.

I would give him fortified BM instead of formula, but I only pump like half an ounce each time (after a feed). I'm thinking about renting a hospital pump to see if I can get enough out to maybe do that instead.

I just hate seeing him struggle to keep the weight on. Hoping that something starts working soon.

kd&cd

I'm sorry that your struggling w LOs weight gain! It's stressful! DD last 12.5% of birth weight at 3 days old and we had to supplement 30ccs of formula after each feeding. Within a week she was completely refusing formula...at the next appt she had gained the 12.5% back plus some. We don't have to supplement anymore as long as she keeps gaining.

diagonalley

ElTrain5 said:

Thank you for the advice ladies. H just isn't gaining. If I don't get him up a few more ounces by his appointment next week he'll drop below the 5% for growth, which is why FTT is a concern my doctor has actually been really great at not making me feel like a failure so far, but I know we need to start getting some meat on this little dudes bones so I'm willing to do whatever it takes. We've been BFing during the day and giving 2 bottles at night of AR formula for reflux (I've been pumping) Dr suggested adding in 2 oz of formula after every other fed during the day, but that hasn't helped so far (a friend lent me a baby scale and he still hasn't gained.).

I decided to just BF him as much as humanly possible over the next few days until his appointment and keep up with the formula every two hours (1 oz) and up his night bottles from 2 to 3 oz (although it's hard for him to keep that much down) ... And we'll see where we are at his appointment. At this stage it feels like I'm just transitioning to FF...which isn't a bad thing, just disappointing given how much work we've put into this so far.

I would give him fortified BM instead of formula, but I only pump like half an ounce each time (after a feed). I'm thinking about renting a hospital pump to see if I can get enough out to maybe do that instead.

I just hate seeing him struggle to keep the weight on. Hoping that something starts working soon.

Do you pump after every single feeding? That's what I did when Max was in the hospital (for 15 minutes each time, apparently that's the magic number?) and it really increased my supply while he was there which helped me leave enough for overnight and then start a stash. I think the hospital grade pump is a good idea, at least worth a shot! I hope your little man starts chunking up!

diagonalley

Oh another thing the NICU nurses told me is when babies are held a lot they use more energy to maintain their body heat thus using more calories. Not sure how often you hold him but if it is a lot maybe try some more swaddled sleep time? I don't know if this is even good advice. Just trying to help

steprozz

@ElTrain5‌ it's so frustrating to watch them hover in that 4-6% and nothing seems to help. I'm sorry he's struggling.

I hope I read correctly so this isn't a repetitive suggestion or something that already hasn't worked for you but perhaps since you are already giving a bottle after every other BFing session, instead of upping the number of ounces he's taking in it since you said he has trouble keeping it down, you could fortify the formula bottles so he's getting the extra calories in the same number of ounces he has been getting that he can keep down. that way you can keep BFing as much as possible but still get him some of those extra calories without him spitting it back up. just a thought :-/

nunzchucks

@ElTrain5‌ No advice, but really sorry you're dealing with this. FX it turns around for you!

babyglo350

No advice either but I was in anguish when my babe dropped 10% of his body weight at the hospital and had to have formula so I can only imagine how you feel. Things will get better I'm sure. In the meantime I'm sending let of positive energy your way.