Back to square one :(

JeepersWife

DS had an upper GI/barium swallow test yesterday and all looks ok despite his reflux seeming to have gotten worse. We found out last week he has a milk protein allergy and he hasn't been eating much. We met with a pediatric GI specialist today and she is putting him on completely new regimen for feedings: Alumentum ready to feed, one tsp per ounce of oatmeal formula and mylanta all in each bottle! Plus splitting his dose of prevacid into two times a day. If this doesn't work...it's back to NG feeds...I can't even think about that! So far I am not sure about the formula mix. The cereal makes the already thicker formula SO thick he can't get it out of the nipple! I even tried a level 3 (dr. Brown's). I just dont know...I feel like I have lost all sense of knowing what I am doing as a mama!

njdcgirl

Sorry that your LO is still having issues. Reflux is so tricky! We did thickened feeds with oatmeal for awhile and couldn't use the dr brown nipples. I still used the bottles but put a cross-cut enfamil disposable nipple on it (we got a ton from the NICU but I think you can Find them online too.) good luck, and I hope these changes make a big difference very soon!!

jenmikw

Owen has thickened feeds (it looks like runny custard) for his swallowing issues.  He uses the Gerber slow flow 3 months and up nipple with three holes.  He dried the Dr. Browns preemie in the NICU and it didn't work for him so we tried the Gerber next.  If I am remembering right the Gerber nipples don't fit on the Dr. Brown's bottles but the Gerber bottles are pretty cheap (about $3 each) and you can buy single ones to see if it works for him.

bhilyer

Sorry, I definitely understand your feeding frustrations.  

A couple of questions:

1 - have you tried the Y-cut nipples?

2 - why oatmeal cereal? I tried oatmeal with my guys, but it doesn't dissolve well which leads to it not flowing out of the nipple.  Rice works much better for us.

3 - is your LO still in pain or just spitting/vomitting a lot?   

lwmooney87

I'm sorry I definitely understand your frustrations as well. We haven't really done thickened feeds. She actually did worse with them when I tried so I discontinued it. I wish our LOs didn't have to deal with this

haziedaze

Just wanted to offer ((HUGS)). Hang in there momma and trust your instincts- you'll both get through this!

JeepersWife

Thanks ladies for the suggestions. I called the GI doc today and I can play around with the oatmeal and consistency. So far DS does well with just the change in formula. I think because it is the ready to feed it is already a little thicker. Not sure if I can do the rice due to his allergy, but I do have some. And it "has" to be Beechnut supposedly! ;)I just tried a 3 oz bottle with about a 1/4 tsp of oatmeal I it, but DS wore himself out and fell asleep, he'll wake up soon, I am sure! One of you asked if he is vomitting, he has a few times but his bigger issue was not taking feedings well because he was so uncomfortable. And he didn't spit up often, but when he did it was long after a feeding and mostly stomach juices, so that was irritating his esophagus.

BUmama

I don't have a preemie, but I did have a baby with severe reflux and milk protein allergies--we used Dr. Browns with a Y cut nipple and used rice cereal. Beechnut is preferred because they (at least when we did it) were more allergen conscious than some of the other brands. Read the label to make sure its dairy free.

Also, ask about switching to zantac. Some babies with very severe milk protein allergies will react to the binders in prevacid (mine did).

Good luck with everything!