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June 2011 Moms
Just Shoot Me! Feeding/Need Help (Long)
I am on the verge of tears!!!!!!!! As mothers, it is our primary instinct and desire to feed our child. Feeding for us has been a major issue from day one. I never got milk so after a week of hell with the suplemental feeder we went to formula. She did not tolerate milk based formula, she would arch her back and cry with every feeding. Switched to soy and things were much better except for the reflux. We started solids several months ago. She didnt really show much interest but she would eat a little bit. Even after 3 months almost, I can only get her to eat 2-2.5 oz of solids twice a day. As she started eating more solids she would get severely constipated. I started giving her about 5 spoonfuls of prunes with each meal. I had to cut out the oatmeal/cereal completely. She would always refuse water/juice but that has gotten better over the last week. So the prune juice, as opposed to prune puree, is supposed to be better. She can not eat bananas, applesauce, carrots or any sort of grain/starch. Even just 2.5 ounces she will not have a BM. We have tried Karo Syrup, and the only way she will go is with a suppository. It is pure hell. She will scream/cry in pain...then that leads to me crying. At this point we can only feed her squash, sweet potato, avacado, pears, peas. I want to start with some protein (turkey, chicken ect) but I am so afraid now to feed her anything new in fear she will get constipated. Over the past couple of weeks when I do go feed her solids she gets very fussy, cries, kicks at me. I have been just feeding her through all this and not giving up. She has about 30 oz of formula a day. I have tried to cut down on the formula so she will increase her solids but that didnt work. I have tried waiting to feed solids when she is really hungry, giving her a few oz of formula waiting a little then solids, feeding a whole bottle waiting then solids. I have tried just after a nap, waking up, playing for a bit then solids. NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. It is so stressful for me, so I can imaging how it is for DD.
I have been up the Pedi's a$$ in regards to feeding/constipation but honestly I dont know that there is anything else they can do. At her 9 month appointment she was in the 45% for weight. She is gaining weight and the Pedi was not concerned at all. She has always been a little peanut...she weighs probably 18# now. Has anyone else had these issues? I will take all the suggestions/support I can get. Thank you Ladies so much for listening...I dont know where else to turn.
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Re: Just Shoot Me! Feeding/Need Help (Long)
Aw, I'm sorry you are having so much trouble. I completely agree, feeding issues are SO stressful--and you've had way more than your fair share.
I wish I had some sort of helpful advice
Just remember that DD won't starve herself, and she just might get a later start on solids. She won't be on formula forever! Has the constipation improved at all since you started solids? With my DD we had some issues with it when we first started, but the more solids she ate I guess her system adjusted--but I still rarely do bananas!
What about finger foods? Are they as bad as purees? Most of the foods you named that she can have could be finger foods.
Is she teething? We went through a little bumpy patch with solids the last time DD was teething--she would just slap the spoon away.
I hope it gets better for you soon! I'm sure someone will have better actual advice or tips for you, but you have my support for sure!
My LO eats maybe a tbsp or two of solids a day. Some days she refuses all solids. She still nurses every couple of hours. The pedi is not concerned at all.
It sounds like your baby's system is not quite ready for much food. If she's gaining weight, then I'd stop stressing you and her out about it. You should offer it gently, if she takes it great, if not then great too. She's letting you know she's not ready for it if she's refusing it, and if it's causing that much constipation, then I'd listen to what she's trying to tell you.
Why do you think she needs to be eating much if she's taking her formula and gaining weight? Did someone tell you she should be eating more food?
Hmm, we also have feeding issues. We had lots of vomiting and refusing solids, found out her reflux was worse then we thought (we had stopped meds). Have you thought about seeing a GI? That was so helpful for us. I talked in length with our pedi about DDs feeding issues, refusal to eat solids, and how worried I was that she was going to turn one and still be taking only formula. Once her reflux was medicated better she started eating better (still not great but better). We still have gagging issues and our next step is to go to the feeding clinic to have her evaluated to make sure there is nothing preventing proper feeding.
Sorry wish I could be more help, but just know your not the only one with a LO not too interested in food.
Also DD is tiny (15 lb 9 oz) so it worries me tons.
If she refuses...regardless of how much she has already eaten...then we just stop. Its funny she will fuss but still opens her mouth to take a bite.
Why do you think she needs to be eating much if she's taking her formula and gaining weight? Did someone tell you she should be eating more food?
Honestly...I dont know. Really good question.
I guess it more that she is getting older and it seems to be the norm for this stage.
Caroline wouldn't accept any type of solids at all until 7 months and now she has days she won't eat any at all. Our pedi said not to worry about it until she's over a yer, so that's how I chose to look at it. I offer her food, she eats or doesn't eat what she wants and we don't make it stressful. She's slowly been getting better on her own.
I offer both finger foods (what we are eating) and pur?es.
My pedi had me put 1tsp of brown sugar in a bottle, could be with their milk or water. I know most ppl will freak about all that sugar but it really does work for constipation. My oldest son was so badly constipated we started doing this every time and it worked like a charm. I used it with all my kids when they would get constipated. They also never had any problems with a sweeter bottle or it not being sweet enough. You can break it up into more then one bottle but I would just pop it all into the one 8oz bottle. My kids never really liked baby food so I just skipped it.
Just try something different and see if she changes her mind about food, no worries about making her eat.
There isn't any magic amount of solids that she needs to be eating right now. I agree with others, just offer her food and if she eats, great, if she doesn't, fine. I really believe that babies know when they are ready and it sounds like since her body isn't handling the solids very well, maybe she is not ready.
You might also consider doing all/mostly finger foods. We do BLW so Evie has only ever fed herself. I would say it has really only been in the past few weeks (and she is 10.5 months) that she has really been eating a significant amount of solids. She has never had any of the digestion/constipation issues I've read about other babies on here having, and I like to think that maybe it was because her body was introduced to food slowly and at its own pace.
I know you are just trying to do what is best for her. GIve yourself a break and try not to stress. Just keep reminding yourself that she is growing and happy, and any solids on top of that are just an extra bonus!