Feeding frustration!

BigPoppa22

Re-posting from other board because you probably have a lot more experience with this here.  LO was not a preemie but was in the NICU for 30 days for Meconium Aspiration and PPHN.  He was on the NG tube for most of that time and we brought him home with the tube but took it out after 3 days.  He is exclusively formula fed.

6 times out of 8 feedings throughout the day, LO will fall asleep after finishing the first ounce or so and the remainder of the feed is like pulling nails.  Trying to wake him up with wet cloth, diaper change, etc, or just trying to force him to finish the rest by not stopping.  Sometimes I will put him down for 10-20 minutes and try again, will some success.  Half the time, I can eventually get him to take his full feeding but other times end up shorting it.  He only eats around 80 ML (I always try for 90 but rarely get it) per feeding, but of concentrated 27 calorie formula.  The pedi and the GI/nutritionist do not see this particular issue as one that has a solution other than push through it.

 

Does anyone else have this problem, and any tricks or solutions to address it?

 

jbranden12

When Anna was having trouble finishing a bottle, we stripped her down to her diaper and held her skin to skin while feeding.

Lovehavinggirls

Reagan had a similar problem. She would always take the full hour to eat and many times not finish. My dr was not concerned and she gained weight fine. 

DrRx

You can also flick their toes (they hate it but it wakes them up), as well as rotate the bottle in their mouth and use your finger to rub under their chin while they're eating. 

The first month or 2 after we brought DD home from the NICU were the most frustrating and stressful feedings for her.  I so did not look forward for each feeding.  GL!