4 month appt: BIG FAT FAIL!

ginanddavid · July 2010

Oh, I cried and cried.

DD hasn't pooped on her own since 2 months. We have had to try "tricks" i.e. q-tip w/ vasoline all the way up to suppository. So we brought her back in 2 weeks ago because we were so frustrated that 1 day every week she just FREAKS out from discomfort. When we brought her in, she was down from her 4 month appt. She had lost 4 oz.

I came to terms with this and told them that a) she only eats 4 oz. b) she only eats every 4 hours and c) she sleeps 10-12 hours a night, so she's only really eating 16 oz. a day. 2 weeks ago, they told me to feed her every 3 hours. When I do that, the feedings are shorter, and she sometimes sleeps until it's been like 4-5 hours. =(

However, in the past couple of days, I put her to bed around 7-8pm, and she wakes up crying about 10-11pm. I'm still up and feed her one more time. But this just pushes her wake up time till 930ish in the morning.

We bring her in today, she's lost another freakin ounce!!!!! oy.

She's 24 inches long and weighs 11 lbs. 9 oz.

So here's their plan... feed her every 3 hours (we'll try again. it's not that I don't want to, SHE DOESN'T WANT TO! She has been a 4 hour eater since BIRTH, I kid you not!) and inbetween boobs, feed her 2 heaping teaspoons of cereal.

With DS, we only fed him cereal once a day... now she's getting cereal 4-5 times a day?

Now, is it just me or does it seem like this is just going to make her more full and not want to eat in another 3 hours when she already didn't want to???

I'm beyond frustrated. When you're nursing and your baby continues to lose weight, you have no other option but to feel as if you're doing something wrong... I am about 100% sure that it's not the supply as I have like 70+ bags of frozen BM in the freezer.... and while I've thrown around the idea of feeding her bottles of pumped BM, I know my supply will diminish quickly...

Any advice?

We go back in two weeks to weigh her again.... and before I go, I have to tape a bag to her to try to catch urine. That makes me wanna cry too, because if I'm not successful, they'll catherize her... =(

Oh, and we have a "stat" referral to a pedi GI because the doctor thinks, that with the combo of losing weight AND not pooping, something could be wrong internally... dang it to hades!

cali_girl92504 · July 2010

I have no advice but wanted to let you know I will keep your DD in my T&Ps. I'm so sorry.

If it makes you feel any better, our daughters are just a few days apart (a week maybe?) and she was 12 lbs 13 oz at her 4 month appointment so yay for skinny babies!

I hope the answer to her pooping has a easy remedy. As for giving her bottles of BM, DD gets bottles of pumped BM at daycare 5 days a week and my supply hasn't suffered a bit. Just make sure you pump every 3-4 hours like she's eating and you should be fine. I now know that she take 4 to 4.5oz tops so I've stopped putting 5 and 6 ozs in her bottles. She always stops at 4 so it's helped me gauge how much she's taking.

aprilprincess · July 2010

it's really not your fault. You're doing everything you can to help her.

good luck! we're all pulling for you and her!

rayskit10 · July 2010

I'm sorry. I can't imagine how stressed out you must be. If she is anything like me, when I am constipated (TMI, I know) the last thing I want to do is eat because there is nowhere for it to go! Mathis is the same way (although T never had that issue). I agree that the cereal plan sounds very counterintuitive. Cereal is known to be constipating to a large number of babies too...

I would go ahead and go to the GI pedi if it was me b/c I kind of feel like solving the poop issue may really help with the eating issue! Good luck and please keep us updated. You are doing *everything right* and now just need to figure out what's going on in her little tummy.

SigmundsGirl · July 2010

I am so sorry you and your little one are going through this. I also think the cereal suggestion sounds a bit off since it can cause constipation. I wouldn't hesitate to go the the GI specialist. I would want this solved as quickly as possible because I am in impatient person. I also have a hard time with the "give it some time" thought process because when you are the one watching your baby be uncomfortable time isn't what you want. Answers and results are what you want.

I know you are doing the very best for your daughter, and doing all you can to fix her discomfort. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers.Good luck and keep us posted.

nanann · July 2010

I would totally try to go to the GI specialist -- I would also think like Rayskit that if you can get her pooping normally she'll start eating better too.

and...as much as you don't want to, I'd consider bottles. She seems to be awfully tired so maybe not working so much for her food would get her eating more.

newinhouston · July 2010

You should not consider this a fail! It's an opportunity to figure out what's going on and to think about new strategies.

I also have a 4 month old daughter and I had to go back to school last week, so I started pumping. I pump every 3-4 hours. I know now (because of the bottles) that she eats about 4 oz. She continues to eat every 3 hours.

My daughter is also very comfortable switching from breast to bottle, and you may find that your daughter is too.

If you're thinking about introducing solids to help her gain weight, you may think about food other than rice. Avocados are really good, and since they are naturally rich in good fat they may help your DD to gain weight. You can read more here https://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/t032000.asp

This too shall pass...

KKMMex · July 2010

nanann:

I would totally try to go to the GI specialist -- I would also think like Rayskit that if you can get her pooping normally she'll start eating better too.

You should definitely make an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Stat.

KNJepp · July 2010

KKMMex:
nanann:

I would totally try to go to the GI specialist -- I would also think like Rayskit that if you can get her pooping normally she'll start eating better too.

You should definitely make an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist. Stat.

I agree. There are a a number of GI conditions (such as celiac) that can cause nutrients to not be properly absorbed and cause issues with pooping, etc. - so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the two things were related. A pedi GI is far more likely to be able to get down to the bottom of this ASAP. My niece sees a very good pedi GI at Texas Childrens - I can get you the name if you'd like.

thumpofmyheart · July 2010

I'm so sorry you're going through this...I know it's so stressful.

With regards to the bag to catch the urine. My DD had a kidney infection and we had to do this. It is not difficult and probably easier since your baby is so young. My DD was14 months and wanted to keep pulling it off ..They did have to cathedise (sp?) her when she had further tests done and she didn't cry. I'm sure it was uncomfortable but the TCH nurses were wonderful!

My DD also has issues with pooping. When she only had BM she was fine but once we started solids there was problems. I'm not surprised because it runs in the family ... I agree with the others that it will probably make things worse. I saw her pedi about it and she recommended I give her miralax everyday. I know your DD is probably to young for this but maybe in the future in might help her out.

Good luck with everything!! You're doing a great job!!!

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