Here’s the information:
Dr. Brown’s stage 1
2 months old
12 lbs.
on prevacid solutabs (7.5 mg/2x day – taking MARCI specs to doc on Friday)
Neocate (sweetened with Agave Nectar)
Mylanta prn
The kid used to eat 3 oz. every 3 hours great starting at week two. In the last week and a half, she has been eating more slowly and less with each feed. So, we let her go 3.5 hours thinking maybe she just wasn’t hungry at 3 hours. We can barely get the 3 oz. down her. She will take 2 oz. easily, but after that, she turns her head away, pushes the nipple out with her tounge, etc. These all seem like signs that she is full, but I’m a little concerned about her eating so little. If I try too long to get her to take it, she projectile vomits her entire bottle up. After that, she’ll eat (she wants!) the remaining bottle with no issues (usually about 1 oz left) and would probably take more.
She does not cry or arch very much at all. After feeds, she is very squirmy though. Sometimes, she spits up just a bit and then seems fine. The only time she ever complains is during feeds (when she doesn’t want the bottle) or when she’s tired. She seems pretty happy otherwise. She sleeps well between feeds. She’s on a great schedule now; eating once in the night (her only easy feed and takes the 3 oz. fine; the rest she is slow and uninterested).
So, the doc said she hates Neocate. I sweetened it. What should I do? If she was more fussy, I would say she needs a higher dose of Prevacid (I’m still going to push that with the GI this week even though she isn’t acting too refluxy (is that a word?) anymore. Do I let her go 4 hours between feeds and see if her appetite increases?
According to the 2-2.5/oz per body lb. guideline, this kid is going to be way underfed. Do I just go with it and see if she continues to gain weight?
As a side note, my first kid had a total feeding aversion and would only eat 2 or 3 oz. for the first 6 months or so. But, she was a basketcase at bottle time. This one doesn’t seem the same way, but you never know.
I should mention:
She also chokes and gulps quite a bit while eating. I’ve been wondering if I should thicken her feeds (did it with the first). What would be a good amount of rice cereal to start with (my last was on 1 tablespoon/2 oz. of formula and it was sooo thick). I don’t want it like oatmeal, but maybe a little bit thicker would help her out. I know Beechnut to avoid soy. I’ve heard about these Dr. Brown’s Y cut nipples. Any experience with those?
Any advice would be great!
Thanks.
