Feeding issues?

[runningmommy519]

Backstory: baby E was born at 35 weeks due to low fluid, failed BPP, failed NST and when he was born they found a true knot on his cord.

We are starting day 32. He's 39+4 gestation (I know this for a fact because I was tracking my bbt and know ovulation date) and he will not take full feeds. He either falls asleep during the feeding, stops sucking or he pacifies. Nothing we do wakes him up. The doctors seem to think he just taking his time but I feel like something had to be causing this. He rarely cries. I can count on two hands the number of times I've heard him cry.

There was a span of about a week or so he was taking full feeds at night but he's back to needing the NG for almost every feed.

If he gets within 10ml of his goal then they aren't suppose to NG him. He takes 6/8 of his feeds by bottle and 2 by breast.

They tried taking his lead a few days ago and he took 90 ml in a span of 9 hours so they had to start feeding him with the tube at that point.

Anyone experience this? I wish they would at least entertain the idea that something could be causing this,

[minae01]

I totally understand your frustration. How big is he? Could it be that he's just too little still to withstand full feeds?

[runningmommy519]

Aug 16, 2015 8:33:22 GMT -5 minae01 said:

I totally understand your frustration. How big is he? Could it be that he's just too little still to withstand full feeds?

6lbs 11.7 oz so I'm thinking not to little.

[runningmommy519]

Aug 16, 2015 11:58:06 GMT -5 jnetx said:

No advice but I'm sorry your dealing with this. I know how frustrating feeding issues are. Have they had an occupational therapist work with him? That was one thing they did on our NICU. In our case, she said everything looked good with him but she did give us some tips to for bottle feeding that definitely helped.

They haven't done that. No. Someone else suggested that in my BMB.

[minae01]

Aug 16, 2015 13:46:48 GMT -5 runningmommy519 said:

Aug 16, 2015 11:58:06 GMT -5 jnetx said:

No advice but I'm sorry your dealing with this. I know how frustrating feeding issues are. Have they had an occupational therapist work with him? That was one thing they did on our NICU. In our case, she said everything looked good with him but she did give us some tips to for bottle feeding that definitely helped.

They haven't done that. No. Someone else suggested that in my BMB.

Yes! Get an OT in there! We were visited automatically by the OT in our NICU. She started working with DS as soon as he started feeding from a bottle. She was a huge help. I'm surprised that one hasn't visited you yet considering the situation. I'm not sure that it's a red flag yet that he's not take full feeds, but in another week, then I'd start demanding some answers. I'm so sorry you are still stuck in the NICU. Hugs!

[runningmommy519]

Aug 16, 2015 15:08:22 GMT -5 minae01 said:

Aug 16, 2015 13:46:48 GMT -5 runningmommy519 said:

They haven't done that. No. Someone else suggested that in my BMB.

Yes! Get an OT in there! We were visited automatically by the OT in our NICU. She started working with DS as soon as he started feeding from a bottle. She was a huge help. I'm surprised that one hasn't visited you yet considering the situation. I'm not sure that it's a red flag yet that he's not take full feeds, but in another week, then I'd start demanding some answers. I'm so sorry you are still stuck in the NICU. Hugs!

I might do that on Wednesday or Thursday if no improvement. The dr that is in today wants to stop the NG tube to see how he does. He's wondering if we are filling his tummy to much. He's had great weight gains so (over 2 lbs in a month) so he's thinking if we let him take his lead maybe it'll go better. They tried this for a few hours a couple days ago and then started the tube again because it wasn't going well but they had a goal of like 220ml in a span of 12 hrs. After 9 hrs he had 90ml and they were worried so they started tubing him.

There is also some medication I am taking that could cause him to be sleepy. I'm kind of pissed because this was brought up 3 weeks ago and they said oh it's fine. Now I might have over 200 oz of unusable milk in the freezer.

[motownthrowdown]

I was shocked at how much "proper" burping helps. It was explained to me that the bubbles make them feel full, so they stop eating.

And yes to OT! DD was followed automatically due to birth weight, but you should be ab,e to get a referral with no trouble, since this has been going on for a while.