Didn't know where else to post - possible GERD?

[DadToBe]

Hi ladies (and possibly other gentlemen),

Our 4 month old has been having issues with feeding for a while. She's been on formula/bottle fed since birth.

She doesn't seem to have most of the GERD symptoms...unless they're silent.
However, it takes a LONG time to feed ... since she's our first child, we thought it was just normal ... but to find out that most babies only take 20-30 minutes to feed, we realized that her taking 1 to 1.5 hours is not normal for 4-5 ounces.

We've seen an occupational therapist to rule out oro-motor/suck-swallow issues ... and our pediatrician seems at a loss, as well. She has referred us to a GI specialist, and we're on the wait-list.

She seems "afraid" of the bottle and cries when we try to feed...yet, she's fine with the pacifier. It seems like the only time she'll feed well is when she's half-asleep.

We're just starting Zantac today ....but it doesn't seem like our pediatrician has any answers.

Anyone else having feeding problems/needing this long to feed?

We just need some hope that things will get better because 1-1.5 hours per feeding is really exhausting coupled with stressing over whether she's eating enough to thrive.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

[DMS721]

I'm guessing you have already tried other bottles/nipples? That would be my only suggestion. Hopefully the medicine will help until you are able to see the specialist.

Good luck!

Dawn

[DadToBe]

Thanks, Dawn.
We were lucky to get into the GI specialist tomorrow since they have a cancellation.

We've stopped giving her the Zantac because she was having 6-7 bowel movements a day on it...whereas normally she was only having 1-2 movements/day since she's always been formula bottle-fed.

What's so strange is that she doesn't spit up and doesn't cry (like everyone else that I've talked to or read about with reflux).

We're actually starting to think that she may NOT have reflux ... and has actually acquired a fear of feeding from me and/or my partner.

This is because my mother has been feeding her for the past two days and she's been eating well with my mother....she's been eating 3 ounces every 2.5 hours and finishes her bottles in 20-30 minutes, instead of the 60-90 minutes it would take for us.

So, if this is the case, then back to the occupational therapist to see how to get over this adversion.

[SC-Sherb]

DadToBe, my sister's now 15 mth old was like this. She was the only one that could feed him and it had to be in a dark room, with no sound whatsoever, and she had to hold him a certain way to get him to finish. If there was any kind of distraction, it would take more time to get him settled down. Her pediatrician didn't seem too concerned due to the fact that he was gaining weight, alert, growing and doing everything else normally. She couldn't go anywhere because she couldn't feed him outside of the house.

All I can tell you, is that he just up and grew out of it. It was the wierdest thing but he just stopped doing it one day.

Maybe you could even get a pc of cloth from your mother that has her smell to use while you and/or your partner are feeding her, so that she associates that the feeding with you both is the same as with your mother.

Best of luck at the appointment and I hope that you get something figured out. Your little one is a cutie pie!

[DadToBe]

BC-Sherb,

Thank you for the great idea (about having a piece of something of my mom's for our girl to associate with feeding) ...so simple but wouldn't have thought of it myself!

The gastroenterologist today thought that she actually doesn't have GERD or reflux but that she has indeed developed an adversion to us (me and partner) feeding her.
I guess that's a blessing since that means she's not in any pain and will hopefully get over her adversion to us soon.

Thank you again for the wonderful idea!

[SC-Sherb]

Glad to hear that medically everything is fine with your little princess!

I hope that you guys figure out the feeding issue thing soon. Keep us updated!

[dnjblohm]

Hi DTB! Long time no see

Sorry to hear your DD is having trouble feeding. As you may or may not recall, my DD has/had severe GERD. I was wondering if anyone did an Upper GI or swallow test for your DD? That may provide some conclusive information on whether or not it she has reflux and/or swallowing issues. My DD used to take 45 min-1 hour to eat 2-3 ounces... I agree, it was EXHAUSTING! An upper GI with barium confirmed GERD, and a swallow study confirmed that she has dysphagia (swallowing difficulties/disorder). Might not be bad to totally rule these out.

Just curious, do the doctors have any suggestions on how to deal with this if it is an aversion issue?

Hang in there! I know it's tough...

[DadToBe]

Hi DNJ!

Long time, indeed. I rarely see people in the chat rooms, anymore.

We haven't tried the barium swallow study just because the gastroenterologist said to hold off on that for now because she doesn't think that our daughter has reflux or GERD.

My mother has been feeding her these past several days and she's been feeding well...we're now doing about 100ml every 2.5 hours...and it's been taking about 20 minutes to do so. That's a HUGE improvement from before when I used to feed her 140ml every 4 hours.

To get over the aversion problem, we were advised that she just needs to learn how to trust us again with feeding her...specifically, that we will NOT over-stuff her little belly and make her feel uncomfortable again after each feeding.

These past few days of my mom feeding her primarily (and me and my partner doing some feedings, as well) has been an amazingly different experience...much better for the person feeding as well as for our daughter.

I just hope that her aversion will quickly resolve and we can enjoy a "normal" life of 20-30 minute feedings

I hope all has been well with you and your family since we've last spoken.
How is your daughter doing besides the GERD?

[DMS721]

Glad they were able to rule out GERD or reflux. Hopefully she will overcome her aversion very soon. I didn't even know that was possible.

I have to say she is absolutely adorable!!!!!

Dawn

[DadToBe]

Thanks, Dawn!

We think she's s...l...o...w...l...y getting over her aversion...she's been very happy with 90-100ml every 2.5 hours. We're very happy too...20 minutes is so much better than 90 minutes per feeding