[mama-a-llama]

Long story short: I was pg at about 6 mos pp. I kept nursing dd, who nursed a LOT, and deep down I suspected that she wasn't getting enough, but I really didn't want to give her formula, so just stepped up the solids. Come her 9 mo check, she hadn't gained anything in three months, so dr told us to give formula and come back in 3 weeks. She wouldn't take a bottle (had only once taken one with expressed milk, either) and we didn't push it very hard. In those 3 weeks she lost a pound. We got sent to the hospital, where we spent a day trying to force feed her formula, which didn't work. Blood tests showed that she had been burning her own muscle and fat b/c she wasn't getting enough calories. So she ended up with a feeding tube.

I thought I was really a freak of nature until I came here, and met up with a few other mothers who got pg early pp and had to supplement/switch to formula. But their babies all took bottles. What the heck went wrong? Why would dd rather starve than take a bottle? Babies are supposed to eat, darn it!

Ok, rant over. I just can't figure this out.

 

[TurboClaudia]

i don't have any personal experience to share, but one thing that comes to mind is family history of sensory problems or family history of feeding problems in infancy. USAmma definitely noticed this with her 2 children and her husband experienced some feeding problems in his infancy so she suspects it is somehow genetically linked.

it's hard to not know for sure what happened that caused both of your children to refuse eating, but i would definitely trust your gut about what you feel was truly the root cause. as time goes on, you may learn about other factors that will point you in slightly different directions and you may find a more appropriate answer.

and please know that i am thinking of you, the best mama in the world for your own best babies...

~claudia

 

[mama-a-llama]

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Originally Posted by TurboClaudia i don't have any personal experience to share, but one thing that comes to mind is family history of sensory problems or family history of feeding problems in infancy. USAmma definitely noticed this with her 2 children and her husband experienced some feeding problems in his infancy so she suspects it is somehow genetically linked.

Yeah, actually ds's problem is explained by his chromosomal disorder--feeding problems are a common characteristic of those kids. But dd. . . she would nurse just fine, well, until she went on a nursing strike b/c her latch got more toothy and I couldn't keep from saying ouch which made her sad. And I really resented nursing her, but didn't feel it was right to wean. I'm sad our nursing relationship had to end on such a sour note, with the starving AND bad feelings.

Augh, I think this stuff is all coming up b/c I'm approaching my pumping goal for ds, don't feel that I can extend past a year, and am feeling mucho guilt.

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and please know that i am thinking of you, the best mama in the world for your own best babies...

Aww, thanks.

 

[Benji'sMom]

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Come her 9 mo check, she hadn't gained anything in three months

But weight gain normally slows down after 6 months old so... maybe I'm way off base but I don't see this as a problem necessarily. My first son didn't gain weight from 6 months till probably 18 months, but he got taller (and skinnier) and grew out of his clothes so he WAS growing, just not gaining weight. Was she just not growing at all, is that the problem? Like, no difference in height, head circumfrance, etc?

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In those 3 weeks she lost a pound

Hmmm... that's more of a problem but you had changed what she was normally eating so there are so many variables that could explain it. Like I said, I could be way off base.

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--ds wasn't nursing enough/starving himself so HE got a feeding tube too.

Now this I really can't explain... was he really starving, like loosing weight? (((HUGS))) I don't have any experience with that, it must have been scary.

 

[mama-a-llama]

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Originally Posted by Benji'sMom But weight gain normally slows down after 6 months old so... maybe I'm way off base but I don't see this as a problem necessarily.

That's what I thought, and why I didn't go see a LC or anything sooner. I was desperate to believe that nothing was wrong. But in the end, blood tests showed that she'd been using her own fat and muscle to make up the calorie deficit.

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Was she just not growing at all, is that the problem? Like, no difference in height, head circumfrance, etc?

Not sure about height, but head circumference had not changed. I think that's actually what freaked the dr out the most, b/c that would mean her brain wasn't growing much either.