Saturday, March 12, 2011

Eating Pros and Woes

As I think I've mentioned before buddy LOVES these new solid foods. You put him in the high chair and it's the highlight of his day. Although, you better be ready to get started because highchair = eating. Highchair does not in any way, shape, or form, equal patiently waiting until the food gets to him. But as long as the food is coming, he is an extremely happy camper.
He loves the food, he loves the cup (although he hasn't figured it out and just chomps on it), and he loves the spoon. Fortunately, we're not yet to the "I do" phase, just the quick-give-him-the-spoon-to-make-him-happy-before-he-notices-the-food's-all-gone phase.
In fact, there had yet to be a food he didn't liked. And then he met green beans. I'm not so sure about the looks of that stuff, says he.
What is this stuff? Do I like it?
Uhhhh, this tastes like ... I don't think I do.
Blah. Get it out of my mouth.
GET IT OUT! GET IT OUT! GET IT OUT!
Turns out he doesn't like green beans.

Still with the feeding thing, I need advice. Buddy has had nursing trouble since day one, having to do with his acid-reflux (he's been on medicine for it), and the fact that he prefers wrestling/biting/twisting/pulling/squirming/mashing/arching/pulling off every two gulps to nicely sucking. We struggle. And his weight percentage has just continued and continued to drop until the doctor just told me to call it quits and give him formula in bottles to try to get him more food and more weight. I don't think the problem has ever been me having enough milk, but he won't keep eating long enough to get enough and thus, isn't gaining weight as he should. This has been so difficult and frustrating and I was a bit emotional about it but it's what's best for him. But now that I've accepted that, he won't take a bottle. Won't take it if it has my milk, won't take it if it has formula. We've tried three different kind of bottles/nipples and he thinks they're fun toys for a few minutes, won't suck on them at all, lets most milk that comes out dribble down his neck, and then gets mad. Coop has tried giving them to him without me around so he doesn't want me instead. No go. So here's where the much-needed advice comes in. How do we get him to take a bottle? In the meantime I've been nursing him every 2 hours in hopes that he'll get more, but I'm not so sure that it doesn't just mean more time for him to scream at me. It's so draining trying to get him to eat. So can anybody tell me how to get him to take a bottle?? Help please!

9 comments:

Lenora and Andrew said...

From my overwhelming amount of experience i say you should give him one of those helmets that you can suck beer out of and instead of beer use milk...

Katie Briggs said...

Leah had the same reaction to green beans! (although the other day I realized we had no more food EXCEPT green beans and she miraculously ate them this time - it had been a couple months since she first tried them, and I was so grateful she ate them).

As for the bottle thing, I feel for you! I had to get Leah to start taking a bottle around 5 months because I wasn't giving her enough milk (bc of being pregnant) and I didn't like making that transition AT ALL. From the sound of your description, you may have already tried this, but just in case I'll share my experience...I'd tried the bottle a couple times unsuccessfully with her (she'd kind of gnaw on it for a second and then push it away and reach for me to start eating...the longer I insisted she take the bottle, the more upset she'd get until I'd finally give in and just nurse her). But I knew she HAD to learn to take the bottle (I was on doctor's orders), so one day I just decided we would sit until she finally got hungry enough to take it. I got her up from her nap, sat both of us down in front of a movie (I knew this could be a long process) and started trying to give her the bottle. She protested. And protested. And protested. For over an hour she cried in protest. And I cried with her - it was miserable and I really just wanted to nurse her. But I trusted that if she was hungry enough, she'd eat - whatever form it came in. It took over an hour (felt like an eternity) but finally one of the times I gave it to her, she took it. I HATED forcing it and I felt really mean, but it paid off and the next time feeding time came around, she only protested for a couple minutes. And after that, no problem at all. Now she's great with a bottle (though she's incredibly distracted and needs constant reminders to continue eating). So, that was our experience. It may not help your situation since each baby is different, but I thought I'd share it JUST IN CASE. I'm sorry it's been such a rough situation with his eating - keep us updated on how things are going. I love all the updates - you have such a fun, beautiful, cute, hilarious family :)

Hannah Holt said...

So sorry about your feeding problems. Those are the worst. Have you thought about a supplemental nursing system (SNS). Medela makes them. http://www.selfexpressions.com/supnursys.html
They are kind of a hassle, but it's what I used with the twins when they weren't gaining enough weight. It gives them milk faster, but you can still keep nursing. Now that my girls' weights are on track again, I'm off supplementing and just nursing again. Best of luck with whatever you decide! You are such a great mom!

bontovi said...

Your little guy is sooo handsome Alisha!!!!

bontovi said...

ps... my little tai had a hard time transitioning from nursing to formula at 6 months too.. but when we finally found the right bottle, he quickly adjusted.

the gerber bottle with this specific latex nipple is what he took:(http://www.babygiftsoutlet.com/prd/gerber-6-pack-latex-cross-cut-nipples.html).

the irony was-- we tried all the supposedly high-end bottles out there, but the solution was a LOT cheaper! in fact less than $3!!!
hope this helps!

Anonymous said...

First talk to a lactation consultant immediately. The hospital, or the local 'Le Leche League' should have recommendations. Nursing is a learned thing for both mom and baby and if not learned correctly from the beginning it can be very frustrating for mommy and baby. I had difficulties with baby # 6, and consulted a lactation consultant...I learned some things I hadn't known and wish I had for the previous 5. UGH!


Next food sensitivities, Mom's diet should be looked at and all things suspect should be eliminated...Broccoli, cauliflower, onions, chocolate, even possibly dairy products for now. Anything that causes food allergies should be suspect.

Did the PKU test come back normal?

I suspect that the refusal to take the bottle is linked to the breast feeding frustration. Besides the fact that formula tastes icky.

Is the medication for AR given at the same time or right before feeding.?

If you want to continue breast feeding, I would be sure to pump while figuring this out to maintain milk supply. Hospital grade pumps are the best and most effective.

As far as getting baby to take a bottle, I'm not much help there as mine never did.

Good Luck.
Andrea Urban

Anonymous said...

I agree that consulting Le Leche League or other lactation specialists would be important, if you want to keep nursing, which I think is better for your baby. I assume both you and he have had a blessing to give you wisdom and patience and specific guidance in this important endeavor. Don't give up!
Lenora's Grandma

Raina said...

hey there,
first of all I LOVE the photos! He is just too cute and I'm upset I don't get to enjoy his smiles more!
second...there was a bottle that both of my boys took called a Haberman. (sp?)
They were amazing, kinda wierd looking, but helped with the flow, and their ability to do both bottle and nurse.
So sorry this has been so hard for you!

marzee said...

Eli was the same way - loved eating time. He would get so excited when we put him in his high chair he would say, "Yah, yah, yah!" while rocking his whole body and hitting the highchair in anticipation.

Glad you get to have fun making memories with another one!