[MrsDoobie]

My best friend has a 5 month old DD who has not gained weight for a couple of weeks, and has even lost some weight (200g in 2 weeks) while being exclusively breast fed. A paed has recommended she replace one feed a day with formula, but her DD is refusing the bottle, screaming until my friend puts her on the breast out of desperation. She has tried going out of the room and having her DP feed bubs, but it didn't work either.

Any suggestions please?

This post has been edited by ImpossiblePrincess: 29/10/2009, 12:13 PM

[boatiebabe]

My DS wouldn't take a bottle for love nor money, so I gave up eventually. I didn't have any reason to as weight gain etc was all okay. He has never had a bottle.

It was quite a long hard battle to get my DD to take a bottle, but that was expressed milk (it was just to give me a bit of a break because she was a breast feeding fiend!)

In your friend's situation, I don't know how giving a bottle of formula is any better than the mother just breastfeeding more often. Calorie for calorie I think they are the same or very similar.

The mum should perhaps try offering more often and maybe even think about the introduction of solids like avocado, full fat yoghurt (Aldi's is great!) to help with the weight gain.

I wouldn't be panicking just because there is a little tapering off of weight and it really annoys me how medical health people always jump to formula feeding as an answer before trying other things.

J

[meljb]

My DS refused a bottle until he was about 10 months old, even then he only took it because for that feed I only offered a bottle, it took at least 3 weeks before he took it.
I agree with the PP though, it would probably be less stressful for all concerned to start solids if they haven't already. We had to introduce them when ds was 5 months because he wouldn't settle at night and i obviously couldn't satisfy him. We started with rice cereal mixed with ebm or formula, it helped settle him and his weight gain.

[frana]

TBH, I would be feeding more if she can, adding in formula will only reduce her breast milk.

What bottles does she use? I found my DD would not, period, accept any bottle other than the tommee tippee closer to nature ones, as they are breast shaped. There is another bottle on the market that the teat is shaped like a nipple, but the name is escaping me.

My DD is just over 5 months, and our paed advised us that starting foods was okay. Each baby is so different, some will want it sooner. He did say the key signs to knowing if they want solids is, being able to hold their head up unsupported, reaching out for food, taking a keen interest in food, and when given a food, the ability to suck/swallow the food. If she goes that root, Farex or Pears and bananas are brilliant to start them on.

My DD dropped her weight gain significantly a month ago, and went from being on the 50% to the 25%. She has now gone up to the 30%. My paed wasn't worried, she's a go-er, she looks healthy, is still putting weight on even if it is slower. I agree with PP, each baby is different, and these standards just cause us to worry sometimes!

[mmuc83]

i personally don't think that formula will fix the weight gain - i think there needs to be more investigation as to why she's lost the weight - and maybe starts solids - or up your own calorie intake so that your milk is a bit more fatty....

i had the same advice from a paed for my DS, but persisted with BF and he gained weight nicely - look at the reasons why he's losing weight first i think..

[MrsDoobie]

Thanks heaps ladies Very much appreciated!

[CurlyTops]

Lots of breastfed babies don't like having the bottle, even if you start them on it early and get them used to it. They can often refuse down the track.

DS used to refuse the bottle around this age. I agree with PP that formula won't help with the weight gain. Paeds say some funny things sometimes. Your friend can try to get her milk supply up with some breastfeeding tea or by feeding or pumping more often.

[lucky 2]

HI, you could get her to see a Lactation consultant to help her with a Supply Line, which has the extra milk in a bottle around the mums neck, and a thin tube goes into the mouth and the extra milk is taken when bub bf, therefore no bottle needed.
This is ideal for bubs needing more calories to be able to grow and feed well, as it can be a vicious cycle, ie losing weight, less energy for feeding and even more underfeeding.
Supply line/Supplemental Nursing System, can be fiddly but also can be very easy for mum and bub, expecially if it is once, or twice a day.
See the link below.
Something is not ideal for bub to be losing weight.
I hope she can see a LC ASAP.
All the best.

http://www.medelabreastfeedingus.com/produ...sing-system-sns