One twin not eating - Need your help

OK everybody - I am at my wits end - I have cried more tears than I care to cry.  This all started a few weeks ago - Braedon started not wanted to eat.  He was on NeoSure at that time.  We went to the doctor and he had only gained 11 oz in 21 days.  Not good.  His brother had gained 23 oz in 21 days.  So the doctor switched him from his zantac and NeoSure to Almentum and Prevacid.  Worked wonders for about 5-6 days.  He ate like a champ.  Now he's at is again.  He is literally clawing at the bottle to get it out of his mouth at times.  He ate 17 oz for the entire day yesterday which was great.  Today, he refuses to eat anything - juice, milk, etc.  He hasn't eaten anything since 8 pm last night.  We have him scheduled to see the GI specialists on Tuesday, but I'm afraid that's not soon enough.
How long can he go without eating before I should take him to the emergency room?  I am so afraid he's going to end up in the hospital on IV's over the weekend.  I don't know what to do - I sit her and cry while I write this cause I feel so bad and I don't know what's wrong or what to do for him.

Any advice?

[RockRose]

Tuesday isn't soon enough if he isn't eating,  you're right.  Dehydration is the much greater problem right now - and you probably need to call your pediatrician (hope they have after hours service!) for signs of dehydration.  From what I remember,  crying real tears is a good sign the baby is hydrated.

The great thing,  Kelly,  that I realized when my baby dehydrated and was on an IV one weekend - is that we are so blessed to have that technology.  You'll get through this,  he'll be fine.

Prayers he starts drinking again for you.

[KellyTexas]

Thank you so much - I will give them a call - they have an after hours office actually.  I guess we will end up there as I don't know what else to do.  He's crying real tears and is just a happy as can be baby the rest of the time, UNTIL you try to feed him.  Then he screams and turns his head and sometimes claws at the bottle.  

I know my tears are real and very plentiful.  How long was your baby on IV's and was it the same problem?  What did they figure out was wrong?

[peekawho]

Is the flow too slow from the nipple?  Who was it the other day who actually tried sucking from her baby's nipple and was shocked to find out that she couldn't get hardly a thing from it..I can't remember.  Anyway, perhaps he's frustrated at working too hard to get milk?

Can you offer him some fluids via eyedropper?  Be careful not to flood him with it, just some drops frequently to see what he'll take.  

Keep us posted!

[KellyTexas]

Thanks peek - I knew you would answer.  We have tried several different nipples and bottles.  He ate so great yesterday - I am at a loss for today so far.  

We thought about giving him fluids via syringe last night, but thought I'd check with you guys and my doctor before I didn't that.  I know its not really the same, but I do wildlife rehab for Tx Parks and Wildlife and often have to syringe feed baby wildlife.  I think I can do it without giving him to much due to that experience but was a little hesitant until I heard more.  I will give that a shot and keep you posted.

[pertykitty]

DOES HE PULL AT HIS EAR?  AN EAR INFECTION CAN MAKE IT PAINFUL TO EAT ASWELL ,darn caps,  id take him to the dr im sure they have an urgent care right?

[peekawho]

I'd still ask the doc today before you do anything else.

Usually as long as the baby is having real tears, is having wet diapers, and is otherwise acting happy and normal, they will probably not be very worried.  If you use a syringe or eyedropper, don't give much at all, just a tiny bit to see how he does unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

[RockRose]

kelly,  to answer your question my son was on an IV in the after hours clinic and he wasn't responding all that well so they sent him to the hospital overnight for observation and more IV.  In the morning he was good as new.  His problem was he had a rotovirus and just couldn't get over it and get rehydrated so it's kind of a different thing.  

Great that you do wildlife rehab- I've done a little of  that too,  mostly squirrels and possums.   Intubating possums was the best - you just stick that tube right down into their stomachs and voila.

Best wishes with your baby.  It's so hard to see them not eat.

[KellyTexas]

Well we took a bath, changed clothes (I put him in his comfy long sleeve thin onesie and his sweatpants  ;-)  ), and then we cuddled on the couch and he pounded 5 oz of formula.  I had a can of the lactose free similac formula that I tried.  He had no problem drinking it.  Maybe I will just have to switch his formula every week - hee hee     it seems he gets tired of one kind and then gets fussy again.  Who knows.  I will give the doctor's office a call after his next feeding after I see how he does.  They are open 24 hours I think or at least until 12 midnight.  He's not dehydrated yet at all but I am going to stop off at the store and get some pedialyte to have on hand.

Perty - he is not pulling at his ear.  The doctor just checked their ears last week when they were there for their appointment and all was good.  

I am now calm and not crying!!  :-[

Thanks for all the great advice and I will keep you posted.  

[Cheyenne_08]

We battled Ashtyn with eating for months! He would do this same kind of thing. A home health nurse had to come weigh him twice a week to amek sure he was gaining weight!! I feel your pain and we never did get to the bottom of it.

[mum2beagain]

Kelly, that's so funny you mentioned about changing the formula brand. My eldest was like that; he would do fine on a certain formula but then after a couple of weeks would start to refuse until eventually he was barely eating a thing and I had to literally hold him really tight and bounce him to distract him whilst giving him his bottle. As a last resort I went and got him a different formula and he drank it no problem, that was fine for a few weeks then he would do the same thing again; switch formula again and no problem. I never figured out why he did it but I always had 3 different brands of milk based formula in the cupboard and rotated between the three. He also was far worse with the powdered formula so in the end we just stuck with the ready to feed (he spit up loads less with the ready to feed too) and at about 8 months he stopped doing it and we stuck with the same brand from then on.

[amberd5191]

How is he doing on diapers? Make sure he is having a wet diaper every 4-6 hours if not you should bring him in.

[Tanker Chic]

my dr also told me bubbly saliva was a good sign they are not dehydrated.  

[Van73]

Kelly, I cannot imagine the amount of stress you are under! Not only do you have to worry about a baby, you have 2!  I'd be freakin out too if my lil man was doing all that. You are doing a GOOD job! You are a GOOD Mom! Dont ever doubt that. Hang in there, I am almost sure it'll get better. Just think, this time next year we'll be talkin about what our lil toots are up to and the neat things they are doing!

[KellyTexas]

Just an update - we have only managed to get 10 oz total in him today so far since midnight last night.  That includes 2 oz of juice, so technically only 8 oz of milk.  I have tried a couple different formulas and even went to buy some pedialyte.  He didn't go for the pedialyte at all.

Peek - what is the minimum they need to get in them to stay a steady weight/stay hydrated?  He eats when he's hungry, but ONLY when he's hungry.  If he ain't hungry, he's not eating period.  I also tried the syringe and he spits it right back out.  That was a complete mess and a disaster.

I'm not giving up though - I will try again and again until he finally eats.  

[hdwilliams87]

Have you thought about him having thrush?? this could be possible. When my daughter was about 5 months old she was doing the SAME thing. She would only eat when she was starving. So I just lifted her lips up and there was a a white coating on the inside of her lips. Its VERY VERY painful to them, it makes it very hard for them to eat. So maybe you should check for this & see what you find. I hope that everything works our for your little man!

[KellyTexas]

I will go look now for thrush and if that is it, what do you do for it?  I do not want him to starve to death.  :(

[hdwilliams87]

thrush looks like a lumpy milky coating inside the mouth, on the lips & maybe the throat. i guess just depending on how bad it is. Did the babies doc. check his mouth?

Some times thrush isnt as bad if it is caught in time. If not caught in time it can be very painful for them, and look like blisters, so if he does have the coating DO NOT wipe away the milky look,  it will make it more painful for him.

My daughter had it once when she was 5-6 months old. She has is again now at 2 and a half years old. This time its pretty bad and i cannot get her to eat ANYTHING but chicken noodle soup and she only wants a little at a time. We have a doc appt. monday.

I figured i would maybe suggest thrush, since my daughter isnt eating much either. You should try and do some research on thrush. Just google it, so that you can learn a little about it. Even if he doesnt have it, atleast you will know what it is just incase it happens in the future. Or even go to google and just type in the syptoms (symptoms) that your son is showing, it will more than likely show something and give you some kind of pointers.

I hope that all turns out well with your son. Im so sorry that you & him have to go through this :(

[KellyTexas]

I checked his lips, tongue, roof of his mouth and throat - nothing out of the ordinary.  They all look perfect.  

I went and gave him another warm bath and got him all cuddled on the couch - he ate 5 oz - that makes a total of 15 oz for the day.  I guess I can't be too sad as at least he is staying hydrated and getting 15 of the 20 oz he's supposed to be getting in a day.  

Hopefully they will find out what is making him so miserable on Tuesday so that he will eat without having to fight us.  :(

I will keep everybody posted after his doctors appointment on Tuesday.

[hdwilliams87]

well luckly it isnt trush (thrush). I feel so bad for my daughter. But hopefully everything works out for you and him. I hate it when my baby is in pain :(

Have you thought about colic? Im just trying to throw ideas out here for you! Keep me posted please !!

[Tanker Chic]

Kelly,

I had a big discussion with my nurse just last week about this because Jacob wouldn't take the bottle.  She said even if they go a day or so with only 6 or 8 oz they will be ok but if they do that too many days they will not thrive.  

I think you should try to move up to the next stage nipple. That has made a huge difference with Jacob.  

Jacob is still really hot and cold with the bottle so I know how frustrating this is for you.  

What kind of schedule do you try to feed them on?  Every 3, 4 or 5 hours?  

Hannah

[peekawho]

I agree with Hannah--a day or two is ok, but he shouldn't go longer than that.  More important is if he's having plenty of wet diapers and acting normally.

[Tanker Chic]

I came across this list.  I hope it helps:

How do I know if my baby is not getting enough formula or breast milk? Call your baby's caregiver if you feel your baby is not drinking enough. The following are signs that your baby may not be getting enough formula or breast milk:

Not gaining enough weight. Your baby's caregiver will tell you if your baby is not gaining enough weight for his size and age.


Not passing very much urine. Your baby should have at least 1 wet diaper every 6 hours.


Crying often, with no reason that you can find.


Your baby's skin may look loose or wrinkly.


Your baby's fontanel (fon-tah-NEL) (soft spot on his head) may look sunk in.


Your baby may not move around much, and may seem tired much of the time.

[KellyTexas]

We got him to eat 15 oz for the day yesterday.  Not too shabby and makes me not worry quite so much, but I'm still a little nervous.  We have started mixing their formula with the pedialyte to make sure they get those extra little energies.  We'll see how it
goes today.  Daddy could only get him to drink 1 oz of formula and 1 oz of juice this morning (but daddy was great and let mommy sleep in until 10 am) - mommy got up and got him to eat 3 oz of formula mixed with rice. Then at about 1ish he woke up and ate 5 oz of formula with rice without even fighting me.  So that is 10 oz so far today.

We were somewhat happy to get at least 15 oz in him yesterday.  Not what I'd like him to be eating, but hey - if it keeps him hydrated and at least maintaining his weight until we go to the doctor on Tuesday, I'll be a happy camper.  I weighed myself and then myself with him, and he's not losing weight, so we are good there and he's having plenty of wet diapers (and he pooped).

Hannah - we are getting more than the 6-8 oz in him so that's good.  And he has no symptoms of dehydration other than the screaming for no reason at times and he is sleeping alot - he is eating about every 4 hours.  I've learned that if I don't "force" him to try to eat every time he wakes up he doesn't fight me as much to eat.  

I will let everybody know what the GI doc says on Tuesday.