Baby not eating... normal?

[Evies_Mum]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the board and was hoping to get some feedback.

My daughter is 8 weeks old and has suddenly stopped eating as much as she normally does. Two days ago she drank in the morning fine, but only took about 11oz all day and the majority of that was before 10am. She used to take about 20-25oz a day (and the type of formula suggests 25-30oz a day). Yesterday she did basically the same but only took about 8oz all day. Today she's been taking under 2oz each feed and we have to wake her and dream feed her to get her to take that. As for sleep, the past two nights she's been waking up an extra time in the night because she's hungry and stirring all night as well. She's also been going to sleep much, much later than normal due to general fussiness.

We took her to her doctor this morning and he said it was just a phase and completely normal. After some pushing, and given she's previously lost weight with no cause found, he said it might be reflux and gave us a formula thickener. He wasn’t concerned by how much she's sleeping (which is constantly today), or that she's fighting the bottle after about 1 1/2oz before clamping her mouth shut and refusing to take it. She's not arching her back (like I’m told reflux babies do) and she doesn't spit up very much. Other than sleeping lots and being irritable, she looks fine and has no temperature.

Anyway, my question is, is this actually normal? Has anyone had their kids suddenly eat bare minimum as part of a 'phase'? I figure I might be over thinking it, but it just doesn't seem like something that would be normal to me.

 

[rach321]

That does sound a bit odd. Does she have the usual number of wet/poopy nappies? Have you tried changing to the next teat up? Sometimes they get frustrated if the milk isn't coming quickly enough. Did the doc check her ears? They usually stop feeding if they have an ear infection but they usually have a fever with that as well.

 

[Evies_Mum]

Hi Rach, thanks for the reply

Not as many wet ones, I don’t think, and definitely not as heavy as they usually are. But then, when she's drinking so much less, I wouldn't expect to get the same amount of output. She did have an extra dirty nappy though. Tomorrow I'm going to keep a close eye on it -- Half the day was gone before we got back from the doctors and, although I’m sure I should have, I didn't think to keep count to check for the 8 really wet ones she should be having.

The doc did check her ears and didn't seem concerned. However, I do notice she's fussy when laying on her right side (she's been comfort nursing quite a bit over the last few days, but she's not drinking/swallowing - and I don't have much milk anyway. Just what’s left since bf kinda failed). It's not the breast because she's fine on it if I lay her the other way or in the football hold. Not sure that's any indication, just something that's different.

I'll get the next teat up in the AM and see how we go with that. We have tried different temperatures for her milk and a different formula already, but no luck.

 

[Evies_Mum]

I just tried the next teat and she kept pulling off after a few seconds of drinking and spitting out a bunch of formula. So I’m guessing its too fast for her?

 

[Vickie]

sounds like it is to fast. Hannah always went through periods of eating more and eating less but if it goes on for more than a couple of days I'd talk to your doctor