UI think he's poorly :(

[Linzi]

We've had a pretty rough night here with Seth. He woke up at his usual time for a feed and screamed and screamed. He was completely inconsolable and wouldn't feed. Everytime I put my boob in his mouth he would stop crying, but not actually do anything, and then get really frustrated and start screaming again. I knew he was hungry and it was totally unlike him because even when he's not hungry he'll suck.

We tried a dummy and everything, and after about an hour and a half we decided to give him a bottle, which he took about 3oz from. This was about 4am, 545am when he finally got settled after his bottle.

He woke up at 8am and the same thing has been happening all morning. He's just screaming and screaming and I know he's hungry I just can't understand why he wont latch on? He obviously wants to, it's as if he's forgotten.

The HV came out to see us this morning and told me off for giving him a bottle and said that thats why he wont latch on, because he's confused. My main priority at the time though was to feed him because he hadn't eaten since about 10pm the previous evening... She told me not to give him another one today.

He's asleep at the moment but Im really confused about what to do when he wakes up. If he doesn't take the breast, and Im not allowed to give him a bottle, how long do I leave him for? It's already been 6 hours since his last feed and Im worried about him.

Sorry about the long post - any advice?

xxx

 

[Tezzy]

this is EXACTLY what Ffion has been like! i dont know whats wrong with her either...

 

[KarenLV]

Has he had any vaccination recently?They sometimes cause fever.Maybe he has gas cramps.Have you tried giving gripe water.Mine also doesnt drink when hungry if he has gas cramps....

 

[Lyns]

Aww, hun....you firstly sound like you need a I wouldn't be sure he's actually poorly at the moment. It just sounds to me like the world is a big old confusing place to him right now and he just wants cuddles, mummy, lots of normality and to settle down to a good feed, but the more he yells this to you (which is his way of communicating right now), the more you worry, and it can be a right vicious circle!

Ok, sounds to me like your HV is dead right and he is suffering a measure of nipple confusion. Yes, your priority is to feed him, but to be honest, if he's hungry he will take food eventually from wherever its availble, including the breast, so just a little persisitance...for the long term good, is needed.

You need a totally day or two, lots of cuddling time, with plenty of skin to skin contact and put him to the breast lots....much more frequently than you would normally. He'll go back on soon enough, when he gets hungry. It can often help to express a few drops onto the nipple by hand before you bring him to the breast as he gets a good old whiff of it first and will latch on easier!

He's probably going through a growth spurt too, so this is an ideal time to get your milk needs established and be able to totally leave the bottle alone for a while longer yet!

If things go on for long enough that you can't leave him withouth food any longer (and tbh, I wouldn't worry for a few hours, just stick with offering him the breast lots)....don't give a bottle, but express some milk off and give it to him by cup, spoon, syringe, andthing but a bottle. Its' important to keep him on your milk.

And, as difficult as it seems, try and relax. It'll do you both a lot more good if you can. He'll be fine, I promise you! But getting him back on the breast is the best thing you can do for him now.

Good luck sweetie....you'll both be absolutely fine, I'm sure xxx

 

[Linzi]

Thanks for the advice

Another HV just popped round to see how we were and he's got oral thrush which probably isn't helping matters, she seems to think that thats maybe why he isn't feeding because his mouth is sore. She said to give infacol as well to try to help because he could have a sore tummy.

Its horrible seeing him like this, I just want him to have a nice long feed and be the smiley little boy he was yesterday! I hate seeing him frustrated. My OH has come home from work to help too which is a blessing! I was starting to get a bit upset.

I hope Ffion starts to get better soon Tezzy, I sympathise.

xxx

 

[KarenLV]

What is oral thrush? How can it be prevented?

 

[Margerle]

oral thrush is a yeast infection of the mouth. Linzi, be very careful you don't have it on your nipples to. This cycle can be really hard to break if you don't both get treated well. You may want to see your own doc to make sure.

Take a probiotic supplement or eat yougurt that has LIVE cultures in it...same thing. That will help prevent you from getting it if you don't already have it, and may help it go away if you do.

Hang in there...

and I wholeheartedly agree with Lyns advice.

 

[luckyme225]

hope everything gets better soon!

 

[clairebear]

BUG huns hope things get better soon xxx

 

[Linzi]

Ive got a prescription for something for my nipples to use just incase. I feel so awful because Ive had thrush 'down there' recently, my HV said its nothing to do with that but I can't help feel guilty

Seth has a temperature now anyway.. we're waiting for a thermometer and then maybe taking him to a&e. He's not right, Im so frightened.

Fortunately he's managed to go back onto breast though twice this evening which is good. He's been quite reluctant, but Ive put some milk in his mouth first and the he's latched on ok.

xxx

 

[Nikkinoonoo]

So sorry to hear this hun, hope Seth gets better soon and offering you big xXx

 

[Ragirl]

Sorry to hear he is not feeling well. And I completely agree with Lyns. I would also add, that when you are having difficulties, try not to let him go more than a few hours to eat, even if you have to wake him up. If he sleeps for 6+ hours and then wakes up starving- he will be very frustrated and upset and this may lead to him having difficulty. Hang in there and hope he gets to feeling better and you can have your happy boy back!

 

[Linzi]

he hasn't got any better so we have to stay in hospital for a couple of days. They don't know whats wrong and want to rule out meningitis. I've never been so scared in all my life. He has a thingy in his hand so he doesn't have to keep having needles and he hates it. Please think of us x

 

[mBLACK]

In my pre-natal classes I learnt that if you want baby to take your breast but he won't, the best things to do are
#1. Don't use any smelly things (soap, bodywash, etc.) for a couple days until your 'natural' aura kicks in, the aerola has some sort of smell that comes out of it that reminds baby of being in the womb and reminds him of the amniotic fluid.
#2. Lie fully naked with him (both of you being naked) and put him directly on your bare boob and if you haven't been using any smelly things your natural aura will seduce him and help him to latch onto your boob.

This is assuming of course that he's still quite young and remembers being in the womb.

 

[leeanne]

Hope your little one feels better soon hon!

 

[Lyns]

he hasn't got any better so we have to stay in hospital for a couple of days. They don't know whats wrong and want to rule out meningitis. I've never been so scared in all my life. He has a thingy in his hand so he doesn't have to keep having needles and he hates it. Please think of us x

Ohh sweetie, you poor thing, you must be going out of your mind. Believe me, I know just how scared you are....at just 6 weeks old, me and my LO were back into hospital, and I know just how scared I was. She too was having blood tests, and urine tests...the lot. It was very scary.

But, you must remember you are in the best place and now anything that needs to be done, can be done instantly! He's probably just been kept in so they can observe and there is likely nothing too serious but better safe than sorry.

OK, talking bf still....I think when baby is poorly, being able to feed from you is even more important....he not only gets instant immunity to anything around (your white blood cells will be going wild right now to protect you both!! How cool is that?), but the best nourishment going, and top comfort from you too!

I know its been a struggle but use this time for both of you to get back on track....you have fairly plentiful 'mummy and Seth time' for the next couple of days and you can cuddle and get back to feeding and you have all the support around you can need. I know you will be feeling stressed, but try and relax....he will draw from your strength.

If there's anything I can do....just support or even if you just want mindless chatter from someone who understands....please let me know. Huge hugs to you......I'll be thinking of you all night xxx

 

[Lyns]

PS, My daughter hated the canula in her hand so much, she pulled it out overnight. Get them to try the foot....she tolerated that so much better x

 

[clairebear]

OH linzi i hope seth is feeling better today hun take care hope to hear fromu soon x

 

[Ragirl]

So sorry...please keep us updated. I will pray they find it is nothing major and you are out of hospital in a jiffy.

 

[Linzi]

We're home. He just had a virus but they do know how to scare the crap out of you at these hospitals.

xxx