Acacia
Jun 11 2007, 06:56 AM
Maybe try stopping and burping him a couple of times during his feed to help with the tummy aches.
Sometimes babies don't go back to the breast once they get used to the bottle... a bottle requires less work to get the milk compared to the breast (even slow teats) so don't feel down about it if he refuses the breast if you try again soon. Do you think he may have been getting too impatient for the let down, and that is why he was carrying on?
Maybe try to feed him over 1/2 and hour or so taking many breaks (depending on how much he sleeps) to give him time to feel full.
I have the opposite problem, my daughter has a lot less than average for her age, it doesn't bother me anymore as she is growing fine, she just isn't a big eater and never has been. I did stress for a while over it though. Also, every baby is different, and the amounts reccomended are really just guidelines, not every baby drinks that amount at that age. Maybe your boy is just a big eater...
Edit, also some babies like to suck for comfort, especially when in pain or over tired. Do you use a dummy?
My daughter was lactose intollerant, and when she was in pain, all she wanted to do was suck, I thought she wanted more breast milk (I didn't know she was lactose intollerant at that time) so I would feed her and it would make the pain worse and worse, until she would get to the point of screaming for over 8 hours non stop until she would pass out from absolute exhaustion. There was nothing I could do and it was horrible watching it. Once she was on lactose free formula she was a different baby!
Maybe try a dummy?
~steph~
Jun 11 2007, 10:01 AM
Can't help with the attachment side of things, however the 'official' formula for working out how much milk they should be given in a bottle is:
weight x 150 ÷ no of feeds.
eg baby weighs 4.5kgs and has 6 feeds a day therefore the formula works out to be:
4.5 x 150 ÷ 6 = 112.5mls per feed.
Be aware this is an approximate thing, some take more some take less. Hayden has always been one to take less so he would refuse the bottle once full whereas others in my mums group could get that plus more into them at each feed.
Biggest thing at that age is even if he hates you taking the bottle away mid feed, still do it and try and get a burp out of him, it may be something as simple as excess wind buildup which is giving him pain or as MrsMoo said it could be a reflux thing.
Good luck!
panntha
Jun 11 2007, 07:04 PM
Just on the teats, i personally like the Avent ones - my son is still using the newborn teat which only has one hole thus is slower, but for the first bit he can sometimes be a bit grizzly and inpatient for his initial hunger to be satisfied as it obviously isnt as fast as me and my letdown.
If your a little worried about your chiro perhaps ask him what has been the youngest he has treated and if he doesnt treat babies ring around and find someone who regularly does - i have heard from lots of people that it has helped.
Good luck and keep going, eventually it gets easier, dont give up