Yale refusing to eat

[Tannaleigh]

Okay. We are going to see his cardiologist tomorrow so I can ask then, but as of lately, it seems Yale has gone on a hunger strike. A while ago he refused the breast and so that is sooo out of the question. now he refused to eat. Its not a swallow issue because he takes his pacifier like a champ but any bottle (even ones with the nuk nipple like his pac) he just refused to eat and screams. We're on day too right now and were are lucky if we can even get an ounce into him. Last thing I want is him to be admitted because of dehydration but I have no idea what is wrong and how to fix it. Any suggestions? I will not take him to any clinic its just an illness waiting to happen and too risky for a health fragile baby like him....

PLEASE help!

[Leigh]

Can you do the suckie/bottle switch at all? Let him have his soother til he's almost asleep then switch the bottle in for a few mins til he realizes it there?

Or feed him while he's sleeping ( if he uses his soother during sleep, this is usually pretty easy to do)

Not sure what else to suggest..

[thebarmybee]

I think that a lot of babies go through this (talk to teacher_mom) and you just ride it out but with Yale I don't think you would want to do that. I always figure if they're hungry enough they will eat but perhaps there is something else going on here. Could he have a sore throat? A medical issue? I would definately be mentioning it tomorrow. I'm assuming you've tried syringe and cups? If he likes his soother, slip in a syringe full of b/m or formula and then stick the soother right back in so that he swallows. Works for medicine around here! Good luck!

Hey Tanna, does Yale have a pediatrician that you could call locally??? If he's not vomiting your BM or formula, the syringe might be of some help, maybe you could try and pm "katinthehat". Her little Anniek has been through so many issues that she's shared with me and she's a sweetheart, she might have some ideas that she could share with you.

Best wishes to you and to Yale! You're keeping on top of things which is fantastic.

[myrrah]

Hmm, yeah I would be inclined to at least call his doctors with him. Good luck, I hope all is well!

[Carol]

Hi Tanna! So nice to see you here but not under these circumstances. I was going to say a say syringe too but you've likely tried it. You know I would call the cardiologist today and see what he/she says. With Yale's medical history I wouldn't wait and try to ride out his nursing strike and like you said I would never take him to a clinic kind of limits your options doesn't it.

[one ordinary girl]

I was wondering about a sore throat also. Maybe that's why he doesnt' want to eat. I'd give Telehealth a call at the very least or your own doc for him. I don't think I'd want to wait to long with his history. Keep us posed. ((HUGS)))

[Tannaleigh]

okay... so we got into his paediarician really quick. She says there is no medical reason to her... no thrush, no ear aches, throat looks fine, breathing is fine, and his heart sounds normal (for him) only thing she can think of is maybe some unknown source of pain. and that he is frustrated with the slow flow nipple.
So we're trying a dose of tylenol and his next step up in nipples. Other than that she says that syringing as much as we can until he gets into see his card tomorrow will be okay as he is not in distress right now. But also to keep a very close eye on him. I also called the single ventrical hotline at sick kids and his nurses there scared me into calling his paed in a panic. I guess better safe than sorry. But they wanted me to take him to emerge just to be on the safe side... but in this weather I was really against that! So I am glad it can all at least wait until tomorrow if the tylenol and nipple aren't the answer.

[Becks]

Could he possibly be teething and it hurts for him to suck...When Cobe first started tetthing he would barely eat ...and there was no reason other than teething
Just thought I would throw it out here as it happened to us

[Mommy2Cuties]

Is it the bottles he isnt liking? I remember when Alysa was just born she had trouble with her latch so I couldnt nurse so what they did for me, so she wouldnt get confused (I know some say they cant and some say they can) is they had me pump and then they put the breastmilk into almost a syringe thing with a long tube that DH or I would attach to our finger and then she would just suck on our finger (same sucking method as nursing) and get fed through the tube that way.

it was a pain in the butt because by the time I finished pumping and doing that I had about an hour and a half rest before I had to start over again.

Just another option for you, sorry you are going through this.

[Tannaleigh]

LOL... I threw that out to his paed...but she says its VERY rare to see a baby teething at 3 months.... plus he is taking his pacifier with no problems.

[Leigh]

Whatever it is that is causing him not to eat, I hope it gets sorted out quickly! Keep your chin up mama, you're doing a great job!

[Becks]

Originally Posted by Leigh

Whatever it is that is causing him not to eat, I hope it gets sorted out quickly! Keep your chin up mama, you're doing a great job!

I completely agree...

[Jodi]

There's another Mom on another board who is going through this with her LO's. I think it's mostly an age thing. Her DD is a month older than Yale and doesn't have a heart condition. I hope it passes quickly for Yale.

Something no one has mentioned yet is Soap. Have you changed soap lately? Could me not be liking the taste of the nipple?

[3littlepiggies]

Originally Posted by Tannaleigh

LOL... I threw that out to his paed...but she says its VERY rare to see a baby teething at 3 months.... plus he is taking his pacifier with no problems.

im so sorry that Yale is having soe problems eating!
Just on a side not Both Benjamin and Jonathan started teething at an early age, both at 3 months!