Maverick.....that's who!
This all started when we went in for the babies 5 month check on 10/13. Maverick was only weighing in at 8lbs and the doctor said that was not enough! Let me give you a little history first. Maverick has been "self" feeding for the past 2 months. What I mean by "self" feeding is that he wanted to eat his bottle while in his bouncy chair and the bottle propped in his mouth so he could eat at his leisure. Normally he would fall asleep eating and liked it that way. I think I knew in the back of my mind it probably wasn't ideal but when you have 3 kids under 19 months, are pumping every 3 hours (ish), holding the other baby to eat and haven't slept thru the night in 5+ months, you do what you can to survive.
So the doctor wanted us to make him eat 3ozs every 3 hours with one 6 hour stretch at night if he slept that long. He had been very sporadic in the amount & times he would eat while "self" feeding and doc said he probably is a lazy eater as well. He cries when hungry and will eat whatever he feels like which can be anywhere from 10ml at times to 2 ozs at other times. For 8 days we force fed him whatever he wouldn't eat independently. I had the question asked many times "how do you force feed a baby?" and basically we had to squeeze the bottle to squirt milk down his throat. This was traumatic on so many levels! Maverick hated it and would cry and cry and cry. He would cry so hard that he would end up choking and/or spitting up.....a bunch. Mama hated it and would cry at times as well. Daddy hated it. As a result the house was full of tension and we finally gave up on day 8. We just couldn't keep doing that to our little man.
I made an appointment and went to the lactation specialist on Monday 10/24. At this appointment Maverick weighed 8lbs 1oz. Seriously??? 1 oz in 10 days?? Although I guess I shouldn't be that surprised since he cried so much he probably was burning more calories than he was taking in! The lactation nurse basically stated we were doing everything she would have recommended and called Dr. Salisbury in. After talking and watching Maverick eat, it was decided that Maverick needed to be admitted to the hospital for observation and tests. Thankfully my wonderful mom-in-law and sister were able to help with Baron and Elliott. I didn't get home until 9:30 that night and Grant stayed with Maverick. I didn't want to leave him but between pumping, taking care of the other 2 littles and the fact that Grant feeds Maverick at night anyways, it just made the most sense. I was back to the hospital by 7:15 am on Tuesday morning so Grant could get to work. At that point, Maverick's blood and urine came back normal. We had a head ultrasound and barium swallow test which both came back normal as well. The barium swallow did show a "severe" case of acid reflux which we already knew he had and are treating him for. We were finally discharged around 7:00pm with a feeding tube in Maverick's nose and instructions to let him eat what he wants orally and then gavauge him the rest. He has to eat 2.5 ozs or 75 ml every 3 hours (goal of 17ozs in 24 hours) with a 6 hour stretch at night and we have increased the calorie count of his milk to 27 cals/oz (this is so it is like he is getting 3 ozs every feed). Breastmilk is 20 cals/oz and we are fortifying with high calorie formula. We have been referred to the feeding clinic at OHSU and are waiting for a call back to make an appointment. Even though we have a feeding tube in, we still want to figure out why he isn't that interested in eating.
We went in for a weight check on Friday 10/28 and little man was weighing in at........8lbs 8ozs! 6ozs in 3 days!! Everyone is happier at the Webster House with this temporary solution and Grant & I are feeling much better knowing our little guy is getting the calories he needs. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers from our family and friends! We know we will get through this but it's a comfort knowing we have love and support from so many caring people!
This all started when we went in for the babies 5 month check on 10/13. Maverick was only weighing in at 8lbs and the doctor said that was not enough! Let me give you a little history first. Maverick has been "self" feeding for the past 2 months. What I mean by "self" feeding is that he wanted to eat his bottle while in his bouncy chair and the bottle propped in his mouth so he could eat at his leisure. Normally he would fall asleep eating and liked it that way. I think I knew in the back of my mind it probably wasn't ideal but when you have 3 kids under 19 months, are pumping every 3 hours (ish), holding the other baby to eat and haven't slept thru the night in 5+ months, you do what you can to survive.
So the doctor wanted us to make him eat 3ozs every 3 hours with one 6 hour stretch at night if he slept that long. He had been very sporadic in the amount & times he would eat while "self" feeding and doc said he probably is a lazy eater as well. He cries when hungry and will eat whatever he feels like which can be anywhere from 10ml at times to 2 ozs at other times. For 8 days we force fed him whatever he wouldn't eat independently. I had the question asked many times "how do you force feed a baby?" and basically we had to squeeze the bottle to squirt milk down his throat. This was traumatic on so many levels! Maverick hated it and would cry and cry and cry. He would cry so hard that he would end up choking and/or spitting up.....a bunch. Mama hated it and would cry at times as well. Daddy hated it. As a result the house was full of tension and we finally gave up on day 8. We just couldn't keep doing that to our little man.
I made an appointment and went to the lactation specialist on Monday 10/24. At this appointment Maverick weighed 8lbs 1oz. Seriously??? 1 oz in 10 days?? Although I guess I shouldn't be that surprised since he cried so much he probably was burning more calories than he was taking in! The lactation nurse basically stated we were doing everything she would have recommended and called Dr. Salisbury in. After talking and watching Maverick eat, it was decided that Maverick needed to be admitted to the hospital for observation and tests. Thankfully my wonderful mom-in-law and sister were able to help with Baron and Elliott. I didn't get home until 9:30 that night and Grant stayed with Maverick. I didn't want to leave him but between pumping, taking care of the other 2 littles and the fact that Grant feeds Maverick at night anyways, it just made the most sense. I was back to the hospital by 7:15 am on Tuesday morning so Grant could get to work. At that point, Maverick's blood and urine came back normal. We had a head ultrasound and barium swallow test which both came back normal as well. The barium swallow did show a "severe" case of acid reflux which we already knew he had and are treating him for. We were finally discharged around 7:00pm with a feeding tube in Maverick's nose and instructions to let him eat what he wants orally and then gavauge him the rest. He has to eat 2.5 ozs or 75 ml every 3 hours (goal of 17ozs in 24 hours) with a 6 hour stretch at night and we have increased the calorie count of his milk to 27 cals/oz (this is so it is like he is getting 3 ozs every feed). Breastmilk is 20 cals/oz and we are fortifying with high calorie formula. We have been referred to the feeding clinic at OHSU and are waiting for a call back to make an appointment. Even though we have a feeding tube in, we still want to figure out why he isn't that interested in eating.
We went in for a weight check on Friday 10/28 and little man was weighing in at........8lbs 8ozs! 6ozs in 3 days!! Everyone is happier at the Webster House with this temporary solution and Grant & I are feeling much better knowing our little guy is getting the calories he needs. Thank you for all the thoughts and prayers from our family and friends! We know we will get through this but it's a comfort knowing we have love and support from so many caring people!
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