Guest guest Posted September 1, 2002 Report Share Posted September 1, 2002 When Adam was a newborn and he didn't have a strong sucking reflex to breastfeed, the nurses forced me to use formula and bottles (still regret it; I should have kept trying but those nurses were freaking me out). Anyway, he'd suck on those bottles so hard he'd fall asleep after only an ounce or two. My doctor told me to wake him up and feed him every 2 hours. Which I did. My neighbour, who was a pediatric intensive care nurse (worked in neonatal unit) brought me home some preemie bottles. Worked like a charm. He was able to suck and not fall asleep so quickly as before. I would worry about cutting a regular nipple, due to the rubber perhaps breaking off and choking the child. If you guys have not tried preemie bottles, give it a shot.. Ask the doc or endo to get you some to try. (I could never find any in the store......got a few from the friend, and they are *supposed* to be disposable...use only once.....but because I didn't have many, I cleaned and sterilized them and used them again). 10 years later and I still have them in a cupboard downstairs! Debby Vomiting, Gagging, etc....THIS IS LONG! > > I don't know if I can offer that much, but here's what we went through > with . Even though I don't have " magic " words or advice, but > maybe my story will help in some odd way. > > As an infant, had a VERY hard time with taking a bottle. We > would at times resort to dripping the formula in his mouth. He > constantly cried and it was always a battle. Then a physical > therapist we were seeing suggested cutting a criss-cross in the nipple > so the milk would flow out more easily when sucked on. Well, that > worked much better and didn't tire so easily when drinking from a > bottle. He was NOT strong enough with his mouth muscles to suck > formula out of such a tiny hole. This worked for awhile....... > > Then between the ages of 10 months and 13 mos., we tried desperately > to get him to eat baby food. He never did do well with it. He would > fight it, cry and eventually thow up. He would throw up some with his > formula, but more so with the baby food. We saw a private feeding > therapist that was useless (she knew nothing of RSS). We found out he > had severe reflux through a test. He was put on meds. that worked for > the most part, but still occasionally threw up. After 6 months (he > was around 19 mos.) we took him off the meds because he seemed to be > doing better. He was still only taking formula through a bottle. > Then around 22 mos. he started not even wanting the bottle. He would > cry and throw up CONSTANTLY!!!!!! We also became pros at reading the > signs he was going to throw up. He too seemed to do it more in the > evening, but usually around dinner time. I could just tell he was > going to throw up. We kept a bowl in our family room where he was > normally fed (in front of the t.v.). We also kept a bowl under his > bed so all we had to do was grab it, clean him up and back to bed he > went. He cried alot too. > > Well, at 24 mos. at his 2 year old check-up, he had lost 2 pounds and > enough was enough. That was when the decision was made he was getting > the g-tube. He received the g-tube and he gained weight beautifully > BUT he still threw up!!!! Sometimes g-tube surgery can flare up reflux > episodes, but eventually he stopped throwing up. But there for > awhile, he was throwing up at a lot of his feedings!!!! If we fed him > too fast, too much, or just for no reason it seemed he threw up. I > honestly don't know what stopped it because it just seemed gradual > that little by little he stopped throwing up. I honestly believe it > was just giving him time and maturity. > > I remember all the gagging and throwing up as if it were yesterday. > He had severe gagging reflex also. Alot of these things he has > outgrown himself. It just took a lot of patience on my part. We did > things to adjust like using the two different throw up bowls, and we > actually got good at talking our son OUT of throwing up. We kept > saying in a soft reassuring voice, " it's okay, , it's okay. Hang > in there " . But mostly tried to get his mind off of it by talking > about Disneyland or dinosaurs etc.. It actually worked a lot of the > times!!!!! We definately believe was making himself throw > up. One time I said in a very firm voice " RYAN NO! " and he actually > stopped himself!!!!! I know that isn't the nicest thing to do, but > when you are in the midst of this drama you can't help but tire of it > and resort to just plain firmness. > > I have to admit that getting the g-tube was probably our biggest > salvation out of that mess, but that's not what I'm trying to push on > you. We did end up seeing a feeding therapist in Children's Hospital > and the first one we had was " okay " . Then she left for another job > and the second one was " pretty darn good " , but then she went on > maternity leave, and the third one was AWESOME and really did wonders > for . So I highly believe you just have to lock on to someone > that is knowledgeable with RSS and also willing to listen to the > parent and work with them. Just like with doctors, you might have to > get a different feeding therapist if one isn't working out. > > You see, I don't really have " answers " , but have definately been > through what you have. We used to say that is a professional > thrower-upper!!! ha. ha. He got good at it. I have stains on my > carpet to prove it!!! Mostly, I believe he out grew it because as he > got older, he was easier to talk to about it. I do truly believe the > reflux hindered his thoughts towards food. So does the therapist. > Because associated food/bottle with pain. So who would want to > keep putting food/milk in your mouth when it hurts so bad! Until > 's reflux was either under control or eventually gone, we couldn't > work with him to accept food without crying and/or throwing up. He is > now finally realizing that food is NOT a bad thing. It can be > enjoyable and not hurt so much. > > Oh, gosh I can't tell you of the flashbacks I'm having from when we > went through it and some day you too will be looking back and thinking > " how did we survive that " ! It DOES and WILL get easier as they get > older. still gags every so often if a piece of food goes too far > back towards his throat before he's ready to swallow or is positioned > wrong in his mouth. And he is still leary of trying new foods because > it might " hurt " him. All that pain is still fresh in his mind, but > that too will go away in time. > > Sorry this was soooo long. It's just something I remember very > vividly going through and know your frustration!!!! > > Take care, > > Stacie > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 1, 2002 Report Share Posted September 1, 2002 Debby: I can understand your concern if a nipple could get worn enough to break off, but it absolutely NEVER was worn enough to cause a problem. We tried the preemie nipples and those didn't work either for . Mostly because he didn't like the shape of the nipple. He preferred a particular nipple and we had to do " something " to get the formula in him. Cutting the nipple in a criss-cross never ever became distorted or dangerous. The criss-cross is so small and tiny you could hardly see where the mark was made. It just made it flow out a little easier. Just didn't want you or others to think this was some dangerous option we did because it wasn't and I also okayed it with our pediatrition. I just wanted to give those that were having a hard time getting the milk to flow an option if they can't get the preemie nipples, which sometimes are hard to get or might be more expensive. Stacie L. > When Adam was a newborn and he didn't have a strong sucking reflex to > breastfeed, the nurses forced me to use formula and bottles (still regret > it; I should have kept trying but those nurses were freaking me out). > Anyway, he'd suck on those bottles so hard he'd fall asleep after only an > ounce or two. My doctor told me to wake him up and feed him every 2 hours. > Which I did. > My neighbour, who was a pediatric intensive care nurse (worked in neonatal > unit) brought me home some preemie bottles. Worked like a charm. He was able > to suck and not fall asleep so quickly as before. > I would worry about cutting a regular nipple, due to the rubber perhaps > breaking off and choking the child. > If you guys have not tried preemie bottles, give it a shot.. Ask the doc or > endo to get you some to try. (I could never find any in the store......got a > few from the friend, and they are *supposed* to be disposable...use only > once.....but because I didn't have many, I cleaned and sterilized them and > used them again). > 10 years later and I still have them in a cupboard downstairs! > > Debby > > > Vomiting, Gagging, etc....THIS IS LONG! > > > > > > I don't know if I can offer that much, but here's what we went through > > with . Even though I don't have " magic " words or advice, but > > maybe my story will help in some odd way. > > > > As an infant, had a VERY hard time with taking a bottle. We > > would at times resort to dripping the formula in his mouth. He > > constantly cried and it was always a battle. Then a physical > > therapist we were seeing suggested cutting a criss-cross in the nipple > > so the milk would flow out more easily when sucked on. Well, that > > worked much better and didn't tire so easily when drinking from a > > bottle. He was NOT strong enough with his mouth muscles to suck > > formula out of such a tiny hole. This worked for awhile....... > > > > Then between the ages of 10 months and 13 mos., we tried desperately > > to get him to eat baby food. He never did do well with it. He would > > fight it, cry and eventually thow up. He would throw up some with his > > formula, but more so with the baby food. We saw a private feeding > > therapist that was useless (she knew nothing of RSS). We found out he > > had severe reflux through a test. He was put on meds. that worked for > > the most part, but still occasionally threw up. After 6 months (he > > was around 19 mos.) we took him off the meds because he seemed to be > > doing better. He was still only taking formula through a bottle. > > Then around 22 mos. he started not even wanting the bottle. He would > > cry and throw up CONSTANTLY!!!!!! We also became pros at reading the > > signs he was going to throw up. He too seemed to do it more in the > > evening, but usually around dinner time. I could just tell he was > > going to throw up. We kept a bowl in our family room where he was > > normally fed (in front of the t.v.). We also kept a bowl under his > > bed so all we had to do was grab it, clean him up and back to bed he > > went. He cried alot too. > > > > Well, at 24 mos. at his 2 year old check-up, he had lost 2 pounds and > > enough was enough. That was when the decision was made he was getting > > the g-tube. He received the g-tube and he gained weight beautifully > > BUT he still threw up!!!! Sometimes g-tube surgery can flare up reflux > > episodes, but eventually he stopped throwing up. But there for > > awhile, he was throwing up at a lot of his feedings!!!! If we fed him > > too fast, too much, or just for no reason it seemed he threw up. I > > honestly don't know what stopped it because it just seemed gradual > > that little by little he stopped throwing up. I honestly believe it > > was just giving him time and maturity. > > > > I remember all the gagging and throwing up as if it were yesterday. > > He had severe gagging reflex also. Alot of these things he has > > outgrown himself. It just took a lot of patience on my part. We did > > things to adjust like using the two different throw up bowls, and we > > actually got good at talking our son OUT of throwing up. We kept > > saying in a soft reassuring voice, " it's okay, , it's okay. Hang > > in there " . But mostly tried to get his mind off of it by talking > > about Disneyland or dinosaurs etc.. It actually worked a lot of the > > times!!!!! We definately believe was making himself throw > > up. One time I said in a very firm voice " RYAN NO! " and he actually > > stopped himself!!!!! I know that isn't the nicest thing to do, but > > when you are in the midst of this drama you can't help but tire of it > > and resort to just plain firmness. > > > > I have to admit that getting the g-tube was probably our biggest > > salvation out of that mess, but that's not what I'm trying to push on > > you. We did end up seeing a feeding therapist in Children's Hospital > > and the first one we had was " okay " . Then she left for another job > > and the second one was " pretty darn good " , but then she went on > > maternity leave, and the third one was AWESOME and really did wonders > > for . So I highly believe you just have to lock on to someone > > that is knowledgeable with RSS and also willing to listen to the > > parent and work with them. Just like with doctors, you might have to > > get a different feeding therapist if one isn't working out. > > > > You see, I don't really have " answers " , but have definately been > > through what you have. We used to say that is a professional > > thrower-upper!!! ha. ha. He got good at it. I have stains on my > > carpet to prove it!!! Mostly, I believe he out grew it because as he > > got older, he was easier to talk to about it. I do truly believe the > > reflux hindered his thoughts towards food. So does the therapist. > > Because associated food/bottle with pain. So who would want to > > keep putting food/milk in your mouth when it hurts so bad! Until > > 's reflux was either under control or eventually gone, we couldn't > > work with him to accept food without crying and/or throwing up. He is > > now finally realizing that food is NOT a bad thing. It can be > > enjoyable and not hurt so much. > > > > Oh, gosh I can't tell you of the flashbacks I'm having from when we > > went through it and some day you too will be looking back and thinking > > " how did we survive that " ! It DOES and WILL get easier as they get > > older. still gags every so often if a piece of food goes too far > > back towards his throat before he's ready to swallow or is positioned > > wrong in his mouth. And he is still leary of trying new foods because > > it might " hurt " him. All that pain is still fresh in his mind, but > > that too will go away in time. > > > > Sorry this was soooo long. It's just something I remember very > > vividly going through and know your frustration!!!! > > > > Take care, > > > > Stacie > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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