One more thing, you can also thicken the feeds to have more calories per oz. Our son is on 27 calorie formula. We take regular formula (he is on Similac Alimentum) 3 oz. water and 2 full packed scoops of powder and ta-da we have 27 cal. per oz. This mixing works for any formula that is not already pre-made at a higher cal intake. Just about all formulas are only 20 cal. per oz. the most that most DR.s want to go is 30 cal. an oz. it gets very tough on their kidneys if you go too high, too little water in their system. Although I have heard on some reflux boards that some doc. will let you go higher.

Check with your doc. before doing any of this to make sure that it is okay. We are supervised by weekly nurse visits  and see the ped. and cardiologist (that's another story, if you want the long story read my advice on our life with a congetial heart defect.), all the time.

Sorry my last post posted twice.

 

If you don't return to breastfeeding, keep a detailed log of what your child is taking in ml's and the time they took it. You can find patterns for the reflux and see exactly how "downhill" the feedings are going. I started this with my son when he was one month old, before he was diagnosed with reflux.

Unfortuantly, if his weight gain gets to bad or he loses weight they will want to place an n/g tube for tube feedings, that is where we are right now. If he does start to loose weight they will albel  him failure to thrive and will ask you to put a tube in place.

With that all said refluxers do ALOT better on breastmilk than formula. Try to start back at it even if you pump for him while you are at work. My son had such a hard time nursing/eating in general because he had a heart defect I was going to kill myself from lack of sleep if I had kept pumping.

Reflux meds. can be given to children as well, our son had been on MANY. A word about meds. you have to keep trying until you find the one that works for your child. It can get expensive. It cost us a minor fortune.

Whatever you do don't try to force him to eat. We were told our son's feeding was all behavioural (before we knew it was reflux) and were told how to kind of force him to eat by therapist and it made his aversion to the bottle horrible. At 3 months he wa kicking and screaming at the sight of his bottle. Because he was in pain.

If he is arching his back at feeds and moving his head from side to side as you give him the bottle, he is in PAIN, don't force it. Some children will take a few oz. before they start to reflux and then the pain of reflux will stop them from eating any more, hence, the less weight gain and sometimes weight lose.

Hope this helps, we have been through the ringer with reflux. Some parents have had it much worse than we have. You can get alot more info at www.parent-2-paretn.com  it is a support web site for refluxers. (gerdlings they are called. GERD gastrointestinal reflux disease, I think I spelled it right.  I will want you the p-2-p website can be overwhelming and graphic sometimes, but it can help alot.

 

If you don't return to breastfeeding, keep a detailed log of what your child is taking in ml's and the time they took it. You can find patterns for the reflux and see exactly how "downhill" the feedings are going. I started this with my son when he was one month old, before he was diagnosed with reflux.

Unfortuantly, if his weight gain gets to bad or he loses weight they will want to place an n/g tube for tube feedings, that is where we are right now. If he does start to loose weight they will albel  him failure to thrive and will ask you to put a tube in place.

With that all said refluxers do ALOT better on breastmilk than formula. Try to start back at it even if you pump for him while you are at work. My son had such a hard time nursing/eating in general because he had a heart defect I was going to kill myself from lack of sleep if I had kept pumping.

Reflux meds. can be given to children as well, our son had been on MANY. A word about meds. you have to keep trying until you find the one that works for your child. It can get expensive. It cost us a minor fortune.

Whatever you do don't try to force him to eat. We were told our son's feeding was all behavioural (before we knew it was reflux) and were told how to kind of force him to eat by therapist and it made his aversion to the bottle horrible. At 3 months he wa kicking and screaming at the sight of his bottle. Because he was in pain.

If he is arching his back at feeds and moving his head from side to side as you give him the bottle, he is in PAIN, don't force it. Some children will take a few oz. before they start to reflux and then the pain of reflux will stop them from eating any more, hence, the less weight gain and sometimes weight lose.

Hope this helps, we have been through the ringer with reflux. Some parents have had it much worse than we have. You can get alot more info at www.parent-2-paretn.com  it is a support web site for refluxers. (gerdlings they are called. GERD gastrointestinal reflux disease, I think I spelled it right.  I will want you the p-2-p website can be overwhelming and graphic sometimes, but it can help alot.

 

you can still feed if you want to which it sounds like your little one doesnt want to give up if you want to continue if you are still able you can give up dairy and start soy or like products to keep up your calcium so baby can continue breast feeding your doctor should have informed you of these choises

sorry to hear of your problem. my baby #2 was lactose intolerant, and #3 has allergies to dairy, so as a mother, I gave the ultimate sacrifice and continue/d breastfeeding for as long as I and baby possibly could. I wonder why the doctor advised your to finish feeding? breast is best for baby and WHO recommends feeding for a minimum of 2 years. breast milk contains more fat than formula, so if you were to re-start breastfeeding again, i'm sure you would notice a difference in your baby's weight gain. however, if this is impossible due to your personal circumstances (ie return to work), you should consult a dietician or see a paediatrician. it is possible to relactacte if this is an option for you and your baby, and that would be my suggestion.