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Premature birth

Refusing top-up/formula feeds.

11 replies

MultipleMama · 06/02/2014 22:08

Just a rant, really.

Why are hospitals so intent on top up feeds and forever telling you your child needs it and then getting offended when you refuse? Urgh.

Ds4 is doing amazingly well with feeds, he's gaining a steady but slow weight, he feeds roughly 1.5 hours for a good 20 mins and surprisingly has no reflux issues whatsoever yet last week and today they mentioned introducing top up feeds to increase his weight and give him more nutrients.

I outright refused for a number of reasons; 1) I've heard that formula is harder on a baby's stomach and harder to digest, 2) he has no reflux issues and I don't want to tempt fate by introducing something un-needed, 3) I believe he doesn't need it.

Anyone else refused or gone against the advice of the care team? I'm just sick of hearing that formula is the answer to his weight problem. O feel like banging my head against the wall.

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VoldysGoneMouldy · 06/02/2014 22:10

It's bloody irritating. Stand your ground, sounds like both you and DS are doing great.

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FraggleRock77 · 06/02/2014 23:31

I agree. As soon as our DS started with regular top ups he got too used to instant milk from a bottle and basically became lazy at the breast but would guzzle a bottle. I wish I'd refused and held out with the BF. Sounds like you are both doing fantastically xxx

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RockCrushesLizard · 06/02/2014 23:41

So infuriating! I remember it well.

The obvious answer is the one you already arrived at, there's no need. If your baby needs more calories and nutrients, the sensible answer would be more breastfeeding surely?
Where the nutrients are easily digested and absorbed?

there are factors in bm specifically to help absorption of calcium, iron etc, that aren't in formula, which is why formula has higher levels of each- because lots of it doesn't get absorbed, and gets poo'd out!

Also, even if he did need extra food, as some preemies do, because BFing is hard work for tiny babies, they should be talking about a supplemental nursing system - basically a thin tube that you tape to your nipple, connected to a bottle. Then they get extra calories for their effort, your supply remains good and no nipple confusion issues.

There are so many stupid hurdles that stop mums BFing. Raar. Stand your ground!

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MultipleMama · 07/02/2014 00:05

We have one of the supplement feeding tubes we used to use it to give the twins medicine as they refused to take it any other way. DH even used it once to feed the twins bm when I was in hospital!

I've point blank told them that a bottle is out of the question and so is formula. I'm standing my ground but it's frustrating to repeat my answer over and over.

I honestly think he just has a high metabolism. Ds1 has a high metabolism and he fed like crazy as baby but was slow gaining weight.

So annoying.

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RockCrushesLizard · 07/02/2014 00:12

Good for you. Its ridiculous that you should have to repeat yourself so much.

If you have the energy, I might involve the PALS service, and make a complaint.

But you know you're doing the best you can for your son, and that's the main thing.

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MultipleMama · 07/02/2014 00:24

I'm in Germany so not sure they have a PALS serivce here but I will look into it.

  • off topic but can I just say I love your username! DH and I love TBBT :)
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RockCrushesLizard · 07/02/2014 01:16

Smile blush.
I wanted lizard poisons Spock, but there's another BBT fan on MN who's quicker than me!

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MultipleMama · 07/02/2014 01:24

I have t-shirt for ds' with the saying on it. Adorable.

I wonder if there are other MN with the name, we could place you all in order and read out the whole thing Grin

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Poppet45 · 07/02/2014 19:20

I got dd off top ups within a month by being bolshy and fighting bottles and four hour routines all I could. We used bm fortifier in hospital and out we syringed in hindmilk from my freezer stash and used some formula via an sns. But my dd might have fared better with some longterm formula. She was readmitted with a horrendous skin 'infection' that looked like a staph a bug was taking all the skin off her face and head. It turned out to be a life threatening zinc deficiency as she'd been on diuretics for congestive heart failure which are known to wash away 60% of zinc reserves and bm didnt have sufficient quantities to replenish her depleted reserves. I'll never know if my beligerence to bf harmed her. That said we bfd for two years and both loved it as a v hard won bond.

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FraggleRock77 · 08/02/2014 02:22

How are you getting on MMama? X

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MultipleMama · 08/02/2014 14:55

We're getting on well, DH had a word more like a rant at A's doctor and they've finally decided to focus on his feeds rather than introduce tops. We've also just found out he's allergic to latex as well iburofen.

I am allowed to take him for a walk around the hospital Monday with a nurse for company. They want to see how A reacts to new environments, if all goes well and he passes his car seat test, we can discharge him for the day :)

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