I spoke the the GI this week and they are not happy with Sam's weight gain so they want to increase his calories. I tried to concentrate his formula, but he did not tolerate it at all. He is not going to tolerate much more volume (currently takes 190cc 4 times a day). So they want me to add a 5th feed to his schedule. I have not idea how I am going to do this. Because he is on the pump for an hour each time he feeds, the only way to add a meal is at midnight!!!! I am allready sooo sleep deprived I can't imagine how I am going to do this. I am trying to function like a "normal" family and the 4 feeds a day was allowing us to finally go out and do things--I guess I should put this on the venting section because I really do not have a specific question--just sick of all this!!!!!!!!

Amanda, night feedings are my biggest fear! Is there really no other way? Can you increase his day feedings by 25% and spread them out a bit? It's such a catch 22 when they need more cals but can't tolerate extra volume or eat more often.

Will you be doing the midnight feed tonight? Can it at least be smaller so you don't have to stay up for an hour?

Becky, I am not going to do a midnight feed tonight. We have all been sick and I need all the sleep I can get to get rid of this cold. I did get Sam to 200cc today and he did OK with it. I am going to see if I can squeeze in some extra during the day.

Sam has not been sleeping well at night and I am not sure what is going on. He keeps scratching at his face. My ped thinks it may be allergies. He is on a med that dries him out, but his skin does not seem very dry to me--I thought that might be making him itch. We go to the ped on Mon and I think she will want to try Claritin or something of that nature. Feeding him at night will make it worse, so I am going to try and get creative this week.

Sorry to hear about the scratching. We're lucky that D's skin doesn't seem very sensitive though he does dry out in the winter.

You said in your first post that Sam's weight gain wasn't good enough, but he is gaining, right? So you wouldn't need to add an entire extra feed, right? Just a little extra might do the job? I'm glad Sam's handling the extra 10 per feed. Getting up for a night feed would kill me! Plus all the beeping of the pump would wake up D for sure!

I hope you are getting rest and feeling better! BTW, I got your thank you card. I'm glad to help!

Gosh I can relate to the dread of night feeds...Max was NG fed bolusly till he was almost six months old. We were feeding him every 3 hours round the clock and with his reflux we had to hold him upright during the feed. When we moved to the G tube and pump, we reduced the rate so he could be fed while sleeping in his bassinette but we still had to get up in the middle of the night to start the feed and then clean the bag etc....But adding an extra feed can really help with the weight gain...I don't know Sam's story - do you have a pump? can you do a long feed during the first part of the night? I don't know what else to say other than I've been there and it is rough...

Amanda,
I know that you dont like the idea of night feeds but can you do an all night feed. My son now is on the pump all night so that he can get his calories in. My other son also had night feeds with his day feeds. My son Bradon was unable to get his needs met throughout the day so the gi doc added night feed that ran at a slow rate throughout the night. I do hope that you are able to increase his feeds through the day so that you dont have to go to night. I do wish you luck.


Melanie