As most of you know, Bethany likes food about as much as cats like dogs. *lol* We have been working with feeding specialists who have told us to distract her in order to get her to eat. Dh and I are exhausted by all of this--first, we were introducing new and exciting toys at mealtimes and for a few days, this worked. She'd play with the toy and we'd get a few bites of food in. After that, though, she started throwing the toys on the floor and refusing to eat.

We then tried television. Again, worked for a few days, now it doesn't. She just sits like a zombie staring at the screen and refuses to part her lips. We started dancing around and tickling her. Worked for 3 bites at one meal this weekend. Now, no response.

We've also noticed that the past few days, when we can get a spoonful or two into her mouth, she just holds it there and won't swallow. She then either gags on it or lets it flow back out of her lips. She is now doing the same with fluids in the sippy cup (when we can get her to take a sip). She still nurses often (especially at night...all night long!) and has no trouble swallowing breastmilk.

She has begun making sounds like low growls or throat-clearing and has been sticking her fingers down her throat. She is also fighting us more and more in the high chair...

I haven't noticed any more reflux than usual and I can't think of anything that might be causing this. I spoke with the NP, who told me that we "Just need to keep trying".

Anyone else have this happen? If so, what did you do?

I wonder if Bethany wouldn't be a good candidate for the scope or some other testing. Maybe she's not eating for a reason other than the aversion. I don't know, Mary, but I feel so bad that she is dealing with this. Can her meds be switced or increased?

Noah sticks his fingers down his throat, also, and I never know if its an accident or what. It is wierd, though, and he sometimes makes himself puke...

We went through a small stage of Cady putting her fingers down her throat, but she was much younger than Bethany. That was months ago. I would see about getting in to see a GI ASAP if you haven't already seen one. Like Maggie said, she may be a good candidate for a scope, maybe her esophogus is enflamed and that's why she doesn't want food. Breastmilk is naturally soothing to many reflux babies. It was for Cady when we were BF-ing a long time ago. She'd spend hours upon hours at the breast...this was before she was put on meds.

Or it could just be behavior, too. We'd see the same thing with Daniel when trying a new cup, food, or technique. It would work (sort of) for a few days, then we'd have to find something new. Our feeding spec encouraged "novelty" when it came to feeding D, but my argument was that he needed to learn to eat without all the bells and whistles, dances, and TV shows. I only had so many ideas.

We're having a similar problem with our 5.5 month old! We've tried so many distractions and running out of ideas. She's not eating that much more, actually less lately, and we are just getting pooped out. For the past 2 weeks, she has started to refuse swallowing! She'll drink an ounce or so, then if we try to syringe her any more, she just holds it in her mouth...and then gags on it or lets it dribble out.

She's only taking 14-15 oz of formula a day now.

Any suggestions on what to do?

Oh Mary.. how tiring for you and DH. We were a fan of distraction for Matthew during the 4x bottles/day stage but I guess we were very lucky because watching the Wiggles on DVD alwys worked for us. He still is not drinking from the sippy cup and does the whole "swallow it in, spit it out like a fountain" trick. :roll:
I'm not sure what else to suggest.. does her holding a spoon help??? I know with Matthew that he eats better if he "thinks" he's feeding himself.
It's a tiring game huh?! :roll: (((HUGS)))

I, too, am anxious to get to the GI, as I wonder if there's something else going on. Even if this is behavioral, it would be nice to completely rule anything else out.

I feel strongly that she needs to eat without all the distractions, but the behaviorist disagrees with me. *sigh* I'm not sure whether this is a battle I should fight or not. My gut tells me that this is not all just behavioral, but I don't want to be the Nervous-Nellie-Hypochondriac Mommy, either.
:shock:

Thanks so much for all of your thoughts--you guys have no idea how helpful you really are!!! :)

Mary

I thought of you guys when I was feeding Noah tonight. When he is completely uninterested, I sometimes just start doing dishes and let him play in his highchair, and then randomly I stick a spoon full up to his mouth and he usually takes it. It sometimes even works best if I'm not right in front of him. I've given him spoonfuls from the side and he doesn't even pay attention to me...just keeps playing and takes a bite. Now, this is coming from another mom struggling to get her child to eat so my advice might not be the best, but if you haven't tried this, you might. Good luck, and keep us updated on any progress.

Oh yeah, Mary, I'm not convinced that D's problems are totally behavioral either. He's doing much better than before, but he still has this point on his tongue that, when food hits it, he gags and more than likely vomits. So is that a problem with his swallow?

Oh yeah, Mary, I'm not convinced that D's problems are totally behavioral either. He's doing much better than before, but he still has this point on his tongue that, when food hits it, he gags and more than likely vomits. So is that a problem with his swallow?

I think you've just highlighted my very frustration--when we first went to the feeding/swallowing ctr, a speech path/feeding specialist watched me feed her 3 bites of stage 1 baby food through a 2-way mirror, then pronounced her oral motor skills as "right on target". She was not there at any other point to watch Bethany gag or hold food in her mouth/spit it out. (It didn't help that this was the one day in her life that Bethany decided to eat the entire jar without complaint!)

I know she is capable of chewing/swallowing; however, for the most part, she won't do it. I'm not sure if she's experiencing pain (esophagitis?) or if it's difficult for her to swallow thickened foods, or simply stubborn--or, perhaps, a combination of the 3.

I loved your advice a few weeks ago re: not throwing in the towel and thinking if non-eating days as "bad" days and I'm starting to be okay with her not eating. However, I'm starting to become upset at being told to "just hang in there" or to "just keep trying distractions" and I'm beginning to wonder if something else is going on here... Bethany is losing weight and she's not sleeping. I don't think "just hanging in there" is helping! *feeble laugh*

I don't want to be the Nervous-Nellie-Hypochondriac Mommy, either.
Ohhhh come on now, Mary! Join the club! I could use some company here! LoL
I had to chuckle at picturing you and DH performing a musical around the highchair for little beth. Although truely I know it has to be sooo frustrating and I totally sympathize for you.
One thing for sure is thank GOODNESS you are still nursing and she is at LEAST getting that down the pipe, eh??
I can't really help you w/the issues as I have not experienced those w/zac but I wanted to just add that I do agree w/what the other ladies have said as far as getting to that darn "GI" ASAP. Seems like some sort of aversion due to possible pain in the esophogus perhaps??? I really don't know and wish I could offer more advice. I just really hope that you get something figured out so she learns to enjoy food and eats for you.

Mary, our doctors and therapists have told me that there can't be a problem with D's swallow because he has swallowed solids -- a few cheerios way back in May when he'd been on antibiotics forever for the ear infection that wouldn't quit and he had major diarrhea and he was starving. For them, that is proof enough. Apparently, it's cut and dry -- either they can or they can't. But I still worry there's a gray area. What if those cheerios went down the side of his mouth and food hitting the back middle of his tongue makes him gag. Anyway, they will admit his behavior is rooted in physical causes.

I'm agreeing with Becky on the behavioral aversion due to physical pain. That's kind of the same situation we're in with bottles. :(

Anyway, they will admit his behavior is rooted in physical causes.

Exactly why I'm concerned--I do know that the behavior stems from the physical issues; however, I'm not sure we've fully dealt with them. As much as I don't want to put this kid through anything invasive, I feel like we're sort of taking stabs in the dark. The NP thinks Bethany may have DGE and she wonders if there may be esophagitis and she says there might be a food allergy causing mucous-y stools; however, nothing has been done to rule these out. (In all fairness, the NP has been so good about calling me regularly to check in and see how things are going. My anger is more that we're not being proactive, not that she's ignoring me!)

BTW--see my newest post in the Updates section! We're seeing the GI TOMORROW!!!
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You might want to ask about a swallow study. D had one in August 2004, and he swallowed liquids just fine. I'd push for another one now, but how could they tell if his swallow is normal if he won't swallow?????

You might want to ask about a swallow study. D had one in August 2004, and he swallowed liquids just fine. I'd push for another one now, but how could they tell if his swallow is normal if he won't swallow?????

Thanks for the info--and you're right...how can they tell all this when the kids won't eat/swallow?

What all is involved in the swallow study? Is it all or nothing--I mean, do they just tell you the obvious (the kids swallows or doesn't), or is it more of an in-depth test that tells more of the subtleties of what's going on with swallowing?

They had D sit in a high chair in front of a screen, then he drank (or they forced) a few ounces of barium, and the ST and doc watched it go down the hatch. I don't know exactly what they were looking for, but they said everything was working normally. I think they were watching the way his tongue moved and, I'm sure, other stuff. :oops:

Oh, so the swallow study is the same thing as the Barium Swallow? :oops:

I honestly thought they were two different things. :oops: :oops: :oops:

And I thought the barium swallow was the same as the upper GI. I wish docs would pick one name and stick with it. So she's already done this?