Patient's question:
My baby has been 52 days old, and feeding has always been a problem. They don't directly breastfeed but use a bottle. It looks like they're eating, but they swallow very little and leak a lot—most of it leaks out. So, feeding takes a very long time. Later, the hospital suggested spoon-feeding. Since day 24, they've been mostly spoon-fed, eating 5-6 meals a day—two with breast milk and the rest with formula, about 140 ML each time. About 100 ML seems to make it into their stomach. For water, they still use a bottle and leak a lot, but spoon-feeding leaks less. Occasionally, they don't leak when using a bottle. Recently, from 6 PM to 11 PM, dinner has been especially difficult to feed. Whether using a spoon or a bottle, they leak a lot. During feeding, they either fall asleep while being fed or get fussy while eating. They won't truly take a nap unless they're well-fed. Their daytime eating is normal. The feeding problem is very serious—every month, they haven't gained weight but have lost 6 ounces. After switching to spoon-feeding, they've gained only one or two pounds. By the way, should I be giving probiotics?Doctor's answer:
From the situation you described, the baby does not directly breastfeed but uses bottles and the like. In this case, it may be that the baby has already started using a bottle and is not accustomed to breastfeeding. Don't be too anxious—babies need a recovery period. Additionally, it could be a phase of milk aversion. Many babies experience a milk aversion phase before the age of three. You can give the baby some zinc gluconate appropriately, and the baby will improve as they grow. Wishing the baby healthy growth.