Another Change

McKenna's retching continue to increase and so does our stress. We are fed up with the episodes and feel completely helpless when it comes to resolving this for McKenna. We want answers and can't seem to get any from doctors or research. And the only answer that does seem to continue to show up is slow down the feeds, decrease the quantity.

So with her retching nearly doubling over the past few weeks, today I caved in and have agreed to slow down her feeds so it will take an hour for her to receive full feed. It is really hard for me to do that and makes me so sad, but every time she retches I just want to cry, so willing to slow it down if this could possibly help.

I am not caving in altogether though. While I did slow down the feed I increased the quantity. She was getting 160 ml at 280 ml/hr three times a day with a six hour night feed of 210 ml. In an attempt to help her feel and understand hunger our goal is to eliminate the night feed completely. So today while changing it to an hour long feed I increased the quantity to 200 ml she will get at 220 ml/hr three times a day with a 10 pm feed of 120 ml over about 45 minutes. So she should be completely done with her night feed by 11 pm. I am anxious and nervous to try this. Hopeful this will increase appetite and help get her going on eating, but a little fearful as it is always scary to try something new.

If nothing else, we are hoping that the cord not sticking in her belly all night will help her sleep better. McKenna still is not sleeping well and that is such a crucial part of development...good sleep.