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What Causes Low Appetite In A 4 Month Old?

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Posted on Fri, 9 Dec 2016
Question: My 4 months old daughter is feeding for lesser time than ever over the past 1 week.
My breasts are always full since last week. Yesterday I pumped about 150ml just from one breast since I was so uncomfortable. She feeds for like 5 minutes and then thats it for a couple of hours or sometimes upto 4 hours. I am still changing 5 to 6 wet diapers a day and she has 1 or 2 liquidy poops per day. Logic tells me that she might be getting enough milk otherwise she would cry if hungry. She is active enough, sleeps for at least 14 hours a day and has gained 300gms in past 11 days. But her feeding over the past week is not the norm. She used to nurse for at least 20 min for most feedings till last week. She weighs 5.9 kgs at 4 months. She was an IUGR baby and weighed 1.96kg only at birth. Today i hardly nursed her 4 times over the course of 16 hours. And the total nursing minutes could not have exceeded 25 minutes. Please tell me if its okay for her to have this sudden loss of appetite.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
No need to worry

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

I have gone carefully through your query. The feed seems proper and I do not think that there is diminution f appetite. Overall growth seems fine. No need to worry.

Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Diptanshu Das (17 hours later)
Thank you for your reply Doctor.
Is it normal for babies to suddenly change the feeding pattern like this?
Today also she has barely nursed for 24 min altogether in over 10 hours. She has slept for 5 and a half hours in these 10 hours which is also more than usual.
Also I forgot to mention in my original question that since the past 3 days she makes a straining sound for some time before finally pooping. These are not her normal patterns. She has never strained to poop before this and she always feeds for at least 15 min at each feeding.
This is why i am worried. That her patterns have changed and the feeding time has drastically reduced and sleeping time has increased.
Any reason why this is happening? Kindly advise Doctor.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Diptanshu Das (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Clinical evaluation needed

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. A clinical evaluation is necessary. The child could be lethargic. This is not normal. Please visit a doctor and get her assessed.

I would not be bothered about the straining if the child is exclusively breastfed. Your doctor would be able to suggest if glycerine suppositories would help.

Regards
Note: For further queries related to your child health, Talk to a Pediatrician. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Diptanshu Das

Pediatrician

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 3877 Questions

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What Causes Low Appetite In A 4 Month Old?

Brief Answer: No need to worry Detailed Answer: Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic. I have gone carefully through your query. The feed seems proper and I do not think that there is diminution f appetite. Overall growth seems fine. No need to worry. Regards