Confused by HV advice for reflux - please help

[daisydaisy83]

My LO developed Colic symptoms early on she really struggled with her wind until we put her on Dentinox. She has since developed reflux and has been arching her back and crying during feeds, then being sick loads in between.

The HV prescribed Gaviscon, though this meant we had to cut out the Dentinox. She has been on this now for 48 hours and her evening and night feeds are now perfect - no sickness or crying (though she is thrashing around in her sleep) at all. During the day is a different story, although the sickness is gone she screams in pain after her bottle arching her back and can't be settled at all for the day. She doesn't seem at all happy with the milk being thicker and won't take as much.

HV now says I can either start using comfort milk with gaviscon or wait and be put on a list to see a paediatrician. I'm confused now as to what the problem really is as comfort milk is for colic not reflux, and the two together will make her milk super thick.

I just can't bear to see her in so much pain Does anyone have any suggestions or advice?

 

[xLaura]

How about trying sma stay down milk for the reflux and keep the dentinox (I'd double check you can use them both ano we can use infacol) however I'd prob giv it abit longer to see If it improves any cause might take time to take full effect, save having to disrupt your babies milk again. Goodluk ano how hard and hopefully you feeling seeing your baby in pain and distress x

 

[Ktothema]

Comfort milk can sometimes help reflux babies as its thicker and easier to digest but i really wouldn't then add gaviscon without talking to a proper medical person. Go see your gp. It may be your lo needs an anti acid as well as gaviscon. GPS are perfectly able to treat reflux without paediatrician visits, which shouldn't be needed unless GPS can't control it.

Like pp says, try for a bit longer as the change may have upset your lo a bit and also gaviscon can bung babies up a bit.

Wind treatments make reflux worse as they add to bringing up stomach contents so probably best to avoid. Dr browns are very good anti wind bottles.

 

[daisydaisy83]

I've been thinking hard about this since posting and it seems to me health visitors are very quick to recommend medicines for babies without proper diagnosis. I don't know whether my daughter has colic or reflux or both but what I do know is she was in more pain with the gaviscon than without. I just now fed her the plain formula and yes she was a little sick and wind but she wasn't inconsolable and was smiling before long at all.

I guess I'll see how she goes and trust my instinct before disrupting her with more meds and formula changes...

 

[MrsButterfly]

We tried gaviscon but it constipated my lo a lot and that was worse than the reflux so we stopped it too. I do know that you shouldn't add gaviscon to an already thickened milk like comfort milk so pretty sure your HV was wrong to suggest that.

My lo has always been a happy chucker and we are still suffering now at 9 months. I'm now wondering if my lo has a slight milk protein intolerance so I am going to ask for a paediatrician referral.

I've found it really hard to know who I'm meant to ask about issues - HV or GP - but ultimately neither have been very helpful so far. My advice would be to trust your gut instinct with these things which it sounds like you're already doing. If your lo continues to be in pain maybe try your GP as there are different medications that can be given if your lo has reflux.

After 12 weeks my lo improved so much - the painful wind seemed to dissipate and he was much happier. Hopefully your lo will be the same

 

[Becks2]

I feel your pain, we have been around the houses with our daughter....

She was showing signs of colic and being sick etc, so we tried infacol, detinox and gripe water. Nothing helped... Gaviscon stopped most of the sickness but not the crying in pain. we have tried ranitidine which didn't help and am now trying omeprazole, just hope this helps... we also tried different milks, SMA comfort and prescription Neocate which made no difference either..

~You know your baby best - trust your instincts and ensure the HV/GP help you.