Gaviscon and Reflux help!

[CharlieP]

Hi all

Can anyone with a reflux baby help me?

My LO was diagnosed with reflux today - she is basically sick allll the time and cries in pain during and after a feed. She will projectile vomit after a feed and sometimes even in her sleep!

The GP prescribed infant gaviscon today which I have been giving her. The first one I tried to give after her feed but she wouldn't take it a) it was mixed with water and b) she was full after her feed.

so for the next 2 I gave it to her before her feed, mixed with expressed breastmilk and given in a bottle. She was happy to drink it but it doesn't seem to have made any difference - she is currently crying her little heart out and you can tell she's in pain.

Should gaviscon work immediately in your experience so does it take a few doses to become effective?

She seems to be getting worse the older she gets rather than better :O(

I do the usual stuff - little and often, propping her up etc.

x

 

[bathbabe]

Gaviscon thickens the milk, it doesnt stop the acid.

I suggest going back and asking for something to help with the acid x

 

[Murray]

I think it took a few days to notice a slight difference. It didn't go completely. We are also on ranitidine which I thick is an acid retainer whereas the gaviscon thickens the milk which helps it stay down. I'd also suggest hungry milk, as it is a thicker formula.

Hope it gets better soon! x

 

[charlotteb24]

sounds like you need something that is more for the pain from the stomac acid.. infant gaviscon didnt work with my son' silent reflux either, a change in forumla did but as you are breast feeding thats not going to work for you! there are meds they can give which help to neutrilize the stomach acid and stuff so well worth going back again xx

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks Bathbabe... Do you know what else she could be prescribed that is specifically for acid?

 

[bathbabe]

yep, ranitidine reduces the acid being produced and there are others too, but thats the one harrison has x

 

[vicky31]

Hi my wee boy was diagnosed with reflux and given gaviscon, it took about 24-48 hours to start working but it made him badly constipated which is seemingly quite common so we got another thickener from the deitician called carobel and that was much better, as the other girls said the thickener only helps keep the milk down, you need something else for the acid, my wee boy also gets 1ml of ranitidine 3 times a days and the combination seems to be doing the trick.

Hope it gets better for you'se soon x

 

[CharlieP]

Thanks everyone - I think I will see how she goes for 2 days, write everything down and if she gets no better I'll take her back and ask for ranitidine.

 

[supertabby]

It can take a little time to work, also many mums of reflux babies find medication helps but isn't a complete cure. Usually only time completely clears it. Isobel is sick much less now she is on gaviscon but is still frequently sick (just less of it and she isn't sick in her sleep anymore).

Isobel is on:

*infant gaviscon with every feed, this forms a gel in the stomach making it harder for the milk to rise back up again
*domperidone four times a day in a syringe, this helps the milk digest faster as the gaviscon can make the tummy feel heavy and full
*omeprazole (also called losec) once a day, this is for irritation caused by acid rising when sick or sometimes they get acid rising without sick too. Sounds like your Lo might benefit from this

I've found that I can spot the signs she's got acid rising now - she gets bubbles on her mouth and/or pulls faces with her mouth like she's got a bad taste.

Good luck! Reflux babies aren't easy bless them, we own 45 muslins lol! But while it can go on longer, most grow out of it around 4 to 6 months, and weaning helps too (Isobel's consultant said slightly early weaning, eg, 5 months, might help but I won't do this unless we really need to).

 

[CharlieP]

My GP said that if she isn't better at 12 weeks I should start giving her baby rice... I dont think I'll be doing this!

 

[bathbabe]

My GP said that if she isn't better at 12 weeks I should start giving her baby rice... I dont think I'll be doing this!

Harrison projectile vomited till about 9months (but is still sick now just not projectile) and we didnt do any early weaning so it proves that early weaning wouldnt of had any positive effects for him since weaning didnt help x