people ho know stuff about reflux - advice please

[Babyface179]

Hi, my HV thinks my 3 month old has got reflux. Suspicious symptoms have presented in the last two weeks. Can a baby suddenly develop reflux? I thought it was something that babies had from birth that got worse over time unless treated. Could she be right?? TIA x

 

[Cattia]

I am not sure, my DS certainly had it from very early on and it has got better as he has got older and also got treatment for it. What are the symptoms that made your HV think it could be this?

 

[Babyface179]

Hi, thanks for answering. He has suddenly started being sick a lot, sometimes immediately after a feed, sometimes hours after, sometimes the sick is curdled and smells rank. He has become very irritable and has started growling (was previously a pretty happy little boy, now its like living with an angry wasp). Sometimes he hates being laid on his back and ALWAYS hates being on his stomach or having pressure on his stomach. He sounds like a hot water bottle, all liquidy inside and he sounds like he has mucous down the back of his throat and needs a good cough. Finlly he has started banging his legs about big style at night in his cot. TBH I wasnt expecting the HV to say reflux and I don't want to go down the medication route unless necessary. Any thoughts?

 

[OmarsMum]

For how long has it been going hun? Did his poo change? are you Bfing or FFing?

 

[TennisGal]

That's odd, has he just developed these symptoms? Ally has reflux, and has just been diagnosed...she's just three weeks, and I'd say her symptoms started when she was about ten days. My HV and doctor have told me that as her digestive system matures, she will get better. She's currently on infant gaviscon, which seems to be helping somewhat...and we've a review meeting with the doctor next week to see if she needs ranitidine.
We also have been advised to let her sleep in her bouncy chair, as apparently it's 30 degrees, perfect angle for helping the acid stay down. We are going to get a wedge for her basket, though. That may be worth a try?

 

[Babyface179]

Its been going on about 2 weeks. His poo has changed now you mention it to a greeny colour (at least the last one was) and I am FF.

 

[TennisGal]

Have you changed his formula? I don't know too much about it, as I bf, but could be?

 

[raisin]

My LO has severe reflux which is now being treated by medication (Renitidine I think it's called). He did not have reflux from birth and it only really got bad around 6 weeks. We were eventually sent to see a pediatrician who said it's reflux. Symptoms included:

fussing at the breast while feeding
screaming if put down especially if laying on his back
crying/screaming while feeding
hiccups
being sick a lot and then crying after being sick
arching his back
body going stiff, red in the face, and flinging his arms about

Since taking the medication LO is like a changed baby.

 

[Natty_babez]

He could have a cows milk allergy hun. Alexa has these symptoms specially the flemmy throat and being sick she also bangs her legs about but don't think that has anything to do with her condition. Her poo was green and quite runny before she was diagnosed and she is now on Nutramigan milk and infant gaviscon in all her bottles. After a bottle how long does it take him to get grumpy ? Does he ever just scream like he's in pain ?

Xxx

 

[Babyface179]

Thanks raisin, interesting to know it can develop at some point after birth. My LO somtimes does all the things your LO does but not all the time. Maybe it is reflux.

 

[OmarsMum]

Sounds like a bug hun. reflux starts at an early age & it doesnt affect poo. try LF (lactose free) formula for 10 days, & offer him little cooled boiled water between feeds, keep him upright for 30 mins after feeds, & feed him while elevating his body. Massage his tummy with warm olive oil to ease the pain & reduce the gases after his bath & before bedtime. Press on his tummy 7 massage in circles, it helps.

Omar was suffering from reflux but it started at around 4 weeks, he was on special formula for reflux but he didnt need medication as it didnt affect his weight gain.

When he had a tummy bug at around 5.5 months he had symptoms similar to your Lo's. We were advised to switch to LF formula for 10-15 days as it's easier to digest & offer him cool boiled water to prevent dehydration.

Your Lo might also be teething & this is why he started to throw up. xx

 

[Babyface179]

Hi Natty babez, over the last couple of weeks he has been grumpy all the time tbh. He has never screamed in pain just grumbles 24/7 and properly cries sometimes when he is put on his back. At the beginning of FF (months ago) we struggled with lactose overload I think and switched to C&G comfort. We were prescribed Nutramigen as it is lactose free but we never used it as he seemed so much improved on the C&G. Food for thought though.

 

[MrsPoodle]

Callie has silent reflux, it came on when she was about 2 weeks old and she is on ranitidine and gaviscon... She would scream from feed to feed, arch her back, not bring her wind up, hiccup, cough... Gaviscon didn't work on it's own but once she had the ranitidine she was like a different baby! It's getting better now though, luckily.

 

[Babyface179]

Thanks OmarsMum, good advice I will try out. He did have his 2nd lot of injections on the Monday. On the Tuesday he was his same happy self. Wednesday we woke up to a totally different baby. Its been over a week now, if it is a bug it should pass soon I guess.

 

[raisin]

Thanks raisin, interesting to know it can develop at some point after birth. My LO somtimes does all the things your LO does but not all the time. Maybe it is reflux.

I forgot to mention I was also put on a dairy-free diet as they suspect LO has a dairy intolerance. We have an appointment at the hospital to see the allergy specialist in a few weeks so will find out more then.

All I know is that a few weeks ago my LO was grumpy and unhappy pretty much all of the time, then we got the medication, I went dairy free (I'm breastfeeding), and I also started co-sleeping. Maybe it was a combination of these 3 things that changed him but now is so much more settled and happy. Hope you find the cause for your LO's discomfort.

 

[Babyface179]

Thanks raisin and good luck with the specialist.

 

[michelle82]

Leo was diagnosed with reflux when he was 2 weeks old, we suspected it before that but that was when the doc prescribed him meds.

Your lo is also showing signs of a cows milk protein intolerance. I would discuss the possibility of that with your hv or gp xx

 

[AP]

I have to say reflux CAN crop up and come at any point, Alex didn't have it until 19 weeks (8 corrected) and I know someone else who's refluxing started at 3months.

 

[Cattia]

It actually sounds more like it could be a growth spurt. That would explain the green poo too, as when they eat loads they don't digest it properly and it can turn their poo green for a few days. There are two big growth spurts at around 12 and 16 weeks. The other thing is it could be teething. The extra saliva could cause the phlegm and green poo and could also be making him sick. Just a thought?