Reflux Help & Support Thread

[CeriB]

Hi ladies

I have had a long old read through this post and recognise some of Erins issues here but thought I would write them down and ask for opinions/advise!

The last few days, Erin has cried when laid down flat in either her basket (unless already fast asleep) or on the sofa - anywhere where she is flat really. She has also been possetting after every feed and has been sick once. She has started choking during feeds (I BF) and I have to stop and sit her upright so she can catch her breath before she starts crying and I put her back. Then last night, she started crying during and after feeds. She dribbles quite a lot too and seems to be in pain. I don't know if she actually is as most times when she starts crying I think she is in pain! She has also started coughing quite a bit.

I thought she just had bad wind/gas as she farts A LOT but rarely burps, so we have been giving her infacol and have now moved on to Gripe Water. Neither seem to be doing a lot.

Now that I have written it down, it doesn't seem as bad as other people's stories, but I wonder if it is something starting, IYKWIM.

Thanks for reading!

 

[happyface82]

Hi Ceri! It does sound that it might be reflux. If you are worried you should maybe go the doctor. I wouldn't wait until the symptoms get really bad. They all start like that

Try and keep her upright after feeds as much as possible and maybe slightly lift one side of her moses basket?

xxx

 

[KellyC75]

Thanks Fairie & Happyface82....

After having a bad day yesterday, she went & slept 2 blocks of 6 hours last nite

She seems pretty happy so far this morning too She has had 2 bottles now, with no problems

 

[KellyC75]

Hi ladies

I have had a long old read through this post and recognise some of Erins issues here but thought I would write them down and ask for opinions/advise!

The last few days, Erin has cried when laid down flat in either her basket (unless already fast asleep) or on the sofa - anywhere where she is flat really. She has also been possetting after every feed and has been sick once. She has started choking during feeds (I BF) and I have to stop and sit her upright so she can catch her breath before she starts crying and I put her back. Then last night, she started crying during and after feeds. She dribbles quite a lot too and seems to be in pain. I don't know if she actually is as most times when she starts crying I think she is in pain! She has also started coughing quite a bit.

I thought she just had bad wind/gas as she farts A LOT but rarely burps, so we have been giving her infacol and have now moved on to Gripe Water. Neither seem to be doing a lot.

Now that I have written it down, it doesn't seem as bad as other people's stories, but I wonder if it is something starting, IYKWIM.

Thanks for reading!

Hi

Your LO's symptoms sound like mine

I know reading other mums & babies experiences that our LO's arent suffering as bad, thankfully, I feel so bad for those mums & babies

But they are still suffering & an unhappy baby, makes for an unhappy mummy....Its awfull to see them in pain

I would suggest that you get an appointment with your Doctor for tommorow, also mayby ring your health visitor, thats what I did & it really helped just to know what is wrong

Good luck

 

[Farie]

CeriB, best rake her to the Dr to be sure, no point in her suffering longer than necessary

Crap night, she took her dream feed well, 3oz but has only gone 2 and a bit hours, woke, screamed for food and then powerchucked before falling asleep again. I'm sure it's the reflux but the bottles seem to be making it worse. We use MAMs ultivents and don't have a problem if she's calm, bit if she's not she's gulps and gurgles and the feeding doesn't sound smooth at all ... Seriously considering Dr Brown bottles

Opinions please, will they help?

 

[KellyC75]

I'm sure it's the reflux but the bottles seem to be making it worse. We use MAMs ultivents and don't have a problem if she's calm, bit if she's not she's gulps and gurgles and the feeding doesn't sound smooth at all ... Seriously considering Dr Brown bottles

Opinions please, will they help?

I use DrBrowns & tbh, if shes having a bad patch of reflux, they dont help...Nothing does So may be the same for your LO & the bottles you currently have

It took me, buying a mam bottle to try...To realise that she is just as happy with her Dr Browns ones & as I had bought alot of them, im sticking with them
I do think they are good & I saw them 'promoted' on a reflux website the other day too

 

[2016]

We are on 1.5mg Domperidone 4x a day. LO is 9 weeks.

I thought Omeprazole and Losec were the same thing...

Well the vaccinations didn't go well on Friday. He was a but upset at the time but settled. Then spiked a fever and screamed awfully which Calpol sorted. He was quite tired yesterday and kept wanting to feed but never took much. Today he continued to eat very little (you must understand LO has always been a very good eater). I also noticed he had less wet nappies which again is strange as he normally pees loads. He hasn't slept peacefully all day and has been grizzly. At about 4pm he started to scream louder than I've ever heard him and he is still screaming 6 hours later.
We are at the local medical centre now waiting to be seen. He's of course now fallen asleep in his carseat! but I'm sure he's not right to cry like that.

 

[happyface82]

Oh dear I'm sorry he has not been well! You did the right thing to take him to the medical centre. I hope you get seen soon and get to go home so her can rest properly. Let us know how you get on!

 

[LaurenW]

Hi girls, I hope you don't mind me gatecrashing. I haven't had time to read through all of the posts but basically my LO has been crying or sleeping continuously since Friday afternoon - I'm at my wits end!

We went to A&E on saturday but they couldn't find anything wrong with him, went back to the hospital on sunday morning to see the GP and he said it could be silent reflux (he's not being sick) and prescribed Gaviscon. We've been giving it to him after every feed but i'm not really sure if it's working! I gave it to him half hour ago and he has just calmed down but is still whining.

Should gaviscon work immediately? Also if it is silent reflux would it be affecting him 24 hours a day?? I would have thought there would be a bit of let up.

Basically for three days he has woken up (every 1.5/2 hours), fed, screamed (back arching, knees up, arms flailing) and fell back to sleep! He doesn't usually sleep very much during the day but then he is up most of the night so is obviously tired.

Does this sound like silent reflux to you girls?

thx

 

[happyface82]

Hi Lauren! The crying and arching of back is definitely a sign of reflux. But is this that suddenly appeared since Friday? Did he ever seem uncomfortable before that? Is he refusing to feed at all?

If not, then I doubt that he suddenly within a day developed silent reflux that affects him 24 hours a day? I'm not sure if you get my point. I am not expert but there seems to be a gradual process into the severity of reflux I think?

Also, if it is reflux, I was told that Gaviscon works instantly, however if his reflux is bad it might be that he needs something stronger. In the mean time maybe you can give him some calpol at night so that he gets some decent sleep?

Could he also be teething? Some people say their babies arch their backs when they are teething?

Xxx

 

[happyface82]

Farie I am not sure about Dr Browns bottles helping reflux. I am thinking they would probably be worth a try. If they eliminate air intake it can only be good right? Maybe get one and see how you get on? They are quite expensive!

 

[LaurenW]

Happyface, we've never had a problem before and he is 5.5 months now! Yes, it just started suddenly on Friday.

We wasn't feeding much yesterday but last night and this morning he has had a couple of decent feeds (i'm bf so had to know how much).

I'm keeping him upright while feeding and 20 mins after and giving gaviscon immediately afterwards but he is clearly in a lot of pain.

Thankfully OH is home from work otherwise I don't know how I would cope. This is hard!

 

[LaurenW]

We have given calpol a couple of times which helps him sleeps but he is not sleeping for longer than 2 hours. We were up most of the night last night. This really doesn't seem right.

 

[2016]

Oh dear I'm sorry he has not been well! You did the right thing to take him to the medical centre. I hope you get seen soon and get to go home so her can rest properly. Let us know how you get on!

Well after almost 6 hours of constant crying, he fell asleep on the way to the medical centre and stayed asleep the whole time we were there. Of course this meant the doctor wasn't concerned but checked him over anyway (which was reassuring at least). Got him home and he woke up and started crying again! Managed to soothe him this time but I had such an unsettled night with him cuddled in my arms whimpering it broke my heart. He seems a bit better today but we are both exhausted from the whole episode.
He was very sick this morning and projectiled everywhere. I don't want to believe his new meds aren't working. It has to just be the vaccs.

Will catch up more on posts later but have to sleep now for my own sanity!

 

[happyface82]

I am afraid I would have to agree with you. If you think this doesn't feel right take him to the doctor again. I'm surprised it has suddenly come up like that. Could it be an ear infection? Did he have acold at all? Katerina had an ear infection a few weeks back and she tended to arch her back, it was just a sign of her being in pain!

I am sorry I'm not sure what else to recommend. .

 

[happyface82]

2016 I'm really sorry about this. It sucks You are probably right It must be an effect from the vaccinations! Take a nap when you can I can imagine you've had a terrible time!

 

[HelenFS]

Lauren W - my little girl started with silent reflux at 3 weeks and it gradually built up. This was timed with an increase in the amount of milk she started taking. I would say it peaked between 6-8 weeks and now she is a little more settled due to meds. Have you started feeding for longer? Reflux babies do arch and scream so that sounds familiar but usually straighten out their legs and go rigid. Does your lo gulp? Can you hear anything gurgling? Gaviscon didn't work at all for my lo. It can actually make silent reflux worse as it is thicker so when if it comes up then it hangs around so burns for longer.

2016 - How awful for you. Make sure you go back to the medical centre if he continues to be upset. You must be exhausted. I do hope that the domp keeps working for you.

Happyface - How are you and your lo?

Farie - I use Dr Browns - not sure if they help with reflux but Freya definitely brings wind up easier. How are you getting on?

Stardust - How are you? Hope you are still feeling good.

I'm hoping that the losec is starting to work. We've had a couple of days of her being a little bit happier. She is in her moses basket now napping for the second time today - this is unheard of as she always has to sleep on me during the day. I've even managed some free time as they've both napped at the same time! Even 30 mins is amazing!
Thank you so much to those who reassured me about Noah. I've spent a lot more time with him on an evening and I feel much happier

 

[AP]

Massive hugs Helen. That sounds like a step forward, even if it's just for a few mins.
We're still trying to get Losec back into her system. I'm not buying yet another new rug!
It's really affecting weaning. She's 16months corrected but still struggles and gags sometimes on larger foods. Of course this brings up everything. :/
Whether or not reflux made her weight suffer I don't know.

We still have to give her high calorie foods. So basically everything you're told isn't healthy. dieticians orders. Lol.

I am worried about going out and about if new baby has reflux too (please no). For those that have projectile reflux in their babies, what's your must haves when you are out and about?

I've forgotten how we got around with Alex tbh. We take clothes, towels and those bibs with the bits at the bottom to collect anything now , but I can't remember how on earth we managed with the projectile milk!

 

[SilasLove]

Madelyn had a bad day yesterday, and today it has been on and off. Its day like those that I start to wish things were just different. My ds has an appt with out doctor today and I am going to try and talk to her about Madelyn to see if she can write a prescription (if she will!). I feel as if that is our only option now as I hate when she is uncomfortable.

 

[2016]

Sb22...my must haves for being out with a projectile prince are:
wet wipes!
2 or 3 muslins
2 changed of clothes for LO
Tissues (if he only wets his clothes a bit I slip a folded tissue under his sleepsuit/vest against his skin so he doesn't get wet while the fabric dries
Giant pullover towelling bibs from babyreflux.com
Gaviscon premixed and ready to squirt in with a syringe as soon as feeding is over.

Depending on where we are going and for how long I often put a change of clothes for me in the car too.

Afm...we nearly had a wobble last night still from the vacs but I managed to preempt a 6 hour scream by giving calpol at the first sign of flushed cheeks. He's still spitting up mire and it's curdy and yuk. Am still confident the Domp/Gav combo
is working well.