Sids & reflux

[amymcl86]

I have just found out my baby has reflux, he vomits for a few hours after each feed, and occasionally choks! Hes only breastfed. I sleep him on his tummy because he just doesnt sleep on his back and i have tried so many times but he just startles and wakes him self up after a few minutes! Now he hasnt always had reflux, and hes only 10 weeks old so i dont no why hes only getting it now (as everything ive read about babies having it, say its because of a week muscle in the esophagus). So if this is the case why has he only just got it In the last few weekS? why hasnt he always had it? Now im super worried about him vomiting in his sleep (which he does do) and choking on it. The doc has said its unlikly, but i just want to hear others opinions on this? Has anyone got a bubby with reflux who sleeps on their belly?

 

[AP]

First of all, massive hugs.

MY LO was 8 weeks corrected age (so 20 weeks actual age) when she began to have the symptoms of reflux. She never had it right away either.
She had the tendency of turning to the side when she was sick, and I was so tuned in at night I could hear her chucking up a fountain of milk next to me in her basket, so i was up right away. She never choked however - ever, she might have got a fright and perhaps got into a panic but i dont remember a time where we had severe problems. She had reflux for years (which is rare, dont panic!) and with a change of milk and some meds it eased a little. Also wedging the cot up to an angle helped. I know some ladies put their babies on their tummys, but for me personally I was not comfortable with this. Dummies help too, I know some people are against them but they do help reflux babies and also SIDS

Will the doctor prescribe some meds for your LO. You can use Gaviscon(Infant) even if you are breastfeeding.

 

[xdxxtx]

My son started showing symptoms of reflux at around 6 weeks old... He's 7 months old and still has it if he's given formula, so he's been fully weaned since the day he turned 17 weeks old. I placed him on his back to sleep, no matter what, but since he was 6 weeks old he would roll himself onto his side or tummy. My son has also vomited in his sleep many times. I would hear him cough and choke on it, and then he'd spit it out and go on with his rest. It would probably be worth it for your peace of mind to get a movement monitor. ANGELCARE makes one that I have, and it's awesome. I can sleep through the night, knowing that if something happened, it would beep and wake me up so I could get to my son fast enough to save him.

 

[NellyLou]

Do you swaddle your lo? That usually helps with th startle reflex. I know some people are ok with their babies sleeping on their tummies, but I would try swaddling and see if that helps the back sleeping first.

 

[luvmy3boys]

my lo has reflux. he was diagnosed at 5 weeks after two choking incidents that resulted in trips to the hospital. he is on gaviscon and we raised the head of the bed and i hold him for 30 minutes after his feeds so he is sitting up (he sttn but before this i did hold him during the night for 30 minutes also after a feed). he hasn't had any choking incidents at all after we started gaviscon and raised the bed. he is 15 weeks now and it is soo much better.

 

[SafeSleepBaby]

You should follow the advice of your doctor. But, the American Academy of Pediatric Gastroentonologists recommends that babies with reflux sleep on their BACKS. Back sleeping is actually safer because baby is LESS likely to spit up. There is no pressure on his tummy and he will have his face clear if he does spit up.

Structurely, when a baby is on his tummy, the vomit has to pass across the babies airway to leave the mouth. It is a widespread wives tale that babies are more likely to choke on their backs.

The sound you hear is usually a healthy baby gagging (a normal response). It sounds scary sometimes.

Back sleeping is a learned behavior. Try swaddling for a short time. Good luck.

 

[SabrinaKat]

Hi,

My LO has some reflux problems as well, and I strongly recommend swaddling, which helps with kicking legs; now, as we are moving him into his cot, we started using sleeping bags, which are a bit safer than blankets (we used a blanket and cellular blanket around his legs, waist, which was fine in a moses basket, but not in a big crib). In our case, however, LO hates to be on his tummy, so we didn't have the issue of tummy sleeping, but perhaps getting a monitor might reassure you?

Also, the reason that it is recommended that babies NOT sleep on their tummies is that the sleep may be too good, e.g. a deeper sleep and thus, harder for LOs to 'wake up' if in difficulty; when it was recommended in the US to put LOs on their back, the risk of SIDS decreased by half. Can you speak to your paeditrician regarding safe alternatives, etc?

I do understand your worries regarding being sick and getting LO to sleep, but even a propped pillow (under the sheet/mattress) might help your LO feel more comfortable; my LO still now is sometimes sick, but as he sleeps right next to me, I can (and have) woken up to check on him...

best wishes

 

[BlueHadeda]

I would hate to scare anyone with our experience, but if it can help any baby, then it's worth it.

My 2nd baby stopped breathing in her sleep for the first time when she was 2 months old. She was fortunately sleeping on the breathing monitor (Angelcare) which woke me up. After the first time, it happened again and again and again. Her pead could never say why, but told me to never let her sleep any place other than on her breathing monitor. It would woke me up every time my baby stopped breathing. Every time I picked baby up, she would start breathing again.

My first baby slept on his sides as that was what was recommended at the time. My 2nd baby (the one that stopped breathing) always slept on her back, because when she was born, the medical community started recommending that babies should sleep on their backs. Stupidly, I complied and kept my baby on her back all through the time she stopped breathing.

When she was 18 months old, I was diagnosed with GERD (reflux). At the same time, her 4-year old brother was also diagnosed, so I asked the gastro-enterologist if that could possibly be my 18-month old daughter's problem. He tested her, and lo and behold, her reflux count was sky high!! She was put on medication, and has never stopped breathing again.

Since then, my 3rd and now my 4th babies are all put down on their sides to sleep. My 4th baby throws up allot in her sleep. I would never, ever put her on her back to sleep.

I myself has in the meantime come to realise that I can't sleep on my back when I'm not on my reflux medication. I wake up choking!! I never realised that it was because I have reflux. Me and my oldest 3 children all get silent reflux, meaning we don't throw up at all. Not easily, in any case.

This is our story, I know it's different from what the "experts" recommend. But I guess my little family isn't the usual average reflux people. I dread to think what would've happened to my 2nd baby if she wasn't sleeping on the breathing monitor.

 

[swood9]

My son was also diagnosed with GERD after a few scary choking spells that landed us in the hospital. He sleeps in a Danny sling now and I prop him up on his side for fear of choking in his sleep. It's awesome. he sleeps at a 30 degree angle and on his side but since he is in his sling he doesn't roll onto his face and if he does spit up, he can clear it out easily. I still struggle leaving him be while he's sleeping, but our video monitor and the danny sling (as well as his zantac) have really improved our lives.

 

[swood9]

Also want to add that an added bonus of the sling is that it's safe to use blankets at night.