Possible reflux?? Ways to ease it?

[ratbagcatbag]

Hiya

Got a dd who's four weeks old, after every feed she's hiccuping and being sick and generally unsettled. Worst thing is I can get her to sleep sat up, or on her tummy on me, but the moment she lays on her back no matter how deep a sleep she's in, she wakes after about ten mins because she's been gurgling away with sick coming up, and you can here it all in the back of her throat :(
I raised the Moses basket with a few books but that seemed to make it worse as she can't spit out what's in her throat.
Anyone got any experience of this?

[Bessie123]

Sorry to hear your dd has reflux. My ds' reflux was caused by food intolerance/allergies. Are you breastfeeding? If so, you might want to consider changing your diet, to see if that has any effect. If you are formula feeding, try a special formula for allergies.

My ds had problems with dairy, egg and soya.

[ratbagcatbag]

Thanks Bessie, I'm going to go to the drs on Monday, I'm doing all the other stuff, smaller regular feeds, sat up for ages after feed, burping lots during one feed, she's fab until I lie her down. :(

[Bessie123]

Don't let the doc fob you off and tell you it's normal - the gp dismissed my concerns for a whole year, then dp and I figured it out on our own andds could finally sleep for more than half an hour without pain.

Ds had overly runny and strange coloured poos, too, if that helps you identify a problem..?

[Notsoyummymummy1]

We found Infacol sometimes helped with reflux and raising one end of the cot slightly like you've done helped to stop the milk coming back up.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Time. We finally got a diagnosis at 17 weeks and changed formula to a "stay down" one which helped, although I honestly think by that point he was coming past the worst anyway. Weaning helped a tremendous amount.

We too worried about intolerances but now at 14 months it is quite clear that gannet has no issues in that dept.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Oh and in desperation gaviscon.

[gd1976]

I would try and get into the system to see a paed consultant as unfortunately most GPS aren't very knowledgable about reflux. We weren't diagnosed until 17 weeks with ds1and with my second ds I knew the signs, got him diagnosed early and managed to get him on the right milk and meds and his wasn't too bad to live with, so hope you can get a referral. I hope you're ok, I know how hard it is

[Overberries]

Sounds like it. DD had the same - gaviscon and upright for half an hour after each feed did the trick. Gaviscon is a pain when BF though, I ended up giving 1oz formula with gaviscon in before every BF... for 9 months!! It worked though :-)

[stargirl1701]

Talk to both your GP and HV. Ask for a paediatric referral so you're in the system. Ask about infant Gaviscon. Ask about Reflux formula. Ask about milk feed thickeners. Ask about Ranitidine. Have a look for a sleeping wedge online. Try to get to a sling meet nearby to find a sling that suits you - I loved my Kari-Me. Keep baby upright 30 mins after feeds.

And, good luck. Reflux can be hell for everyone.

[ratbagcatbag]

Thanks stargirl, miaow what did you say to convince them?
Will they give me a paed referral straight away? There is no way I'm leaving on Monday without something such as milk thickeners to try. I've done everything advised that isn't medication and she can't lie down for more than twenty mins without choking and crying.

[nannyof3]

Is she formula fed

If so, change the milk to a 'comfort or stay down' milk

[ratbagcatbag]

She is formula fed.

After another night of horrendous sleep and the added bonus sg is now refusing half her feed despite being hungry I'm waiting for a call back from nhs direct,I know they're not always fab but if I cn get a prescription for something sooner to help her then bonus.

You guys are keeping me sane so many thanks as its bloody tough.

[DolomitesDonkey]

ratbag My GP referred me to the consultant straight away and we had an appointment the next day I think it was (not NHS obv.) - whilst the consultant was doing what they do, my son looked up and spewed on him... case pretty much closed!

We were told to change formula, use gaviscon when he was really suffering and if things didn't improve they could keep him in 24 hours to monitor the levels of acid coming up and if necessary could perform a small surgical procedure. Thankfully the change of milk did the job. Just being told it was reflux helped enormously because until that point I think we thought we were going mad.

[ratbagcatbag]

Well nhs direct have sent me to a and e, thankfully it's empty. Will update later.

[GiraffesAndButterflies]

Marking place as sounds just like my 8 week old. Good luck ratbag

[ratbagcatbag]

Saw paeditrician, he confirmed reflux, and has prescribed infant gaviscon, he said give it a week and if no better go back it drs. He also suggested once fed putting her up on my shoulder similar to how I'd wind her for twenty mins to let milk digest. I really don't like our drs so the fact she's been diagnosed by a paed makes it easier if I have to I back just to move to the next thing to try and resolve. I'm hoping fir a miracle that involves at least an hours sleep tonight :)

[Cuddlydragon]

Good luck and don't get disheartened if gaviscon doesn't help, there are several meds that can help too. Good luck. My DS had sever reflux but since we hit the right meds he's a happy little thing.

[furryfriends57]

Had to reply as this happened with DD and I got no support from anyone, either medical or other mums I knew. I tried infant gaviscon and it caused more problems eg constipation. What worked for her was cranial sacral therapy, within days she was much happier and less refluxy. Cranial therapist was very good with babies and also suggested limiting milk feeds to every 3 hours as more frequent feeds can result in part digested milk to mix with new milk and mess up digestion. It worked for us and is well worth considering. Best of luck as its so upsetting to see LO so sick.

[ratbagcatbag]

Thanks both, gaviscon has definitely shown a massive improvement in dd, far less sicky and first night ever she didnt choke all night, she did in the early hours get a bit worse, however in my sleep deprived state I put her in bed with me (very bad as not set up co-sleeping) and had a lovely three hours straight through.

[Cuddlydragon]

Glad to hear that ratbag. Sleep helps! Pm if I can give you any reflux help. We are 9 months in and asides from medication once a day and being careful introducing foods, DS is fine. There is light.

[DolomitesDonkey]

That's great news ratbag - I know when I first gave gaviscon it was almost as though his whole body made a sigh of relief and he settled straight down and slept through.

Cuddly is right, it does get better - and then you can congratulate yourself for surviving and your marriage still being intact - my god we had some barneys - I don't think either of us could think straight for months.

[ratbagcatbag]

Bugger spokento soon, a bit more unsettled, but it's because I couldn't get her to bring up wind, which then always seems to make the reflux worse, still an improvement though, if still hit and miss ill go back to the drs and ask bloody demand to try something else. :)

I'm just glad there is so much info around and you know because of threads like these it's not normal and you need to be forceful in getting what you need.

[acjfluff]

My now 18 week old DS was diagnosed with reflux at 8 weeks and put on infant gaviscon.

I found that he would still bring up milk during his feed so I stopped winding him until 5 minutes or so after he'd finished a bottle. I'm only guessing but I think this gave the gaviscon a chance to work properly.

He now only needs sitting up and a bit of back rubbing to burp. He always had difficulty with trapped wind so I was a bit dubious about doing this but it was the only thing that seemed to help. As the reflux has calmed down, his painful trapped wind has also reduced.

I really hope your DD improves soon for you, I know how you feel. We had 8 weeks of misery but now have a happy, chuckling boy who still throws up occasionally

[ratbagcatbag]

Hi again everyone

Gaviscon has definitely eased her symptoms but she's still gurgling and choking and generally unsettled, I'm going to go back to the drs with her, but wanted advice on what the next step on medication is as I really don't want to be fobbed off, last night was hell.