formula feeding/ infant gaviscon advice please

[KaybeeandZak]

My 6 week old DS gets really frustrated and at the end of the feed, he gets upset and seems to want more (even though according to the health visitor he is eating too much!). I don't really know what to do with him. We are ff for this very reason, he got very angry on the breast and it was stressing both of us out.

My doctor prescribed infant gaviscon yesterday . We started using it, but now he can barely suck the milk out of the bottle. I guess the teat is too small??

I just don't really konw what to do with him. I thought babies were supposed to be all content after a feed, not upset He is putting on weight, and like I said, the health visitor said he was really eating too much in 24hrs........

[justJAM]

I was told DD was eating too much (now 17 weeks) but I believe in feeding a hungry baby so go with your instinct
My DD is a bonny baby and a big weightbut is thriving so don't feel bad that your DS eats well, it's not like he can consciously over eat.
Maybe he has a little wind too??? DD suffered lots with her belly and that can really make LO's cry. Don't worry, it does pass I promise

[rnbsmum]

Has your ds been still doing poos without too much effort? When my ds was using infant gaviscon, our hv warned us that he might get a bit backed up so be prepared to give a little cooled, boiled water. Just a thought.

[Elibean]

My dd2 (7 weeks) probably has silent reflux. She gets desperate to feed when in pain, then into more pain, etc....not really sure if its colic or reflux, but just in case GP gave us Gavsicon to try. I'm BFing but we are giving expressed milk in bottle during colicky/painful times ie evening and morning, as she writhes around too much on the breast and gets frustrated (and rips my nipples off!).

I have found the Gaviscon thickens the milk so much it blocks the teats - so I guess either bigger holes in teats, or less Gaviscon per feed: I don't like the constipating effect, so we're going for less Gaviscon (without her getting any worse, if anything she seems better - might be coincidence though).

Its really upsetting when they are in pain after a feed, but it will get better, honest...my first dd was the same. And its great that he's putting on weight.

[Elibean]

ps am thinking, with silent (ie not throwing up) reflux, Ranitidine might be better than Gaviscon. More pain relief, less thickening. Not sure if your ds has been sick a lot, but if not - worth asking doctor??

[ellesbells]

agree ranatidine is better than the gaviscon. it helps stop the acid being produced rather than trying to keep the feed in the tummy!! my DD now 10 months has silent reflux. i stopped the gaviscon and she is only on ranatidine now. much better!

[KaybeeandZak]

thanks
we have changed to a bigger teat and he is much happier now. Still a bit agitated at the end of a feed but nothing like what he was.... He still cries heaps though, guess he might have colic as it is so hard to get him off to sleep

[dandycandyjellybean]

I also had this problem with my ds, and at the same time as starting Gaviscon, I also started using hungry baby formula, and he was like a different baby.

[KaybeeandZak]

i wondered about hungry baby formula... do you have to check with your health visitor first before switching to that?