Giving gaviscon

[mummytoh1]

My DS is 6 weeks old and been on gaviscon for 2 weeks for silent reflux.

Inevitably, the gaviscon blocked the level 1 teats so we used level 2s but this was too fast for him and has led to him gulping (poss also due to the reflux) and him getting LOADS of wind, too the point that the wind is interupting his feeds instead of the reflux! He is literally squirming after an ounce and bringing up huge burps every ounce and it's really bothering him.

We are now on ranitidine as well, so I stopped the gaviscon to see if the ranitidine alone would be enough. It's not, he's bringing milk up into his mouth (some dribbles out or comes out of his nose but most gets swallowed back down) and it's causing discomfort. But he now doesn't have all that wind...

I need to give him gaviscon again but don't want to go back through all that again. I've tried widening the level 1 teat with a needle but unsuccessfully.

What I was wondering was if I could give him the gaviscon in a syringe, as recommended for breast feeding babies? I can't think of a reason not to, but I'm so sleep deprived and stressed that I can't think straight!

I'm seeing the GP again next week and will be asking for domperidone and/or omeprazole (my other DS had silent relux too so I'm familiar with the options) but I need to try something in the meantime...

Thanks,

[TruthSweet]

You could give it either with a spoon or a syringe during his feed if you wanted.

DD1 didn't find Gaviscon helped her but domperidone did work really well and she gained reasonable amounts of weight on it.

[valentinemum10]

i feed mine wih a spoon. Or a syringe at night if too tiresd ad sponfeeding is a bit messy and takes longer.

[cobweb1979]

What we did (after talking to a GP) was to mix the gaviscon in just 30-40mls of milk. Give it straight away. That way it doesn't have time to thicken up and block the no 1 teat. Then we give the rest of the feed in a clean bottle with a clean teat. Not ideal as you are supposed to give it after a feed, but it still did the job.

Now he is used to the ranitidine he'd probably be ok with a syringe, but he was having none of it initially. Its less faff our way too, although does increase the washing up!

[sleepdodger]

after using a spoon, then syringe ive found tomee tipee bottles, using more water than it says, with a hint of milk so it gets through teet, less messy too!

[BagofHolly]

I put it in their feed now but used to make it into a paste and then let it down with a couple more mls of water and squirt it in via a syringe. About 4 mls is optimal I found. By doing this about 30 mind before a feed it helped keep things down, presumably because it sets in their tummy.

[libertychick]

I put the gaviscon into the hot water first, put a lid on the bottle and shake it really really well (may take 3-4 goes) until you can see that the powder is completely dispersed in the water with no lumps, then add the powdered formula and proceed as normal. Also feed immediately before it has time to get too thick.