3 wk baby & relfux-doc prescribed Gaviscon min 6 times a day, problem is he doesnt keep any milk down unless he has gaviscon

[greyriver]

please can anyone post any advice about this? its my friends third but noone we know has ever had to deal with reflux. Is there anything she can do other than giving gaviscon to keep milk down the baby?

[harpsichordcarrion]

gosh what a worry
I don't have any experience but bumping in case some one else has.
she shouldn't worry about using gaviscon though, it's pretty harmless stuff

[tribpot]

My ds had Gaviscon at every feed for many months, it's a godsend for a refluxy baby.

[Rebi]

Hiya - my dd had reflux but we were 'lucky' as when she was 3 weeks old she choked twice in an hour and couldn't breathe so we went straight to hospital. There they gave us special formula that contains a thickener which keeps it down. They can sometimes fob you off with powder you add to bottle but a complete faff and pain in the bum. Not sure of name of formula but brilliant. I think they are reluctant to prescribe as expensive (you don't have to buy your own formula). Obviously if she is breastfeeding this won't help. I think dd stayed on Gaviscon too but can't remember.

We also kept dd on slant (books under cot,etc) which did help. You do become very quick at catching the projectile vomit after a while!!! My parents were amazed at my agility. Another thing we gave her was Fennel Tea, which is soothing.

It does get a bit easier once they go onto solids, but doesn't completely cure until they are moving about (muscles are stronger then I think).

HTH Rebi x

[taylormama]

Hi - my LO has silent reflux. He was on 2 meds - Domperidone which helps move the milk through the tummy quicker so less can come up and ranitadine, an antacid which stops the pain. There is a special milk you can get on prescription called emfamil and this thickens on contact with stomach acid (check if LO can take ranitadine at the same time as this helps to reduce acid production). How old is your friends baby ... would agree with what a PP said about keeping everything on a slant. also keep baby upright as possible and for as long as possible after feeds ...

[greyriver]

friends ds is 3 wks old, thanks for tips she is trying baby in baby sling for about an hour after feeds and has padded her cot up so it slants will print off so she can mention the meds to her doc

[littlepiggie]

We found that rather than padding the cot, we put blocks under his cot, its safer.