Reflux in 7 week old

[LadyRenoir]

I know there are plenty of threads on it, but maybe someone could advise me on this...

SO we think my baby biy has reflux- all signs on heaven and earth point to this. Crying after feeds (bottle fed, between 2-5 ounces, depending how he feels and time of day). His daily 'target' is around 550 ml, and he is hitting it consistently every day.

Now, the reflux started when he started eating more. He was premature and for the first 5 weeks had 50-60 ml, then went up to 90'ish, and then all of a sudden started hitting big numbers for some feeds.

He spits up and drools out milk, which sometimes even wakes him up when/if he is asleep- an occurence rarer and rarer. He cries after feeds.

We keep him upright when feeding and burp a few times during the feed. He usually burps and farts away quite well, but trapped wind is also an issue regardless. Infacol has not done much, and colief is not practical as his schedule is non existent and I feed on demand. The doctor advised 'pacing' the feed, which is difficult as when he is hungry, he is crying more, and although we try to take the bottle out and walk around the room a bit, sometimes he becomes distressed that he wants more. I get the rationale that it takes time to sink in that he no longer needs food, but now the feeds sometimes take an hour, with the burping/walking/pacing business and by the time we finish he is hungry again. And if I let him have less milk (lets say 3 ounces, and he is still hungry), he does not nap, becomes cranky and needs a top up soon enough. Paradox, he cries when he is hungry and when he is fed and I end up crying with him as I am enhausted and just dont know what to do. So I now dont know if I should just have him drink the whole 5 ounces if he wants it, or spread the feed over a longer time and have him drink all the time...

I have gaviscon infant prescribed, but a bit afraid to use it as it says not to use on premature babies (although at 7 weeks should be fine?) and he only poos once a day, and it tends to make babies constipated. He is not actually constipated now, just does the business in one go...

Anyone went through something similar, and has any advice on how to deal with it?

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Ever likely you are exhausted, that sounds stressful. Have you got someone who can help with the feeds so that you can get sone sleep?

Has the GP suggested trying anti-colic bottles or trying a comfort formula? Have they also talked about the possibility of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA).. I’d talk to your HV as well about how you are feeling and see if they can suggest anything

[LadyRenoir]

Both GP and HW have been entirely unhelpful.
GP decided that as baby is gaining weight all is well and nothing to worry about and to keep the same milk. HV told me not to use a dummy (the only thing that soothes the horrendous crying when the reflux kicks in) as there are 'other ways to soothe the baby' - unfortunately she would not say what these ways are, and we tried everything. Baby is in so much pain will not even let us cuddle him. I kind of feel let down by both.

The worst thing is that I am totally on my own, my husband can only help in the evening with one feed (due to ridiculously long hours and ridiculously long commute), so I am doing both day and night shift most days.

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

Sod that, if Baby soothes with a dummy then use it!



Gaining weight can be a bit of a red herring. Some babies with CMOA will overfeed for comfort so can gain weight fine whilst still having horrendous symptoms. Have you managed to read the link on CMPA yet?

If DH is around today can he take LO out for an hour so that you can sleep? You could send them both out to buy some Comfort Formula and anti colic bottles if you want to give them a try. I’d also be expecting him to do st least every other day feed today. DH may work long hours in the week but what yiu are doing does not sound sustainable over a long period.

[LadyRenoir]

@EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic I have read the link- thank you so much for it. I will definitely be bringing it up with the GP next week.

Now, some of the feeds he shows no symptoms, which made me think it's not allergy, as allergy would show symptoms with every feed? I have no experience with it...

But at least it's something I can look into, and I will bring that sheet with me to the GP to show him, as I don't want to be fobbed off again with 'everything is fine' while it certainly is not.

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

I found the sheet really useful when talking to my GP. He seemed to appreciate that it was from Allergy U.K. and not some random of the Internet.

Good luck.

[wintertravel1980]

My DD also showed signs of reflux when she was 6 weeks old. The first GP I saw was similar to yours. She seemed to think that I should not worry about all the crying as long as the baby is gaining weight (and my DD was consistently tracking the midpoint between 91st and 98th percentiles on the baby weight curve).

I went to the second GP and he was really helpful. He prescribed ranitidine, explained how I will need to adjust the dosage in line with DD weight and suggested I also try comfort or anti-reflux milk (rather than gaviscon). It took about 10 days to get DD reflux under control but we haven't had problems after that.

About 50% of reflux cases are caused by CMPA so it may or may not be a factor for your LO. However, I would definitely ask for ranitidine (or if it does not work omeprazole). Reflux is a real pain!

Good luck!