Is this reflux?

[Morred]

My DS is 11 weeks old (will be 12 weeks on Monday). In the last few days, he’s started being v unsettled after a feed, and instead of his usual small amounts of possetting, he is often being sick an hour or so after a feed. The sick is ‘digested’ and smells more like adult vomit, with curdled milk and watery bits. He kicks his legs and arches his back and screams. During the day he naps in a sling.

He is also dribbling more and seems hungrier (cries earlier for a bottle). He was sleeping really well after a 10pm bottle - until at least 4am and often through to 6 or 7am. Now he is writhing about by 1am. His eyes are shut and he seems to be asleep, but he kicks his legs frantically and tries to shove his hands in his mouth (he has a dummy). He stops this after 15mins or so (doesn’t wake up) and then does it again at 3/4am. At that point I wake him and give him a bottle, which he drinks cheerfully, but once I put him down again (after winding, holding upright for 15mins etc) he starts the kicking again within an hour or so, so I don’t think it’s hunger. During the day he has no problem waking up from a nap and demanding a feed!

He’s formula fed and usually has 5 or 6 oz every 3-4 hours during the day and 4 oz for a middle of the night feed.

Does this sound like reflux? Can it develop later on, as he’s been fine until now. I’ve got a GP appt next week on Thursday. Is it worth trying an anti-reflux formula before then? He’s usually on Aptamil and I think they do an anti-reflex and an anti-colic one?

(I can’t get an appointment earlier - I don’t think it’s an emergency as he is feeding and his nappies are ok.)

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

Hey! This sounds incredibly similar to my 7 week old baby (except I'm breastfeeding him) and the GP agreed that it did sound like reflux. The GP will probably prescribe gaviscon first. We tried infant gaviscon but it made him really constipated. Be careful if you're prescribed this as formula babies are even more likely to become constipated.

Now we're a few days into Ranitidine and so far things are going smoothly and there seems to be a bit of an improvement.

If he's unsettled at night it could be because his reflux is made worse by laying on his back. My baby also prefers slings because of the reflux and being upright. We've got a co-sleeping crib that can tilt up at one end. If there is anyway to do this with your baby's cot I'd recommend it.

I have no idea about anti reflux milk but I suppose it would be worth a shot. You can also buy baby gaviscon over the counter (although I'm sure I'll be told off for this because I think for under 1s you can only get it on prescription so I had to white lie to the pharmacist)

Our GP suggested feeding little and often but my baby just screams and screams if I take him off before he's done so haven't been able to do this.

[Morred]

Thanks. His crib was raised but it didn’t make much difference. I’ll give it another go. I don’t think little and often will work for us either! My DS has always drained every bottle (we did try increasing the oz but it’s now obvious he’ll drain any bottle put in front of him and if necessary sick up anything he didn’t actually want, so he’s clearly just a guzzler!j

What did you do about the constipation? Did you give cooled boiled water?

[ChristmasUsername]

Sounds like reflux to me

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

Yeah, I must admit that raising the crib isn't great, it only helped a little for us.

For the constipation we tried a small amount of water but he wasn't very happy with it when he realised that it wasn't water! We found a warm bath and very light tummy massage worked well though. It must just relax the muscles and make things easier to pass (although he did scream the house down through the process.)

[TheVeryHungryTortoise]

*wasn't milk

[Scottishmummy18]

The symptoms of reflux/colic/trapped wind and lactose intolerance are all really similar which is annoying! Our LO has reflux and was in pain whilst trying to feed due to acid coming back on him and any sickness was coming back up within minutes without any force. He is now on ranitidine to help the uncomfortable acid during feeds and carobel in his milk to help keep that down. Im not 100% but i think if its coming back up an hour or so after feed and more forceful it could be more of an intolerance? Hopefully your doc will be able to help. Let us know how you get on