is this reflux?

[fingerwoman]

my 10 day old is getting really distressed after feeds now, he is incredibly hard to wind anyway, but in the last few days he's been even worse and he has started doing this thing where he can be lying totally peacefully in my arms and he will suddenly screw up his face and start gagging and then he'll just scream and scream. It seems like something is coming back up and really hurting him, but most of the time he isn't sick at all and after a little bit he will calm back down again. But he will do it over and over and over and I feel awful because I can't do anything to stop it happening, he does it even if I am holding him upright.
A couple of times he has brought up a big load of very mucousy, curdled sick.
Is it reflux do you think? and if it is then is there anything I can do for him? I know that they sometimes prescribe infant gaviscon and stuff, but how does that figure in terms of exclusive breastfeeding???? obviously it is something I would give him if it stops him being in pain, but I want to be well informed about it first!

[Jacanne]

It does sound like it could be reflux - my friends dd had silent reflux, did lots of back arching and screaming but wasn't actually sick very often.

I have seen your post elsewhere so I think I "know" you

[clur79]

My 17 week old was finally diagnosed with refulx a few weeks ago, told me it was colic to start with. he used to bring up curdled milk, and it smelt really acidic and used ot make him cry.

He is prescibed gaviscon and it is so much better now, he no longer crys, and only brings up what I would call normal amount of milk after feeds. He is ff but on the packet it gives instructions for BF babies, you just have to mix it on a spoon and give before the feeds. Get to the doctor, it is worth it, he is much calmer and settled and takes his feeds much better.

[bakingcakes]

sounds like reflux, the received wisdom is to hold baby upright for 20 mins after feeds, and that less big feeds, but feeding more often helps too so they dont reject feeds but continue to gain weight. Breastfeeding helps as that milk is naturally easier to digest. There are remedies like baby gaviscon , but apparently most babies will grow out of this. Mine is feeding less well becuase of the being sick i think and sometimes does the same arching and crying after some feeds. I am keeping an eye on it, hoping smaller, frequent feeds and the upright thing help- i think after a few months if it's still going on, time to check in with dr, but until then, all part of the developing digestive process.

[AskSanta]

DS2 has silent reflux so had excess acid rather than being sick.

I breastfed and managed to give gaviscon.

If it is excess acid you will need something stronger than gaviscon but they will probably make you try it first. My advice is don't leave it too long if you don't feel its working.

DS2 is 19 months and still suffers from this.