Colic or reflux

[Vickys90]

Hello
I need some advice
So I have a daughter she is almost 5 weeks since she was around 1 week old she has been screaming every evening and seems in a lot of discomfort
She brings her legs up to her chest when she's crying and gets very distressed this goes on for hours. We believed these were classic symptoms of colic. The health visitor agreed and advised us to change her formula to Aptamil comfort she has been on this milk for a week no improvement. Other symptoms she vomits small amounts frequently looks watery, only likes to be upright, when she has her bottle she often looks uncomfortable will splutter the feed out and arch her back then cry, then she will have some more milk then cry again in a vicious circle. She has a lot of trouble burping. But the thing that seems to cause her the most discomfort is her farting which she does a lot and really cries every time she passes wind.
We went to the doctors today the doctor believes it's reflux and has prescribed infant Gaviscon. I didn't think it was reflux as I thought babies projectile vomit when they have reflux
Does anyone have any similar experiences and any advice please

[PonderLand]

It sounds exactly like my lb (now 7m) he had reflux and cows milk protein allergy.

How is her weight? Does she have any eczema? Does the crying have any specific pattern or does she seem in constant discomfort despite your best efforts?

Have a google (when you get time) and search up cows milk allergy/intolerance in babies.

Reflux doesn't have to be projectile vomit and because your baby is still so young this could still happen. My lb started the projectile sick at around 8w old, before that it was just 'possetting' every single feed. There is also something called silent reflux, which has the same symptoms but no sick.

I truly have doubts if colic is an actual thing. I felt as though people put reflux, cmpi/cmpa symptoms down to colic as an easy way out. Keep going to the gp if your baby is in distress, or HV if yours is supportive. I can only compare from my own experiences but I found myself having to really fight my babies corner to get the proper milk/medication and treatment.

[Vickys90]

Hi thanks for your reply
Her weight is good born 9lb1oz and is gaining weight well. No eczema.
The crying seemed to be worse in the evening it would be constant for hours but I've noticed that the crying is also during and after a bottle
I had a quick look at milk allergy she doesn't seem to have as severe symptoms as described.
Did/ does your little one seem to have a lot and very painful bottom wind? She literally screams when farting, can't imagine that being to do with reflux.
So we could have projectile vomit to look forward to 😔
Thanks for advice will see how she is with the gaviscon if no improvement then back to gp

[Astro55]

Do you keep her head above belly at ALL times? - no lying flat!!

The bubbles become a big bubbles and hard to shift

But also re mussel in her stomach may. It be closed properly and leaks acid when lying flat

You need to prop her up and all times - use a towel or cushion under a mattress or pillow for a nappy changes -

Wind really well after each feel and keep upright for 20 mins

[Astro55]

• mussel - this rights itself at around 6 months co incidentally when they sit up -
  
  It's recognized in America but not here!!

[Heirhelp]

Sounds like reflux to me. In silent reflux they are sick less. Please get her treatment. Reflux is like heartburn but worse.

[PonderLand]

Yeah, he struggled with wind and poos. Big obvious signs for us was green poo, and failure to gain weight and a rash/eczema.
He didn't start those symptoms until 8 weeks but I always felt like he was constantly poorly, it was never a case of '3 hours a night' (colic) he'd always be on the verge of screaming.

I agree with other posters, never put the baby flat, even my sons changing mat is tilted with a hard pillow 5 months on from diagnosis. I used to feed him sat quite inclined.
Try burp after every 2oz if ff to prevent wind from going down to the bottom. It's difficult to understand what is wrong with baby, some babies take a while to adapt to things as their digestive system is still trying to get used to stuff. Have you used infacol or similar to prevent wind? Does your baby have wind a lot? Lactose intolerance could be possible?
I really feel for you, I've been in the exact same position, trying to figure out what the hell is wrong. Google is your friend!

[PonderLand]

Also dr browns bottles really help my DS. I've heard good things about MAM too.

[FartnissEverbeans]

Sounds like reflux. Projectile vomiting isn't often a symptom of reflux, as I understand it. Our refluxy DS vomits a lot during feeding but it doesn't come out very forcefully - more like normal possetting, but lots of it.

Ask your dr for Zantac (ranitidine). It's very safe and shouldn't cause any side effects, but it'll help neutralize the acid and reduce the amount of gastric juices the stomach produces. It's worked well for us. Also, as previous posters have suggested, keep baby's head elevated - you can buy it wedges for this purpose. We just stuck a few books under the cot legs though!

The farting issue might be completely separate. Apparently a lot of babies find ordinary digestive processes quite upsetting as they're not really used to them. Our wee one did not like farting but he's fine now; he also used to cry when pooing, but now he just grunts!

[hallgreenmiss]

Vickys90 this sounds very much like the silent reflux my grandson had. It's like heartburn. The first treatment is infant Gaviscon which doesn't always work. GS was prescribed Ranitidine and, for a while, Domperidone. Don't be afraid to persist with your doctor for a medication that works. Also, as your baby grows, she will need the dosage reviewing. GS was best kept in an upright position for a while after feeding and, unlike some with reflux, was happy sitting in a car seat, (but not advisable for very long periods).
GS was much better once on solid food.

[Vickys90]

Thanks all for advice
Have had another hard day today with the little one clearly in discomfort.
Trying to keep her upright hasn't helped much so far.
She has also come up in a prickly heat type rash could this be related?

[PonderLand]

Because your baby is so young I wouldn't want to comment on the rash. It might be worth ringing 111?
I always stay on the side of caution when it comes to rashes.

It sounds to me like you should take your baby back to the gp and explain what's been going on since you last went. I'm sorry you've had such a difficult day and I hope things improve for you. Are you getting help from partner/family? Is important to have a break from the crying and get food/shower.

[FartnissEverbeans]

I'd ring 111 about the rash. I phoned the dr about a rash on DS a few days ago; it turns out it was just caused by all the vomit (lovely) but I wanted to be careful and check.

If it's reflux I'm sure ranitidine will help.