8 week old - silent reflux. Started on infant gaviscon

[purpleviolet1]

Ds will be 8 weeks tomorrow and is a good weight of over 10lbs now. He was born at 37+5.

He is formula fed - cow and gait comfort (since 4 weeks) as we initially thought he had colic. He has had the following symptoms:

• distressed during feeding
• approx 1-1.5 hours after feeding he cries and cries. Very rigid body and very difficult to settle.
• gulping noises up until next feed followed by shrieking
• wheezing, clearing throat, grunting noises during sleep
• waking up mid nap clearly in discomfort. Not able to settle for more than 15-20 mins at a time
• sometimes bringing up milk , other times we have seen it in his mouth and then he has swallowed it
• burps regularly and passes LOTS of wind
• lots of hiccups
• congested nose (all the symptoms listed seemed to have started/ got worse after he had a cold)

On a side note he has very good head control and is very alert. Numerous people and HCP have commented on this since birth.

It appears to be more silent reflux than normal reflux. GP prescribed infant gaviscon yesterday and said to see how we get on.

So far the crying episodes are very slightly less. Don't think this medication is going to cut it but I understand it can take time so will give it until Monday unless there is further change. Only way he is settling is on his front on my chest if I'm lying down. He doesn't appear to be getting into a deep sleep at all.

If your LO had silent reflux do the above symptoms sound similar? What medications worked and how long until you saw an improvement? Any other tips?

We have got the wedge to raise mattress and keeping him upright after feeds (he is mostly in my arms now constantly anyway).

[2014newme]

Ranitidine was what improved it. Gaviscon had no impact

[purpleviolet1]

Thanks. Do the symptoms sound similar to your LO?

[2014newme]

Mine had reflux not silent reflux

[MiniMaxi]

Ranitidine here too!
DS has silent reflux, came on around the same age. Some of the same symptoms, some others.

[2014newme]

Yes gaviscon is useless for reflux.

[Tootsiepops]

My daughter had reflux and gaviscon worked for her, along with anti-reflux formula.

[purpleviolet1]

Interesting... how long do you think I should give it before going back to the GP?

[purpleviolet1]

Also any experience with comfort milk and reflux? Wondering if it's worth moving milk but don't want to change too much at once.

[purpleviolet1]

Started with ranitidine instead today. Hoping this will work!

[tissuesosoft]

DD has been on gaviscon since about 8 weeks- she was also on cow and gate comfort. It did nothing for her except cause constipation. We switched bottles to dr brown and the formula to sma and it was a life changer!

[purpleviolet1]

How interesting! We are already using dr browns. Is it the normal SMA?

[tissuesosoft]

Just the normal one, I switched her over to sma straight away. One day of an upset stomach whilst she adjusted and then she was fine. HV said that switching straight over wouldn't do any harm apart from an initial upset

[tissuesosoft]

Oh and a tip I got from a mother at a baby group was to feed DD sitting up right on my lap so the acid doesn't build, that really helped and made winding easier!

[purpleviolet1]

Thanks tissue. Why was your LO on comfort milk and had they been on it for long?

[tissuesosoft]

She was on a normal cow and gate and didn't tolerate it (silent reflux) so GP recommended change to a comfort one and if no better in two weeks to go back, they then prescribed gaviscon.

[Skisunsnow]

My Dd had exactly the same symptoms and we were finally prescribed ranitidine and domperidone (no longer prescribed I believe) at around 8 weeks old. We were prescribed some milk too, but it smelt horrendous and she wouldn't touch it. Went onto the cow and gate reflux milk (not sold everywhere, but managed to get it in some tescos and boots. It comes in the same size tub as the infant formula). It tastes the same as the standard cow and gate infant formula but is a bit thicker. By 6 months we were able to drop the medication as we started weaning and gradually all symptoms went. Good luck.

[HLBug]

The symptoms you describe sounds very similar to CMPA - maybe ask GP for a trial of nutramigen or neocate?

[purpleviolet1]

Thanks both, will ask hlbug..

[HLBug]

We're going through exactly the same thing purple - GP appointment for DD (3.5 weeks) this afternoon.

[Cineraria]

My son had similar symptoms and he takes Omeprazole (Losec MUPS) for silent reflux. The baby Gaviscon was really unsuitable for him as he was breast fed and screamed in terror when we tried to get him to take it from a syringe. The Omeprazole helped a lot straight away and didn't seem to upset him so much and when he later started on solid food his symptoms became present only at night, so that helped a lot too. Hens nineteen months now and we're slowly reducing his dose as he seems much better.

[WrigleyMummy]

Hi there

I could have written this post myself....my little girl is 7 weeks on Monday and ticks every box on your list of symptoms....my son is 3.5 years and had quite a similar issue when he was a baby but was alot more sicky...Ettiene my little girl is not as bad with the regurgitation but is suffering with all of these issues you describe...I'm rather stressed with it all as I just want her to be settled and also comfortable both of which she is not at present.... my little boy is getting very little attention because of this also as I can't really put her down for most of the day... everything for him is done one handed ..lunches...dressing ...playing etc because when I do put her down she appears to be in agony. I've yet to see a gp about this as when I did with my son (I mentioned it to both my HV at the time and at his 8 week check up) I got a rather a poor response and was told all babies bring up a bit of milk and it's normal...despite describing all of the symptoms... I'm convinced my little boy had reflux but we struggled through on comfort milk and infacol. Now my daughter is here and I'm a second time mummy I don't feel I want or should struggle again. How was your GPS response to this? She has her 8 week appointment in a weeks time so I will be bringing this up then and probably using your well written list of symptoms to describe what we have going on.... I've heard the baby gaviscon isn't that effective and causes terrible constipation...I'm just so worried we will be told it's normal again and sent on our way.... lastly Etti has had 3 chocking issues recently where I've been convinced she wasn't breathing as she has either bought her milk up in to her mouth but sucked it back down again from crying because of being on her back for a nappy change or bed time which causes her to strain alot or just from lying quite happily one minute to straining and her milk coming up and returning back down.... after a few hard pats on the back I've managed to clear this but it's frightened me quite alot to the point where now I'm scared stiff to place her on her back full stop......

[H0neyBee]

Both my DC had silent reflux, it was difficult for all of us, sending lots of sympathy! Mine were both solely breast fed and didn't like bottles, which made it tricky to get meds into them. I found the best solution was to feed little and often to prevent the stomach getting too full and the milk bouncing out... If they repeat fed very quickly afterwards I'd keep them on the same side breast so they did get to the hind milk, not just getting foremilk. I had a lovely bf counsellor who set me a timetable to follow, from memory I had to switch sides every 3 hours so any feeds sooner than that would be the same side.

I also used a nursing cushion to help me try different positions, the under arm rugby ball hold was good for feeding more upright. And propping in a curved nursing cushion or a baby bouncer after feeding helped keep it all down. The wedge under the mattress was tricky, they always slid to the bottom of the bed. Wearing them in a sling was also great for comfort and keeping upright, but keep muslins to hand. They just grew out of it eventually. Good luck!

[WrigleyMummy]

P.s I think Ettiene has silent reflux as apposed to reflux as she doesn't tend to bring up a large amount of milk like my son Alfie did...he would get though 7 outfits a day! It's also interfering with her sleeping at night and her bottle feeds can be hurrendous with her pulling away crying and chocking on the milk whilst drinking xx

[ineedwine99]

Gaviscon has worked a dream for us, within a couple of days she was doing much better, symptoms pretty much the same as we had and she was diagnosed silent reflux, Gaviscon did make her a little constipated so a tiny bit of sugar water helped that plus offering plenty of cooled boiled water

[skyzumarubble]

In my experience gaviscon isn't enough and made dts constipated. They ended up on gaviscon, ranitidine and domperidone (although I don't think they prescribe that any more).

Worth remembering if you do get out on to anti reflux meds that the dosage changes with weight gain so you need to keep getting it adjusted.

Upright for at least 20 mins after feed, feed almost upright, swirl formula to mix, don't shake, use ready made if possible. Raise head of cot, buggy, Moses basket.

We had reflux wedges as well. Cover them in a load of muslins so if they are sick you only need to whip off the top couple and not change the whole bed.

It does get easier if you can get the meds sorted.