Silent reflux and evening screaming

[Izzy83]

Hi all,
Our 13 weeks old DD has silent reflux, we've just been prescribed infant gaviscon today for it.
Since she was about 8 weeks old she has had screaming meltdowns when putting her to bed, that don't seem to be getting any better with time!
Has anyone else's baby had these meltdowns caused by the reflux? We originally thought colic but have heard that should be easing by now
She's had the mother of all meltdowns this evening, made herself hoarse with the screaming and her eyes were puffy and red from crying, makes me so tense
Thanks in advance for any insights!

[MrsPatrickDempsey]

babyhintsandtips.com/doctor-tips-colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep

Interesting read

[Smittenkitten2015]

We had this and it was hell on earth. I took DS to have craniopathy and it cleared in two weeks. No more Gaviscon and no more evening screaming. That's my top tip!

[Izzy83]

Thanks, that is an interesting article. I just wish we knew if it is colic or due to the reflux. DD has had a few sessions of Craniosacral therapy due to neck issues from a traumatic birth, but might book her in for some more.
Struggling so much with the evenings, DH takes over when he comes home from work but last night all 3 of us were pretty much in tears, it's so hard to listen to and not know how to fix it

[LeonoraFlorence]

It could be that lying flat on her back is making her uncomfortable with the acid coming up? Poor thing. With DD4 I found that the gavisvon only lessened the sickness, she needed ranitidine for the pain the acid was causing her.

[LeonoraFlorence]

Sorry, I mean if the screaming is coniciding with when you're lying her down on her back it could be why.

[CocktailQueen]

If she has reflux then as the others said it will be very sore when she lies down - acid will be coming back up her throat. Tilt her cot so she's more upright, or maybe try her in her car seat. If the gaviscon is not enough, she may need more medication. It can be a long road to getting medication right so she feels better.

If you pick her up and hold her upright to sleep, is that better?

[LeonoraFlorence]

How is she if you lie her on your chest at that time? So she's on her tummy.

[Izzy83]

Yes I have read the gaviscon alone doesn't work well the GP gave us a few days worth and is calling me on later in the week after talking to a paediatrician. Her cot is tilted up for sleeping but the evening screaming is before she's even put down, starts once she's ready for bed and still being held upright

[MaisieDotes]

The Gaviscon has worked wonders for us. DC3 is 22 weeks now and he's been on it since 16 weeks and it worked from day one. A massive difference.

The evening screaming could be over-tiredness. Having reflux is exhausting for the baby, and affects how well they nap. So a build up of tiredness from the day could lead to an overtired baby in the evening.

See how you get on with the Gaviscon, I hope it does the trick for you.

[LapinR0se]

Is she really overtired in the evenings? How are her naps and sleeping overall

[Izzy83]

Her napping is bad during the day, 30 minutes max at a time. I have read that reflux can cause bad daytime napping so may just all be connected!
She's been on gaviscon for 24 hours now, haven't seen much improvement, she just looks so uncomfortable when eating poor little one

[northerngoldilocks]

We had this. I used a wrap sling and put her in it about 5 pm and she stayed there all evening sleeping. No screaming. Then took her to bed when I went and she slept on her tummy on my chest (I slept slightly propped up). It's not an advised method and obv make sure you have safe co sleeping (lots of advice available) but was way better than my efforts with baby no 1 (who with hindsight also had silent reflux but I had no idea then that it wasn't normal ). Think that the wrap sling stopped her being overtired though as sleeping upright and tightly held