Reflux/Colic?

[Lizzabeee]

Hi mumsnetters

I have been a silent reader for many years now and this is my first time posting.

I'll set the scene. DS2 was born in June - now 6 weeks old. When he was born (natural birth) he gagged quite a lot and the MW said that it was "mucus". From the first couple of hours he was combi fed because of his TT - he didn't quite latch and left my nips rugby ball shaped with blood blisters so he was given formula top up.

He had his TT cut at 2 weeks (ish?) I persisted with BF for a few more weeks and stopped when he was 4 weeks. The cut didn't really improve anything. He is now fully FF. After I stopped BF he improved loads so I'm wondering if he didn't agree with my milk? We put him on the "Comfort" formula after HV said it was Colic as he was also very constipated too.

So I know because of Covid everything has to be different but I am quite miffed with the HV situation tbh. 2 week check at home came with a very casual HV & a student. I spoke to her about how after he feeds he seems really uncomfortable and that can't really get much wind out of him. Instantly she said "Sounds like Colic - get Infacol". He also struggles with hiccups after most feeds so I asked her if the Infacol would help with the hiccups and she said "well it might - but it might not" which frustrated me because if she didn't know i'd rather she just said that she didn't rather than giving such a wishy washy response almost just to cover her back? She was too laid back for my liking.

Anyway. So DH went out straight away and bought Infacol which seems to have worked? More (orangey) burps are coming however he still seems uncomfortable - especially on his back - and we have resorted on putting him on his tummy to sleep. I know you're not "supposed" to but it works for us.

DS1 is under ENT for adenoids & tonsils (had them both removed last year) and DS2 is making some verrrrry strange noises. He squeaks when he sleeps and feeds and at night he grunts too.

I called the HV team to get DS2 weighed this week and it was horrible. You walk into a room where it feels like an interview. One HV sat facing me with her laptop on one table and another doing the same the other side of the room. No introduction to any HV. No chair to sit down on - no invitation to chat. Third HV weighed DS2 - weight gain is amazing (double birth weight at 6 weeks lol) then i felt really pressured to just leave. They didn't even ask me how I was getting on which threw me. Surely they should ask that out of protocol?! Ugh.

I got him ready to go and then thought actually fuck it - i'm going to mention the squeaking when he sleeps. So I did and played them the video and the HV who was at my house at 2 weeks was like "well it could be something - or it could be nothing. Just check with the GP".

I just felt like the whole situation was complete bollocks and I feel so so sorry for first time families.

BASICALLY after this mammoth post I am just after some advice really.

1. Shall I persist with Infacol?
2. Shall I try gripe water? If yes - does it go in the bottle with the formula or given via syringe?
3. Shall I complain about HV experience this week?
4. Shall I speak to GP before 8 week check or just mention it then?

I have no idea if this is reflux/colic/or just a strange fussy, grunty, squeaky bubba

Thanks guys

My kiddo is 3 months and still has reflux issues. Infacol helps with hiccups sometimes - try gripe water. We use a syringe we bought from Amazon and clean it with boiling water to sterilise it.

You can ask the GP about the other issues. Well done on his weight gain. There isn't much clarity about infant issues unfortunately, mainly due to the lack of testing on babies. It's trial and error.

Best wishes.

Thanks Biz. Do you add it to the formula or orally after feeds? And do you use Infacol & gripe water at the same time?

X

My child made god awful noises when she slept as a new born. She did have reflux (her older sister did too) but she had something called laryngomalacia, otherwise known as a floppy larynx. She was so noisy it used to sound like she was going to stop breathing sometimes, terrified me.

Only cure was time, she grew out of it by 3m there is no treatment at that age.

We had to get referred to a paediatrician to have it diagnosed, which involved having a camera put up her nose and down her throat at a few weeks old which was utterly horrible. But at least we knew was it was and that it wasn't dangerous.

Noisy sleeping is super common with reflux too, especially silent reflux.

Oh and as for your questions:

1. Infacol was rubbish but if it's working for you it won't do any harm. For persistent reflux your GP can prescribe (or could, a couple of year back) Ranitidine or a paediatrician can prescribe Omeprazole or Lansoprazole which help. Don't bother with baby Gaviscon, it doesn't help much and makes them really constipated!

2. Gripe water made no difference for us, worth a go though.

3. You can complain, but there's probably not much point. They'll just blame covid! I'd use my time and energy getting baby sorted and so making your life less stressful.

4. Contact the GP, don't wait!

@Bizjustgotreal

My kiddo is 3 months and still has reflux issues. Infacol helps with hiccups sometimes - try gripe water. We use a syringe we bought from Amazon and clean it with boiling water to sterilise it.

You can ask the GP about the other issues. Well done on his weight gain. There isn't much clarity about infant issues unfortunately, mainly due to the lack of testing on babies. It's trial and error.

Best wishes.

I give them to him separately. Just shoot it in the back of his mouth. He gargles it a bit but it goes down.

Baby gaviscon is working okay for us. We give him comfort mill from time to time to stop constipation and that has worked. Gripe water tends to get things going too.