Could it be an allergy or just a med reaction

[BabyF24]

Long story short weve struggled with our 11 week old since she was about 3 weeks. She was very sicky and we put her on to an AR formula which worked a treat. However when she had her 8 week vaccinations she began to get very bad acid. She has since been put on omeprazole and we are currently on day 5. Day by day she is seeming much more chilled ....more smiles and she went an entire night without grunting!! HURRAH! (She would grunt all night from about 1am and her breath would smell so strong of acid)

This morning she did a BM which was pastey and normal for her. However it contained a lot of mucus. She was perscribed similac alimentum at about 4 week old but we could not get any down her she would refuse or sick it back up so we didnt think her reflux was cmpa/cmpi related.

Could this mucus be a reaction to the new meds which we give with 2ml of apple juice or could it actually be cmpa/cmpi?

I have no idea what to do anymore. My brain is scrambled.

Can I ask why you are giving her apple juice?

Because weve been advised to by the doctor. We were actually told to give it her with a puree but as shes only 11 weeks we think a liquid is better.

I'd really query that advice OP. I've never heard of a Dr recommending that and the mucus could well be because the apple juice is affecting her bowels.

Thats how the medicine is given. If you're really that bothered and have a look you'll find pretty much every mother has to give it to their child with something to mask the awful taste. If it fixes her acid reflux and i have to give her 2ml of pressed apple juice for her to take the meds, which is next to nothing. Then that is much better for her than her not taking the meds and acid eroding away her esophagus. Thanks for replying but i wasn't asking for advice on wether to give my daughter apple juice or not.

It could well be CMPA. I'm surprised the GP has prescribed anti reflux formula and omeprazole as the first line treatment, rather than checking whether it's due to CMPA.

PPIs will work for a bit on CMPA reflux and then stop working.

The NICE guidelines on childhood allergies recommend removal of suspected allergen as the first line treatment for symptoms like reflux and mucusy stool.

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor and will leave the baby with less stomach acid; it affects the whole balance of the gut flora, like antibiotics.

We did this with my DD 10 year ago, and I can't believe things haven't moved on since then. Take a look at the NICE guidelines and then go back to your doctor, would be my advice!

Thank you

Pleasure! Good luck - it's hard work on top of the usual business of having a little baby, and you may need to research your stuff and stick to your guns

I know its awful. I hate the fact everything is trial and error. I hate the thought of putting her through so much as such a young age. I never knew about cmpi/cmpa and i cant believe how common it is and that they dont test for it when they do the heel prick test! It would save so many families so much distress and heart ache. Were lucky that she is still a very happy smiley baby but when shes in pain and discomfort it breaks my heart. I just want to fix everything for her

I know! I'm afraid if it's gastro reaction there's no testing for it - it's just removing, checking the reaction and then reinstating to check whether symptoms return.

You sound like a fab mum. It'll get easier