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Please Help! Reflux and Constipation

2 replies

CNN91 · 09/03/2025 09:04

Hi there

In desperate need of help/advice/experiences.

Our 5 week old baby has had a rough start. He was born prematurely (3 weeks early) and struggled to gain weight. 2 weeks ago he had his tongue tie snipped and we thought we turned a corner and he was able to take more milk.

However, the more milk he was taking, we noticed him getting extremely uncomfortable - sick, arching back, couldn't lay flat, irritable and fussy, windy and gasy. We took him to see a gastro pediatrician last Wednesday, who diagnosed him with reflux and prescribed him Infant Gaviscon. After just one feed we noticed such a huge difference and again thought we turned a corner.

However, very quickly we noticed he become uncomfortable and unsettled again. He is passing his bowels, but seems to be straining and uncomfortable doing it. They're not rock solid, but they're also not soft. We are aware infant Gaviscon causes constipation. We've got a follow up appointment on Wednesday with the pediatrician.

I know people have mentioned lactolose being given for constipation, but we were told that due to children under 6 months not having water, the lactolose can end up making their tummy bloated and even more uncomfortable.

Has anyone used an anti-reflux formula that didn't seem to cause much constipation and discomfort? I've seen a few people said even Aptamil anti-reflux formula causes constipation, so don't want to switch to that.

We've also got kendamil probiotic drops that we give to our daughter for healthy digestion etc. Don't know whether that would work?

Please - Any help will be much appreciated - were at the brink of exhaustion.

Thank you x

OP posts:
EternallyUnsurprised · 10/03/2025 05:14

You could try a teaspoon of cooled boiled water once or twice a day. But might be better in between feeds so it doesn't counter the gaviscon.

Superscientist · 11/03/2025 14:13

We were on and off gaviscon from 6 weeks to 17 weeks before we accepted there wasn't an amount of gaviscon that would help the reflux and not cause constipation and accepted lactulose on prescription and it made a huge difference. She was also on high dose omperazole and I went dairy and soya free as she was breastfeed

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