CMPA, heart murmur, reflux?

[elm26]

Posting for traffic.

My baby girl is 6 weeks old today. For the last 3 weeks we have been back and forth to doctors because she screams in pain after milk, bringing her legs up to her chest, brings up around half the bottle each feed, is either constipated or has diarrhoea with mucus in it.

The first time we went, they gave me gaviscon to put in her milk, few days went past and no change, went back and they gave me omeprazole but warned this could be CMPA. They told me to put her on a thick anti reflux milk which I've done and to give omeprazole.

She's had omeprazole for the past 5 days and last night was worse than ever. Trying to move her face away from the bottle but crying because she's hungry, legs back up to chest, hiccups, sick, wheezy chest during and after feeding.

Took her back today and the doctor has told me she has a heart murmur. Called our local hospital on call paediatric who said to up her omeprazole and they will send an outpatients appt to check her heart.

I am petrified now, I had 13 miscarriages before her, she is my entire world and I'm scared this is something serious. Dr didn't seem bothered by it.

I'm convinced she has CMPA but they've now prescribed omeprazole in liquid form as before I was having to quarter a tablet which was crumbling everywhere and utter nightmare.

Does anyone have any experiences with heart murmurs, CMPA or reflux? Any tips? I wind her offer throughout feed, keep her upright for at least 20 mins after, I am on my knees with exhaustion and now an anxious mess about this heart murmur. Dr rushed me out the door as she was as running late with her appointments.

Baby was born at 5lb 15oz a week early (she stopped growing at 37 weeks) and is now 8lb 13oz so is gaining weight.

Thanks in advance.

I wind her often* that was meant to say.

She also arches her back and screams in pain after a bottle.

If the GP didn't seem worried you don't need to worry. My son was diagnosed with a murmur as a tiny baby and referred to the paediatric heart clinic. I was in bits, he has another disability that can mean problems with the heart. The GP had said it sounded like an innocent murmur, he was thoroughly examined at the clinic, ecg, echo etc and it was indeed an innocent murmur. No need for futher examination or treatment, case closed.

My second baby had CMPA. I think your baby does too. It's the mucus in the poo - dead giveaway. You're FF aren't you? I'd get your baby onto hypoallergenic formula straight away. If the doctor won't give it, buy a tin yourself and see if it makes a difference. If it does then tell the GP you've changed formula, symptoms have improved and ask for a prescription.

Heart murmurs are very common.

My son had one picked up at his 6 weeks check.

He had a check at hospital and they heard it, back for follow up at 6 months and it was gone.

In the absence of any other symptoms it’s very likely completely fine.

Sorry - that should say ‘innocent’ heart murmurs are very common.

Thank you both for your reassuring answers.

Sorry TMI but this is what the mucusy poo looks like. It's horrible.

I didn't know I could buy it, I will have a look online. Thank you!

Hi elm26,

We’ve literally just gone through this with our DS. He’s a preemie and all of a sudden started vomiting large volumes of milk during and after every feed. I literally could not put him down without him being sick everywhere. Very long story short, we also had gaviscon, omeprazole, CMPA queried, potential murmur (turned out to be benign) and hernia queried.

Very long story short, we spent 6 nights in the children’s hospital after being converted re: dehydration. He was on fluids and nil by mouth before being referred for an ultrasound which confirmed pyloric stenosis. Our boy had keyhole surgery 2 days later and it’s like the switch has been flipped back. I believe it’s less common in females but worth asking about.

https://www.gosh.nhs.uk/conditions-and-treatments/conditions-we-treat/pyloric-stenosis/

It could be totally nothing like this, but we had never heard of it!