Hernia and reflux in newborn

[mothergould]

My DS is 6 weeks and we discovered a hernia in his groin over the weekend. We took him to a&e in panic mode where the dr showed us how to pop the hernia back in. Whilst there ds projectile vomited over the doc and was being his normal tearful self, this lead to a diagnosis of reflux!

Ds cries constantly, wont let us put him down (screams loads), vomits all the time, struggles with constipation, barely sleeps during the day, hates being led on his back in his moses basket at night, bf every 2 hrs and he also has a tongue tie.

dh and i are now exhausted and wondered if anyone had any suggestions that could help us ease ds's pain and help him settle. Most nights i end up co-sleeping with him and cant get anything done during the day because he wont let me put him down!! help!

this site has some good products and advice. My dd had mild reflux which just in the last week she seems to have started to outgrow. I always changed her bottom before rather than after feeds,and kept her upright for a good 20 minutes after. I also bought a wedge pillow from that site for sleeping, which really helps. Also feeding every couple of hours like you are is better than 3-4 hours.I read that a sling really helps, but I never had to resort to that as a constant. I think I read some good advice in either sleeping or feeding. Also rubbing rather than patting is better for winding.

Maybe look at lactose intolerance? DD was very constipated with it, which hospital said is a symptom but rare as usual symptom is the opposite!

Have a look at a close baby carrier was fantastic for dds reflux as upright and could get things done! - a carrier where they can have their legs up in a froggy position are best!

Ive tried a carrier but he doesn't like it! to be honest he is a little bit too small for it as he still only 7 and a half pound, he was 2 weeks prem and only 5 pound 12. We are going to try a baby swing and see if that helps.

Do I just need to cut out dairy products for lactose intolerance?

I got a very good book when my second was little which I think you'll find very helpful. It was so good I gave it to our local breastfeeding councillor for her 'library' of books. It's 'Colic Solved' by Bryan Vartabedien who is an American doctor. Available on Amazon.

I don't know if you had heartburn when you were pregnant. If you did you'll know a bit about how the baby is feeling. Keep the baby upright as much as possible.

Is baby breast or bottle fed? If breast fed there is a way to feed them so they're kind of upright. You lay them on your tummy, you're sitting up but leaning back a bit (so you'll need to prop yourself comfortably); you're tummy to tummy, babies head up at boob, feet down towards your legs.

Did the doc give you any medication for him like Infant Gaviscon? Mine had that but became constipated on it, but I've heard great things from others. There are other medications.

Try an osteopath that specialises in babies.

Are you sure he's constipated? What's it like?

Regarding getting things done during the day, forget it! You won't look back and wish your house had been tidier or cleaner - plenty of time for that later. If anyone else is bothered by it let them get on with it. You just have to get through this time and it's much easier if you just concentrate on the task in hand (baby and you) and keep to the present.

He doesn't seem to be losing weight which is good with such violent vomiting. Mind you, I was apparently a vomiter and was also a chubby baby.

I also liked the Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp (also an American doctor). The first doctor doesn't like this book, but I think you can use the second book for calming techniques and the first for help specific to reflux.

Re. milk intolerance, if you're breastfeeding come off all dairy (it can take a few weeks to see the difference), if bottle feeding there are dairy free formulas - ask doc for a prescription.

Be careful about the co-sleeping when you're so tired. Can you get a cot with a removable side? Put it on a slope with lots of books under the feet at one end. And try and swaddle him for the next couple of weeks (my baby would break out after 8 weeks).

Thrown a lot at you here - God I feel for you!

I hope the docs at the hospital gave you a bit more help than a diagnosis.

Can recommend infant gaviscon - DD had (mild) reflux and was bottle fed (though I might have lasted longer than 16 days BF if I'd realised about the reflux....) and Gav made big diff. I think you can use with BF - you mix a paste and put it on the boob or something? Also, as with Hop, make sure you change before feeds always, and prop them up during and afterwards - we found approx 30 mins made big improvement. Biggest problem was getting the Grannies to understand that if they fed DD they must do this. In the end gave up on grannies doing any feeding. Again the rubbing rather than patting for winding does help. It's lots of small things but they do add up.

Reflux DOES go when they get bigger & outgrow it; it's just shit for now plus you're all getting used to each other. You have my heart felt sympathy - good luck!

PS: F**k the housework.

Thanks for the advice, it really helps knowing that we aren't the only ones who have had to deal with this!

wannabeglam he really strains when he is having a poo or even just farting, goes bright and grunts and sometimes cries in pain. i have noticed that when i push his hernia back in he immediately breaks wind so i dont know if that is the problem.

I know you are both right about the housework, I'm not even normally a clean freak. I guess it just because I feel like it should be my job to keep on top of it now I am at home all day. But ginganinja said it best, f**k the housework!!!!

I have noticed an improvement in ds since he has been in the meds, generally seems more happy and even lets me put him down now and again. HV came round yesterday and has a slight concern about his weight gain, he is now in the bottom 0.4 percentile, hopefully this is just down to the reflux and nothing more serious. Also have a hospital appointment booked in for his hernia, it will be a huge relief once its sorted.

I just feel really helpless when he is screaming in pain and there isn't anything i can really do to ease the pain.

My baby's inguinal hernia was also discovered at 6 weeks and he was operated on the next day. The paediatric surgeon we saw was of the opinion that the risk of incarceration was greater at this age. We were advised not to attempt to push it back.

My baby too had reflux which was diagnosed at this point. SMA Staydown worked a treat for us. He was on the 9th centile whilst vomiting most of his feed, and eventually settled on the 75th centile, where he is still now (toddler).

Good luck - it does get better.

yes to avoiding dairy, worth a try and will see a difference within a week!

I used the close baby carrier from 1 day old and DD was 5 lb 1oz - they are in an upright tucked up position, not with their out at all, but tucked up against their body - it is a wrap carrier like the moby but i just found it easier to put on as no tying...

if he has been prescribed infant gaviscon it nearly always makes them constipated but a regular dose of lactulose sorts it out - can get it prescribed or over the counter! it isnt a laxative it just draws water into the bowel to make it easier for them to go, doesnt enter the blood stream at all x

Is he bottle-fed as it's rare for breast-fed babies to be constipated?

My mother had a hernia and whenever it popped out she'd pass out on the floor with the pain of it - don't know if it's so bad for babies, but once that's sorted hopefully things will improve enormously. If you're having to wait for the op. ring the surgeon's secretary and beg for a closer one - cry on the phone!

If he's straining maybe put a bit of support against the hernia area so it doesn't pop out with the straining. And if his poo is a bit hard get the doc to give you something for him because straining is bad for hernias.

Thinking of you and poor baby.