Reflux and lack of sleep-advice please

[Venetia2]

I have a 10 week old DD with reflux. She is fantastic otherwise and I suspect if she didn't have the reflux would really be quite a laid back baby - on the few good days she has she's wonderful.

We have tried Gaviscon-doesn't scream so much but still brings up loads of every feed and are now trying carobel thickner. Tried SMA staydown formula which for her should probably be called "SMA doesn't staydown".
Have also tried lots of the remedies for wind, like infacol and gripe water etc etc.
Moses basket is propped up and we try to keep her upright after feeds as much as possible.

HV not very helpful, saying things like babies with reflux can't have any routine and you will just be much more tired than other mums. (Not helpful when I am sitting covered in sick, holding back tears of tiredness, thinking about how much washing I have to do).

I am desparate. We are all very tired and covered in sick most of the time. The washing pile is likely to engulf me soon (everything she throws up on) and I feel so fed up that everyone else I know with a baby is talking about routines and sleep and I am struggling to keep her in clean clothes and not screaming in pain from reflux. Sleep is horrendous, we have better nights (where I get some) and worse nights (where I don't).

I would really like any advice anyone else has to offer and any suggestions at all.

I have some experience with reflux. My DD who is now 3.9 has had this since birth and it is utterly exhausting. If you haven't done so already I would take her back to the GP. There are other medications they can try - my daughter has ranitidine and gaviscon and the two seem to work well together. But there is also omeprozole and domperidone which can work too. IS her weight gain ok? I would ask the GP if it would be possible for a referral to a peadiatrician if you are concerned. the problem is that most health visitors and GPs seem to think that parents should just 'put up with' reflux babies as they will grow out if it....well that doesn't help you at the time. My daughter has silent reflux so we didn't have as much vomit as it sounds you have but I can understand how frustrated you must be. Really I would make sure she is on the right medication and go from there! Hope you get the help you need :)

I second other medication. We used ranitidine to neutralise the acid and managed the throwing up by:
No waisted clothes (trousers or shorts). Only all in ones or dungarees
Very loose nappies so they don't cut into the tummy
Keep upright after a feed for 30 mins plus a dummy (use a bouncy chair or sling but not too tight)
Wind by rubbing not patting.

I found a routine helped because ds would get overtired etc very easily. So napped regularly by sticking in a sling after being awake for 45 mins (or fed/rocked to sleep). He then fell into a routine although didn't always do it every day!

Your little one could be intolerant to cows milk so ask your GP about getting partly hydrolysed formula. It tastes different but is easier to digest.

Mentioned earlier but consider a dummy. The sucking helps keep everything down.

Also consider putting her down on her left hand side for sleeping. Have her left arm outstretched to stop her rolling on her front and a rolled up blanket to keep her in position. Being on the left is better because it keeps the oesophagus (food pipe) above the stomach. I was worried about SIDs but DS choked on sick once from lying on his back ao did this from 4 months. By 6 months he was rolling onto his front and sleeping like that - slept much better for it too!

Some mums put reflux babies on their fronts with their legs tucked under to lift their bums (and tummies) in the air. I was too scared but would do it in hindsight. However it's up to you and depends if any other SIDs risk factors are there.

Another one saying get the right medication. Bypass the HV and go to a friendly GP. DD was on ranitidine for about a year and was a different child when the dose was right - you have to keep upping it as they grow. She also had a dummy and I put her to sleep on her tummy. Sleeping on their fronts is not recommended but I did everything else I could to cut out the SIDs risks and risked it. Apart from being in her cot (which was propped up on 4 videos each side one end), she was almost never lying down at all. She fed sitting up, spend a lot of time in a sling or bouncy chair.

But imo, your HV is right about having no routine and less sleep. So you need to work out a way of getting some rest/respite. Can you leave your DD with your partner or anyone else, even for an hour or so.

As for laundry. We covered our sofa in tesco value white towels, which were very cheap and could be changed often. I usually did one white load each day which included bbay's clothes (kept her in unisex neutral sleepsuits), towels and millions of muslins. Once you get into a routine of it, it does get easier.

You will get through it, but it is really hard when you are in the middle of it.

My DD is now 7months and her reflux is finally improving, and we are reducing her medication.

We did manage to get into a routine, I wouldn't say that it was a ridgid one, but she had regular naps and feds. My daughter is on amptamil comfort milk and gaviscon and rantidine. When she was 5wks old I started to give her 4hourly feeds, that way I knew how much she had had, and she seemed to be less sick when fed on a empty stomach. I always kept her upright for 1/2 hour after a feed (she usually fell asleep on my shoulder). I used gripe water before each feed, which helped with wind. Her sleep began to improve once she was on rantidine and was sleeping 8-9 hours by about 14wks. I also became less fussy about changing her every time she was sick (if she wasn't soaked through).

It does get easier. I suggest you go back to the GP and get rantidine. If you notice no difference in her screaming in pain, then go back and ask for a referal to a paediatrician. If your GP is unhelpful you can always take her to A&E. There is also a website- crying over split milk, I think, which is very helpful. Mayb someone else will have the link.

Hello,
It does pass as they get older. I think you have a choice... sit it out, cope with the bad sleep, the sick, and the distressed baby as best you can in the knowledge that once she's on solids and develops generally it will pass.

Or....... the full on medication approach. If you don't feel the above is an option I would advise you to go down the specialist route a.s.a.p. I had friends who faffed about for several months with babies in pain and not much sleep etc etc, and finally got specialist help and medication that worked- often months down the line by which time the baby was starting to grow out of the reflux anyway.....

Quite a lot of babies at this age have some sort of reflux... it's just how severe it is and that can be a matter of perspective....