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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Silent Reflux

14 replies

KATC2010 · 27/01/2011 17:18

I have just come back from an app't with my GP with a prescription for Infant Gaviscon for my BF baby. We are thinking that DD may have silent reflux - she has been in terrible pain with hours and hours of screaming every evening and most mornings. She does this like gasping/swallowing thing, arches her back and writhes/coughs/chokes sometimes when feeding. Anyway I just wondered if anyone else has used Infant Gaviscon in a BF baby and how they got it into their baby? Would be most interested anyone who has an experience to add! xxx

OP posts:

PrincessScrumpy · 27/01/2011 17:35

We had this and I managed to bf throughout. All got better once dd was on solids.

I used a syringe half way through each feed. She screamed so it made sense to then put her back on to calm her and finish the feed.

(Infacol made it worse for us). It does pass!

Original poster

KATC2010 · 27/01/2011 17:49

hi PrincessScrumpy thanks for your quick response! How many times a day did you give it and did you give the 15ml (i.e. one full sachet made up as instructions)as I was thinking that's a lot - it's 3 syringes full! I was thinking I would us a syringe as that's how i've given the colief and paracetamol but just didn't know whether it would be ok to make it up to just the 5ml rather than 15ml?

OP posts:

Iggly · 27/01/2011 19:51

DS had silent reflux and infant gaviscon didn't help (I BF). Ranitidine was better - it neutralised the acid whereas gaviscon doesn't.

We gave the 15 ml but it did seem a lot!

ekkiethump · 27/01/2011 21:33

DS had silent reflux but gaviscon worked wonders. he went from a screaming baby that never slept to an angel who couldn't get enough sleep.
unfortunately after 4 months of screaming i gave up BF just before we started gaviscon. did do it for a little while but expressed mainly and mixed it with gaviscon in a bottle. i was so fed up by this point could not carry on any longer.
really need to give gaviscon with every feed for it to work properly.
and also just word of warning DS is 18 months and still has gaviscon twice a day in his milk via beaker. he is just about showing signs of being ready to wean off. apparently some babies dont grow out of it till up to 2yrs old.

allyfe · 28/01/2011 04:36

Our gp didn't bother prescribing gaviscon because it can be so hard to give to.bf babies. We went straight to ranitadine. I have lots of tips about that but fingers ccrossed you can get gaviscon to work and you don't need them. But if you can't get your baby to take gaviscon don't hesitate to go back to your doctor.

Also, was just wondering how old your baby is?

Hk13 · 28/01/2011 09:30

Hi,
I had a massive battle with my gp over my ds silent reflux. He didn't believe me when I described his symptoms and accused me of wanting to put ds on drugs so i could get some sleep (this was the same doc who when I went to see him with a prolapsed disc and sciatica told me he couldn't do anything for my back but did I want some anti depressants?!!!!) Needless to say I don't see him anymore.
Anyhow, we ended up paying to see a private paediatrician as gp wouldn't refer us (it was quicker than going through complaints procedure etc and just wanted to get ds some help) and we started on ranitidine which we had some success with but then tried another medicine, cannot for the life of me remember the name, which worked miracles. At 9 months he grew out of it and is completely fine now. I guess what I'm trying to say is persevere and things will get better eventually
Good luck and I hope your dd gets some relief soon.
(oh forgot to say I found gaviscon pretty much useless, but I used to use a syringe and drip it into the side of his mouth while bf which he seemed to mind less than having it all in one go)
Another thing the paediatrician said was if ds was having a particularly painful episode, don't be afraid to give calpol to help with the pain

Apologies for the rambling, haphazard post!

sparkle101 · 28/01/2011 18:55

Another one here with a baby on ranitidine. We were prescribed it at the hospital having been admitted when DD lost 12oz of her 5lb 12 oz birthweight. She became like a different baby overnight. A lot easier to give than gaviscon I gather having spoken to someone at mum and baby group.

Someone on my postnatal thread also has a bay suffering with refllux and they have given up dairy as this can make it worse apparently in BF babies.

Original poster

KATC2010 · 28/01/2011 20:45

Thanks to all for info. How is ranitidine administered? It is interesting what you say about dairy & reflux in BF babies sparkle101 as I have reduced dairy as much as possible and I do think that helped a little.

Nice Dr you used to havbe Hk13! What a biazarre thing to say aout wanting to put your baby on drugs so you could sleep - it's not as if any of the drugs for reflux are sedatives! I think the odc should have had the anti-depressants!

BTW baby is 8 wks old on Sunday and we're just managing to get the gaviscon in but it isn't by mixing it with breast milk and whilst I think at this stage it is helping the jury is still out on whether it will be a complete cure,hence my asking how the ranitidine is given. xxx

OP posts:

Hk13 · 28/01/2011 21:10

Hi,
Rantitidine comes in a liquid form and I used to give it from a syringe or mixed with some breast milk in a bottle.
It has a much smaller dosage than the gaviscon so isn't so difficult to administer.

Yep, my doctor should have been struck off years ago! Luckily all the other doctors there are brilliant so I just avoid him.

Good luck with the reflux - I know it can be very frustrating and exhausting but they do grow out of it eventually.

Bonners · 31/01/2011 16:06

Hi KATC2010,
We had the same thing and our GP prescribed Infant Gaviscon which was okay but only works for a short period so you have to keep giving it at each feed. It eventually escalated so 6wk old DS was referred up to sick kids hospital because we'd both gone almost 24 hrs without sleep.
The consultant there was wonderful and prescribed us domperidone and Losec (this is the brand name, could have been ranitidine). These only had to be given once or twice a day and only 5ml from a syringe. They took a few days to really take effect but once they did he settled into being a lovely, happy and well slept baby. DS is now 4.5 months and no longer needs the meds. BTW, I was EBF and am lactose intolerant so completely dairy free. I had to start formula shortly after all of this but it didn't seem to make a difference.

As to the infant Gaviscon, I went to the pharmacy and got a bigger syringe and gave him the full 15ml every time. We still used the gaviscon on top of the Losec and Domperidone when it got particularly bad. DS HATED taking it but I was a cruel mummy and forced it down him bit by bit with the syringe at the back and to the side of his mouth. I'd rather make him cry and scream for 2 minutes than him be in pain all night.

Good luck! Hopefully you've already got it a bit sorted.

FlouryBap · 31/01/2011 16:13

hmmmm - i used infant gaviscon and found it great. DD2 was ebf and I had to give it at every feed (up ot the maximum). it was a bit of a faff remembering to bring it all out and about with us and a pisser in the middle of the night but better than her being uncomfortable. I just mixed it up in a wee dish and gave it to her on a baby spoon. she loved it as she began to associate it with a feed.

she stopped needing it at about 8 months

Original poster

KATC2010 · 31/01/2011 22:48

Well so far the Gaviscon seems to have helped a lot - I wouldn't say she is cured but definitely is now a happy baby with just the occassional symptom. Fingers crossed that it continues to work for her - thanks so much to all of you for the info, it's really appreciated.

OP posts:

Athrawes · 01/02/2011 03:08

Gaviscon can be made up with breast milk and less liquid than it says on the packet. I used to feed with one boob and let the other squirt/leak into a small baking measuring cup (just a handy container with a handle) and mix up a sachet with about 5-8ml of milk. Squirt it in the back of the cheek as it tends to swallow easier.
I too went onto rinitidine very quickly under the premis of "if I have to do this every feed I will go insane/stop breastfeeding". It is just a ml or so morning and night. Roseate increases with weight gained and takes a week or so to take effect.
Good luck. Mine was hell then became a joy once his tummy got sorted.

Athrawes · 01/02/2011 03:12

Gaviscon can be made up with breast milk and less liquid than it says on the packet. I used to feed with one boob and let the other squirt/leak into a small baking measuring cup (just a handy container with a handle) and mix up a sachet with about 5-8ml of milk. Squirt it in the back of the cheek as it tends to swallow easier.
I too went onto rinitidine very quickly under the premis of "if I have to do this every feed I will go insane/stop breastfeeding". It is just a ml or so morning and night. Doseage increases with weight gained and takes a week or so to take effect.
Good luck. Mine was hell then became a joy once his tummy got sorted.

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