7 week old with reflux.. is there any hope? Will it ever get better??

[user1481139951]

My 7 week old has bad reflux.. constant throwing up after every burp followed by screaming, arching back, thrashing around.. he doesn't sleep well at all.. have yet to see him sleep through the night, so far it's still waking every 1 or 2 hours. He can't always take a full bottle so sometimes will have only 2 ounces and then fall asleep only to wake up 20 minutes later for more. When he does sleep he makes all kinds of noises, rasping, grunting, gagging, crying ect so I can never switch off or get any rest. He is so unhappy all of the time. Not seen a smile at all yet and hardly any eye contact. I'm exhausted and really hating every minute of what's meant to be such a happy time of life right now. As for what I'm trying to manage the reflux- gaviscon made no difference. Couldn't get him onto prescribed cows milk protein free milk as it was so thin he just threw it all up instantly and screamed bloody murder. Been prescribed ranitidine and have to pick it up next week but I'm concerned about the alcohol in it. I prop the cot up, burp him every 10 ml and sit him upright after feeds for 20 mins. I feel like I'm trying everything and getting nowhere and I'm losing hope that things will ever improve.
It's so depressing seeing your baby in constant pain and the fact that he's never smiled yet fills me with so much worry.
I'm afraid to go out anywhere because he cries constantly when he's awake and as he's always sick Im afraid to feed him in public so I feel trapped in my house all the time. I don't really have anyone to talk to and am feeling so lonely.
I guess I just want a bit of reassurance that there is an end to it all and that he will turn out a happy healthy baby after it all.
Sorry for the essay, just need to get it out really.

Has Pyeloric Stenosis been ruled out?

I had the exact same problem and was recommended the Nannys Goat milk powder which I used to buy in local health food shop. Must say that the improvement was immense.

You can't brave it out, your baby is in pain. Honestly, demand the omeprazole. Everything else is just faffing about and meantime your baby is hungry and miserable. You will sleep deprived and everything else seems harder then. Some people find it hard asking doctors for what they want but this is for your baby. Please start them on omeprazole. Keeping baby upright. Wedge in cot/basket. It does get better but you need the right meds

Have you tried Aptamil or Cow and Gate Anti Reflux milk? This worked when all of the mess failed for DS. I only wish I'd tried it sooner.

I meant to say "meds"

Don't think I'm going to find a solution to this other than just braving it and waiting it out until he outgrows it

I know how hard it is when you've been palmed off and ignored by doctors, and that you're beyond exhausted, but you can't just "brave it". It could cause damage to his oesophagus, he is miserable and in pain and not managing to get the right nutrients. I'm never one to advocate frivolous trips to A&E but your baby needs to be treated and soon.

By which I meant, go to A&E, he's tiny and in pain.

If he's losing weight i would demand paediatric referral. Mine were slow to gain, but they shouldn't loose weight.

Op, that nurse seriously let you and baby down. I agree that A and E is the best place. You're doing brilliantly.

@user1481139951 I realised my last post was very blunt, it wasn't meant to be, I'm sorry.

User I'm in a very similar situation!! I have been fobbed off by GP and the dietician was also useless. My baby was weighed on Thursday last week and had also lost weight! He's now on 2nd centile which is really upsetting.

I went to a&e on Thursday and we were admitted. We saw a dietician whilst there and have been rapidly referred to paeds and speech and language. He now has 1 week to start gaining weight otherwise he has to start high calorie milk. He's also now on the highest dose of omeprazole.

I still don't know the cause for us but at least it's finally being taken seriously. It's so distressing that health professionals let it go so far before doing something!

Please let me know how it goes for you...we are still looking for answers!

Haven't read all the replies but have you tried an osteopath? They can work wonders for little ones suffering.

Just another update as so many people replied! We went into A&E where he was weighed and had gained a couple of ounces since the last weigh in where he had lost. He is now sitting right on the 2nd centile which the doctors there said they wanted to keep an eye on as they would be concerned if he dropped below. The peds there agree that it sounds like a milk intolerance and we have been given a referral to a pediatrician in a couple of weeks. They told us that they would likely start him on Neocate formula and look at changing him from the ranitidine at this referral appointment but as he'd gained a little bit of weight they decided to not switch his milk from the pepti just yet and wait until the next appointment. I have to say, all the nurses and doctors in the triage were lovely and really took the time to listen to what I was saying and took an interest and got us a referral which is such a big difference from the GPs I have been seeing.
As usual thank you everyone for your replies! Makes it a bit easier to hear other people's experiences and advice.

I hope you are feeling better about things now. Good news on weight gain

@user1481139951 when did things get better OP?

Hi, I know this is a very old post but was wondering how your LO got on as the years went by. When did he grow out of his reflux? I hope you both are doing well now.
My LB may have reflux, he’s 12 weeks and I’ve started him on gaviscon but I just feel a little anxious about the whole constipation issue.

Listen OP having been through this EXACT situation I can promise you there is light at the end of the tunnel. Also have you read about the fourth trimester? He is still so young at 7 weeks. Mine improved a lot around the 12 week mark. Power through. I know it's hard. Don't expect it to be easy. But it will get better. He will grow out of it. And you will forget about it until you go on Mumsnet and read someone's story that reminds you xx

@Anonymous2610 I posted on this thread a few years ago in the same boat you are in now. My little boy started with severe silent reflux at 2 weeks old. He cried ALL the time unless asleep. He was hospitalised at 10 weeks due to this fact. Diagnosed with GORD. Tried all sorts of meds. Omoprezole/ lanzoprezole seemed to help a bit but mainly it was just the passage of time/ maturation that helped. Never found gaviscon that useful. If constipation happens, get the Ella prune pouches once weaning or before that a calpol syringe of pure orange watered down by cooked boiled water (HV told me to do that) or just cooled boiled water on its own. My eldest was similar but it eased off dramatically by 12 weeks. Youngest only eased off at about 4 months. BUT now it is a distant memory. I know that probably doesn’t help you right now in the moment but it will pass quickly. Have you got support around you? My mum used to walk DS2 round the block in the evenings so I could bath DS1 in peace. Sending lots of love as reflux is tough.

@Anonymous2610 also forgot to say- try going to dairy free formula or dairy free diet yourself if breast feeding as I do know parents for whom this had a massive impact very quickly.

@Mommaplaysthebanjo thank you so much for your response. Your post from 2017 must feel like from ages ago isn’t it? So glad your DS1 and DS2 are doing better now!
I’m just hoping my little one’s reflux slowly improves with time as well. But I can’t imagine doing this for up to a year😭. I’ve started him on Gaviscon, and thinking if I should change his milk to anti reflux one.

Thank you for all the advice! Really appreciate it x