Support thread for all parents with reflux babies...

[PosieParker]

Just thought a pooling of ideas would be useful. Any ideas about meds, symptoms, coping strategies, things to make a baby quiet!!

Symptoms:

Arched back and crying/screaming after feeding
Fussy on/off breast or bottle
Frequent feeding
Little sleep
Constant crying/screaming

(please add)

Meds:

My memory is a little rose on this and I can't remember

Coping

SWING,
pushchair walks
accepting help
Sometimes putting your baby somewhere you can't hear them whilst you have a large gin cup of tea.

I'm only going by what my HV said regarding the acid. She said it would take a few days for the inflammation and soreness from the acid reflux to settle down after the IG stops it coming up. That was my experience too, so you may still find it does make some difference. Having said that your DC sounds pretty bad so perhaps IG won't help and you'll need something more powerful. Hope you get help from your GP.

oh guys, can i join here [weary emoticon]? ds is 12 days, sure he has (mostly) silent reflux like my DD did. I am heartbroken. I thought this baby (and us) was due sone good luck. I am going insane with tiredness/ trying to establish BF and missing my DD aged 2.5 who i have no time for.

i am sorry there are so many of us on here .

narmada I've been following your other thread. Much sympathy, I too had a rotten time with my first and had high hopes for an easier run this time. It's soul-destroying. I really hope things improve for you soon.

It really is. I try and be grateful (prompted by my wonderful DH) for all that we have - an essentially healthy boy and girl, roof over head etc. But it is hard to remain positive. I've skim-read your posts on here (sorry not to be more diligent - lack of time) and see you are in similar position - e.g., it's your second baby.

I am looking at my DD 2.5, thinking 'thank god it does eventually get better' - actually with ehr it did at about 6-7 months. But it does seem an awfully long way off and I am not sure where I'll find the fight from this time. Also so sad that I cannot just enjoy our lovely new baby. Do you feel the same?

I hope things improve for you soon, too, by the way. I will think of you when we are at the GP tomorrow (goiong to try for an appointment and try not to be fobbed off this time).

Thanks :) today's been a bit better. She's such a sleepy baby by nature that she's struggling to get enough, I think that's why she got so upset last night. Easier to keep her happy when DP's home to help. I'll let you know how we get on with the GP, and best of luck.

i found some gaviscon in the cupboard left over from DD. So going to give it a try before going to GP. tried some in middle of night, whether coincidence or not we then had a better night.

how did you get on at GP BTT? totally agree re. having DP at home. I am planning not to be alone with my two DCs for quite some time to come...lots of nursery for DD etc, but don't know if it'll be possible.

Good day, awful afternoon. HV phoned earlier, supportive at least. GP not until Wed. Currently lying feeding her in the dark, think it makes it worse as much as it helps but she wants to latch on for comfort and so hard to refuse when she's in pain and just exhausted :(

how was your night btt? ours crap. sorry you had a rotten PM yesterday.

we saw v sympathetic GP today who immediately agreed it was reflux and said to try the gaviscon for 2 weeks and if no improvement we can move on to something else like ranitidine or omeprazole. nice to deal with one who doesn't make you feel like you're bonkers or a malingerer.

i hope you get a sympathetic hearing on weds.

i know what you mean about the feeding for comfort. i think it makes things worse too - have been using a dummy to settle him with varying degrees of success.

Is it standard for these babies to be much worse in the evenings? I've put it down to overtiredness but she definitely seems more painful in the evenings than during the day.

Rotten night narmada, but thanks for asking! Great that your GP's helpful, sounds like they're switched on. :)

Hi, can i ask any of you who are using Zantac - does it make it harder for baby to poo? My 9 week old seems to be having difficulty with it ( adding to the rest of the pain ) and I was wondering if it was indeed the medication, she came off of gaviscon for the same reason. Also does anyone manage a regular feeding timetable (for want of a better word) I seem to have a breast out constantly when I'm at home, especially in the evening.

Timetable? What's that?!

Can I also ask about medication? I've remembered the name of the product mentioned to me by the community nurse - Carobel. Anyone used it? Is it really gentler on the stomach (ie doesn't bung them up?)

Fontsnob whenever we change a reflux medication, my DS2 takes time for his digestive system to adjust. I guess the fact is that it is affecting their digestive systems so may affect bits it's not supposed to affect too. I find DS2 settles down after a few days. The GP said he could prescribe Lactulose (a stool softener) reluctantly if required, but I personally add a couple of drops of orange juice to his water (now he is 8 months) and this helps. This was advised by a paediatric nurse.

My two have been happy to feed three hourly, after I generally stopped feeding on demand at about 3 weeks, despite the reflux, but I always tried a dummy first before trying a feed if they didn't settle with the dummy. Obviously, everyone has their own opinion on using a dummy, but for me a) it helps the reflux according to some of the websites and b) it meant I could get into a routine and never needed to feed for comfort. Neither fed in the night from 9 weeks onwards. However, I know that a lot of babies cluster feed - I was just lucky that mine didn't. I used the Baby Whisperer book which works on an eat, activity, sleep (and 'you' time) (thus E.A.S.Y) idea. Timing is flexible, but that's what she recommends over an approximately 3 hour period. Hope this helps.

I know, timetable was a bad choice of words (I blame being a teacher - mind you, you'd think I'd thrive on routine and be living a Gina Ford dream - ha bloody ha). Thanks for the suggestions, dd gags on a dummy but I just read somewhere on a thread that the rounder ones may be easier to take than the orthadontic ones so I may try that as I'm never sure if it's hunger or comfort in the evening and by her 11pm bedtime my nipples have had enough. Oh how I laugh at my naive pre baby self who was definite that baby would be asleep by 7 every evening! Btw it's thanks to this thread that I was confident enough to go to the doctors a few weeks ago as dd was having pretty much every symptom described by you all. Thank you.

Well, the GP thinks it's more likely to be nasal congestion so we've got more saline to flush her nose with and we've to go back in a week or two if no better at which point he'll consider reflux. I am sceptical (thought reflux could cause nasal congestion) but she had a really good day yesterday, bit of howling in the afternoon but then she slept through the evening. I'll come back to you on this :)

Ladies, I find such comfort in reading your stories, although I feel the tiredness and frustration felt by you all. However hard is it to get someone to listen to you about your baby being in pain? My Ds now 19 weeks projectile vomited from birth until about 13 weeks but from then on suffers with silent reflux and its awful watching him in so much pain! HV advised seeing gp again who prescribed Lansoprazole. (Anyone else on this?) Didnt make a difference and noticed Ds became very hoarse at weekend and even started grunting when breathing when lying down. Went to out of hours where woman gp made me bf him in front of her and checked me winding him in case it was wrong (also got 2+ yr old bf for 18m!). Felt v deflated went to my gp on mon who asked what symptoms made me think reflux even though he's already on meds for it and then suggested I should have some antidepressants :(I AM JUST TIRED! Have asked HV to refer to paed cos I want 2nd opin. Since Mon tho, gp has made me question everything...am I mad? In ref to the proj vom when going out...i had several spares of everything for me and Ds. Also hundreds of muslins and took an old bed sheet when going to friends. Found myself being a bit of a recluse tho! You can never explain how far it goes til people see first hand...really feel for you big hugs :-) sorry for jumping in but very fed up of know one understanding and thinking im being neurotic x

ladybiskybat poor you. sorry you are getting next to no medical support. is it any wonder you seem depressed??? why are docs so often prone to presuming the problem originates in the mother??! anyone would feel down being as tired as a reflux baby makes you.

a question from me: to what extent do you LOs choke on feeds? we are currently trialling gaviacon which is def not keeping the sick down (DS is mostly silent). he said try it for 2 weeks but the choking post- and during feeding is freaking me out. should we press for referral sooner?

bollocks, what a load of bollox about nasal congestion, i am inclined to think. but then i am not a doctor.

we had a good day yest too and thought all was solved. but oh, the nights..... how was your day today??

Narmada thanks for the sympathy. I see what you guys say on here I look at my little man and know it is reflux but very reluctant to tell gp about using these support sites. He's usually very good my other LO suffers with wheezing and always very helpful. My hv says you go 4 times to gp with baby they think you have PND. Boo hiss. My DS often chokes during a feed and quite often afterwards too. I hear it come up then he starts to cough, I agree its terrifying and I find myself checking on him throughout the night and defo not into his own room yet. Does anyone have a smiley baby? My DS is a model lovely. Smiles and is pleasant all of the time apart from feeding (altho not all of the time) and for about 2 hours after when he grimaces/cries/arches/becomes rigid. He's not fretful or irritable and aside from feeding/after is fabulous little one...although I have now bought a sling because I have to carry him upright all of the time, will not sit at all. Anyone else have LO like this as its the only thing putting doubt in my mind gp implies reflux babies always irritable? I hope you all get some sleep tonight it xx

Lady, my dd is generally a smiley happy one, she has every symptom listed here on this thread though. I know what you mean about feeling doubt because they aren't screaming all the time. The Zantac has really helped my dd although it's horrible for her to take as the taste is so strong. She still has bad days but not nearly as often now and I'm hopefull that she will grow out of it. I hope you get some help too. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself to the GP, after all you are the person with your baby all day and night to see what's happening.

Ah well, bad day here - she cried herself crazy 3 times, just desperate for sleep but can't settle comfortably. She's alway groaning, writhing and wheezing in her sleep, but more often can't fall asleep to start with. Bags under her eyes too :(. Think we'll be going back to the doctor with a list of symptoms and DP.

To those whose babies are happy - DD is only 6 weeks but is a content wee soul in the morning. She's never whiny or grumbly, just sore.

Hope you've all had a good day.

Feeling the pain of all of you. DD is 6m old today and has been fairly settled for about 6 weeks now but it's been v tough!
For those of you that are BF and have comfort feeders like mine, don't switch sides. Keep feeding from the same side for 2-2.5 hours at a time. Too much foremilk will make them more unsettled.
Also try cutting out dairy/soy and wheat/gluten from your diet. Try dairy/soy first then cut out other if you think it's still needed. Dairy/soy causes my DD to projectile. (Had a few coleiac digestives yesterday, than unfortunately had soy in them, DD projectiled next to DD1's (16yrs old) prospective 6th form headteachers foot at an open eve last night.)
Wheat/gluten gives her mega painfully tummy cramps, spasms and makes her very unsettled and unable to relax and go to sleep even in my arms, we had 4m of hell!
Very un MN type hugs to you all.

We have a happy chucker here, apart from during feeding when the meds are wrong. We're on lansaprzole this week but haven't formed an opinion yet, other than DS2 is properly constipated.

To those of you struggling to get recognition at the GP, please do not wait weeks/question yourselves. I have learnt this year that the amount GPs/HVs know about this can be extraordinarily limited. You have the right to request a second opinion and paediatric referral and they have to have a good reason to say no! I really am going to start a campaign in the coming months to ensure a certain level of common understanding amongst these folk. It's crazy how varied a response we all get and is just not right. Rant over (p.s. I might bottle up my GP and sell little bottles of him to you lot as he's fab).

p.s. Can I suggest taking a partner or family member with you for back up? My GP knows we mean business when DH turns up too. I think it's harder for a GP to disagree with the father, who (male?) GPs assume are more level-headed that their emotional wives/partners!! This may be extremely harsh, but at least your DPs can back you up in the severity of the symptoms etc..

Fonts...my baby was on zantac but it made him worse and didnt stop the sick so we came off it. Five...my gp reckons my diet wont affect Ds...is that rubbish then? I bf exclusively. Think he must comfort eat as was on 50th when born went up to over 91st and now tailing off just under 75th. That's why they're not bothered...He's putting some weight on after all....Bethylou...think you're right bout DH being there. Will try that on next visit. And I defo agree about the lack of understanding it's so frustating. Thank goodness my hv has referred him, just hope appt not weeks away. Ps we been on Lansoprazole now for ten days and not noticing much diff? Gp said to try domperidone again...but thought that stopped the sickness and he's not being sick anymore? Btw not affected his nappies too much although instead of being smooth it seems a bit more curdled? Very vinegary and altho never sits in nappy his bum is always very sore looking?