Does my baby have a silent reflux?

[janski31]

For last few days my 8 week old baby has started to cry when she is drinking her bottle, she is only drinking 3 oz even though it should be 6 oz she drinks then crys and its nt wind, it starts in the morning and gets progressively worse during day so come tea time she is really crying and worked up, when she is like that she cant drink a bottle because even though she wants its she ends up choking then crying because she is all worked up. she always goes to bed about 7 and has a long sleep till about 1 (she doesnt sleep in the day much maybe an hour tops) then when she wakes for that bottle she really enjoys it and drinks the whole thing, she will then wake after 3 hours for another feed where she will drink 3 oz then back to sleep for maybe an hour or so if we are lucky as she crys a bit which she never used to do, during the day she has happy playful times where she is all smiles then you can see something starts to bother her, and thats how the day goes, sorry for the long post, have been to docs today and he has given her gaviscon, will it help? Fee so sorry for her as dont think she can relax if we go out in the car she wakes as soon as it stops and starts crying same when she is in her pram. Thanks for listening.

Sounds similar to DS who we thought had colic, the Gaviscon won't hurt and his milk intake doubled when he was on it.

Also try propping up the head end of whatever she sleeps in night and day as that will help.

It is awful though, the worst day was when he screamed 7 housrs straight and the HV said to give him Calpol, discovered that she had never heard of silent reflux.

If it does work be prepared for long term usage.

hi did you add the gaviscon as you made the bottle? as my baby has such an erratic feeding pattern during day its inpossible to know when to make a bottle so i make them in advance, how old is your ds thanks for replying

Just a couple of thoughts and probably way off base. What teat size are you using and is it possible she wants a faster flowing one? Or is it possible that she's just a baby who wants to feed little and often? How often are you feeding her in the day?

As I say, just thoughts. It's just that sometimes it seems like silent reflux is the new colic, and I reckon other things should be ruled out first, if possible.

Hi, you need to add the gaviscon to the bottle just before she is fed otherwise it will thicken the milk and make it difficult for her to suck it through the teat. My Dd has silent reflux, we started on gaviscon but to be honest it made no difference. If you find this too then get your gp to prescribe domperidone and omeprazole, these are the big guns which should definitely improve things for you.

He is now 2.7.

As gaelic sheep has said aswell have you tried colic relief stuff aswell as that is what we initially thought DS had.

We added to the bottle, he was an as and when boy but really settled dwon when he had the Gavsicon, also turned out he was intolerant cows milk.

Hi

Thanks so much for replying

gaelic sheep I have tried vari flow and no 2 teats gripe water, infa col and another one i cant remember the name of, she doesnt seem to draw her legs up or anything is that what normally happens when its colic? plus we can distract her with a bath etc it just starts again as soon we getting her dressed x

fivegomadindorset

where your bottles pre made when you added the gaviscon or not? sorry to be a pain its just not sure what to do doc didnt explain himself very well, thanks again x

You need to add it to the milk just before the baby drinks. Doesn't matter when the bottle itself was prepared just don't put the gaviscon in until you are ready to feed her.

I wasn't really suggesting it was colic . More that silent reflux can seem to be used as a fall back/catch all in the same way that colic used to be.

I know you said her feeding pattern is erratic, but how often do you think she feeds? Is she taking an acceptable amount in total? I suppose what I'm getting at is if she's taking 3 oz and you think she should be taking 6, is she making up that 3 oz later on, or might she be getting hungrier through the day? (My DD is breastfed but even at 8 months she's still a grazer).

Thanks wafflepuss we just tried that and it went it to a lump is that normal?

Gaelic sheep the last couple of days she hasnt had enough milk thats why i went docs today in total i think she has had 19/20 oz today where her intake should be 30 oz its so worrying just wish I knew what was wrong, thanks for replying though you have all been so helpful .

Janski, you could always try giving the Gaviscon separately by syringe. Just follow the instructions on the packet for breastfed babies.

Hi, yes we used to find that the gaviscon went lumpy and blocked the teats, you need to make sure you mix it really well into a paste with 5ml of water, then add another 10ml and mix again before adding to the bottle. If you just add it straight to the milk it doesn't really work. Agree that giving it via syringe is easier if you can do it.

Just a thought, but if she takes the bottle after her long sleep with no issues could it be that the lack of daytime sleep makes her progressively more and more tired so that by teatime she is so exhausted she is unable to feed properly?

my dd 2 wks behaves just like this and she HAS a reflux,is on gave,domperidone and ranitadine.They have attacked her reflux aggressively with meds due to her having a cleft palate and having aspirated milk into her lung causing pneumonia at 6 days.I am still learning but have her cot/pram tilted a bit and just spend time trying to keep her happy,luckily she doesnt cry much just fusses.

Make up the bottles then add when you feed.