EBF and Silent Reflux and other issues

[CJMommy]

Does feeding lying down have an effect on reflux? (Sounds like a daft question!)

The reason I ask is that if I put DD down in her cot, within 20 mins she's awake and always sounds like she is refluxing. However, she will happily sleep in bed with me all night, waking for a feed around 3am and 6am?

She was prescibed Gaviscon but after 2 weeks it made no difference so stopped it. We have our 6 week check next week (at 8.5 weeks) so was going to ask Dr for something else.

I am confused because she doesn't do the 'hours of screaming' like I've read many other families have on MN but she does,

• Feed all day (Snacking, sleeping on me for 10-20 mins then snacking...)
• Will not settle for longer than 20 mins other than on me and in our bed
• very slow weight gain 2-3oz per week so far
• Only settles when upright
• gasping and swallowing following feeds and inbetween
• At times, acidic smelling breath

She also makes a 'clicking' sound when feeding, appears that she is taking lots of air with each suck. I've had latch checked and did ask bf counsellor about a tongue tie; she said she may have a small one but would not be significant to have an impact and to monitor her weight weekly (which I am doing).She advised that 'clicking' may just be normal for her and to carry on as we are.

Ok, so I am a HCP in paediatrics and am wondering whether I am reading too much into all this and looking for things. Do I just have a baby that does not want to be put down and does feed continually and I need to find ways of working with this or do you think there maybe a problem? I do have a sling and am persevering with it but DD just cries when in it.

I don't feel I can carry on like this - I keep telling myself that if I can get to 12 weeks then she may start having longer gaps in feeding and may start sleeping in the day for decent chunks of time.

Is she sick after feeds? My daughter had reflux,she was sick after every feed she had. My Dr prescribed Gaviscon and it was useless. I mixed Carobel in her milk which thickened it therefore she kept it down and didn't wake from being hungry.I fell into the habit of letting her fall asleep on me-big mistake. Once I'd sorted the feeding issue,she slept in her cot. She cried at first,and to begin with I sat by her cot and gently tapped her chest so she knew I was there.Hope this helps?

Forgot to say I couldn't lie her down as this made the reflux worse ALOT! Infact she spent most of her time tilted up in a baby bouncer. If I lay her down there was sick everywhere.

Does she lie on her back when she sleeps in bed with you? My DD who has reflux will only sleep on her tummy. When they're on their back the oesophageal sphincter relaxes even more and the reflux gets worse - with mine, it's like the floodgates have been opened.
hth

I think it might be worth getting a second opinion on the tongue tie. Also DS used to do the clicking thing - he didn't take enough nipple into his mouth. The main reason was that I had a powerful let down - so he took down a lot of air which made him uncomfortable (so preferred sleeping on me as would get wind). If he slept or fed on his left hand side, the wind came up a lot easier - couldn't come up on his back.

He aslo had silent reflux. Gaviscon was useless. Cutting out dairy and putting him on ranitidine really helped (now at 16 months he still cant have dairy or soya without getting windy).

To tackle the powerful letdown (and oversupply), I started block feeding - so one boob per side unless he had a growth spurt. That wasn't enough so did the same side two feeds in a row. That helped reduce my supply making my milk slower. My supply responds quite quickly so disnt worry about drying up.

Bear in mind too that she is tiny so will want to be close to you. Keep an eye on her reflux aymptoms It could be extra air, but if you tackle the letdown (reducing the air swallowed) and it doesn't help then it could be reflux.

No she doesn't vomit and will sleep on her back occasionally but prefers her side.

Iggly That's exactly what DD is doing, not taking enough nipple and for the first minute of sucking she sounds like she is gulping litres down!! She does have a problem with wind which I think is related to this.

I don't have a problem with oversupply and my only other concern is that her weight gain is really slow and very soon, I feel i am going to be told to give her formula (by HV). Is it enough rationale to say that she is happy and healthy and gaining, even if it is a little bit, to refuse to give her formula?

Have you tried expressing? Does the milk come flyingout? If so it could be a powerful letdown - so shoots out and she slips to the end. You could try taking her off when you letdown, catch the excess in a muslin then put her back on when it slows down?

If she's gaining weight, plenty of wet and pooey nappies and looks healthy then I wouldn't worry - just keep an eye on things.