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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Reflux event

49 replies

ellnlol · 05/04/2011 10:09

Hi
as some of you know I have been approaching MNHQ to ask if they would support organise a reflux 'event' - maybe a webchat as a TV programme (my first idea!) seems a bit ambitious... I'm thinking maybe borrowing an hour from one of the paeds or consultants who 'gets it' and has been really helpful/supportive to any of you, whether by helping your LO or by helping you to deal with the 'stuff' that goes with parenting a reflux baby. Don't know if that's a crazy idea?

MNTowers has asked me to start a new thread to see if there is sufficient support for this idea, and if there are suggestions about the type of event or names of experts we might want to approach.

If you think it would be helpful, please add a message, and ask anyone else to do the same - they don't have to be a reflux survivor!

OP posts:
gallicgirl · 05/04/2011 11:45

I guess it would be helpful to have an expert talk about the signs of reflux so it can be more easily spotted in the first place. There do seem to be a lot of questions on here along the lines of "does my baby have reflux?"

LunaticFringe · 05/04/2011 12:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

suso · 05/04/2011 12:36

Definitely not a crazy idea! When I suspected reflux and took DD to GP, she said that reflux is probably more widespread than previously thought and it had only just started to be recognised as a serious problem. So the more people who are aware of it, the better.

narmada · 05/04/2011 12:38

I think it's a great idea ellnlol and thanks for starting the ball rolling .

Reflux is so much more than just a bit of sick. It totally changes the way you parent your child and also has some pretty fundamental effects on other children and also on parents. I don't think it's a coincidence that every one of the mums I know whose babies have reflux have at some point been treated for postnatal depression Shock.

Mumbybumby · 05/04/2011 12:44

I think it's a great idea too. Especially as the onus seems to be on the parent to diagnose it! Having had two babies with it, if I hadn't researched it myself and suggested it to the doctor it would have been passed off as colic. Signs, treatment and differences with colic as well as some psychological support for the parents would be helpful.

RunningOutOfIdeas · 05/04/2011 12:44

I think this is a great idea. Getting the diagnosis does seem to be the most common battle parents of children with reflux have. So wider awareness of the signs of reflux would be good. Also there still seems to be too many GPs who dismiss reflux with "oh they will grow out of it" so it doesn't get adequately treated.

cardamomginger · 05/04/2011 12:54

Good idea! How about approaching Great Ormond Street?

gallicgirl · 05/04/2011 13:21

Perhaps as well someone could discuss all the methods of treatment and the pros and cons of each.

bethylou · 05/04/2011 22:54

It's a great idea, but I am still really keen on your original idea too.

We need to get all medics - GPs, paediatricians and HVs - to have a certain common level of understanding and expertise. The main thread that has been running on reflux shows just how varied the responses people get about refluxy babies are and how hard parents often have to fight to get any support or treatment - all of which is awful, especially when you are dealing with a refluxy baby anyway. Since hearing about a child protection case based around a misdiagnosed refluxy baby and a mum at the end of her tether, I am determined that something must be done in this regard. Mumsnet has the 'power' to help us make it possible, so that parents in the future receive good quality support and information about reflux. Please Mumsnet can we get something done about it?

bbbiscuits · 05/04/2011 23:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sh77 · 05/04/2011 23:29

Great idea! I have no idea whether my baby has reflux, colic, or is being sick from over feeding. I am not happy giving him different meds (infacol, colief) when I don't really know if he has a problem.

Original poster
ellnlol · 06/04/2011 16:47

Thanks ladies for your replies/support. Isn't it awful that folks get a really hit and miss chance of correct diagnosis, useful treatment plan and decent support? Hopefully a web event will get some useful info out into the mainstream - even if all folks do is direct people to the event notes/commentary.
Thanks Bethylou - I haven't quite abandoned the TV idea, but think a web event stands a better chance of getting off the ground. The TV programme might come later!
Take care all, and keep posting - get your friends to too... I'm not sure how much support is enough but we need to keep this live if MN is going to take it up. Wink

OP posts:
cobweb1979 · 06/04/2011 17:03

Fantastic idea. I've struggled so much with people telling me it was normal before a GP and the HV took me seriously. I only get 4 hours sleep a night because my husband and I do shifts, and we are exhausted. I fall asleep with him on me pretty much every day, which is scarey and gets me lectures from the grandparents, but what else can I do? He won't sleep for more than 20-30 mins otherwise.

ILoveGregoryHouse · 07/04/2011 13:54

Yes, this would be good. Not sure how many mums of reflux babies frequent this particular thread though. Can it go in Chat?

firsttimemum90 · 07/04/2011 14:01

yes great idea!

Original poster
ellnlol · 08/04/2011 19:45

Very happy to post elsewhere - just don't know how! I found the original support thread by accident and in desperation, as I guess have many others, and all credit to PosieParker for starting that - what a godsend!
If someone wants to link this across, or explain how, we'll get it sorted!
Take care all and enjoy the sunshine, even if you're holding, nursing or being shouted at... Grin

OP posts:
ILoveGregoryHouse · 08/04/2011 22:49

Will try and do link in chat tomorrow.

NotAnotherNewNappy · 08/04/2011 22:53

Yes great idea.

podmumlet · 09/04/2011 14:05

Just chiming in with my support for any sort of reflux event that raises awareness and leads to correct diagnosis and relief for pained babies and worried mums.

Fumblina · 09/04/2011 19:58

I'm in...

About time there was a raised profile for this horrible condition.

MacMomo · 11/04/2011 03:46

Yes, I need to know how to educate my GP who knows nothing about this subject.

washnomore · 11/04/2011 03:54

DD was 5 months old before I was told about the hospital feeding advisor. She phoned the GP and got him to prescribe Zantac and DD hasn't looked back. The 5 months preceding that weren't fun though Hmm

Anything to give parents the confidence to press their HCPs for help gets my vote.

HavingAnOffDAy · 11/04/2011 09:04

Yes please!

katey13 · 11/04/2011 13:36

I think reflux definately needs a higher profile and understanding by everyone. I am a second time mum and when my second daughter was 7 days old reflux caused her body to shut down to stop her swallowing the sick down the wrong hole and choking. We had to call an ambulance as she was hardly breathing. After a day and night in SCBU they diagnosed acid reflux and put her on gaviscon in her bottle and feeding whilst sitting her up, which seems to be working (11 days old now), fingers crossed! It was the scariest moment of my life and cant believe reflux could cause such dramatic problems. I knew nothing about reflux and like many others put the screaming and throwing up down to colic!
I would support anything that would raise its profile.

Fumblina · 12/04/2011 20:26

MacMomo - my GP started to learn fast when DD projectile vomitted ALL OVER HIM as he was going into the 'all babies vomit a bit' spiel Grin. And followed it up with ear splitting screams.

Fastest referral EVER! Grin

Twas actually lucky for him - I was all ready to stage a sit in with 11 hour screaming DD until they got sick of the noise and helped us listened to me that something was wrong