What determines whether symptoms are 'normal' or '(silent)reflux'?

[PickledLily]

LO (11 weeks) has started vomiting about 30mins/an hour after feeds, not always, but definitely when put on her back. It's curd-y and sometimes projectile. She dribbles non-stop, chews her hands, fusses on the breast after 5 mins, has wet burps and often seems to 'chew the cud'. She's also very windy. In general, she seems quite miserable and unsettled at the moment, crying lots and not sleeping during the day, despite being shattered.

She went through a spell of this at 4-5 weeks, then it settled, but it started again about a week or so ago.

I've read a few websites on the topic, but still don't know if this is just normal baby behaviour or reflux. I'm assuming most babies get a bit of reflux, and it's just when it's severe that it needs treating - is that the case? Or is reflux a specific set of symptoms?

And anyone know what's happened to the Crying over spilt milk website? It seems to have disappeared.

TBH (and in my experience) Drs are reluctant to prescribe meds to alter reflux behaviour (if they even admit it's reflux) unless there is weight gain problems or if the baby is in pain a lot (and then some will only prescribe for weight gain).

I know this is because the drugs can have some nasty side effects so if baby is gaining well and isn't in pain if positional measures are taken then there is no real benefit but there may be a real risk for harm from side effects.

From my experience with DD1 they only paid any attention to her reflux when she started to lose weight rather than her usual tiny increases. Up until that point no amount of vomiting, distress, pain or the length of feeding (1h 45m of bfing every 2 hours at her worst) was enough for a prescription.

However there are lots of things you can try to help before going for medical solutions -
Keeping baby upright post feed,
Feeding in a 'horsey' position (feeding while sitting astride your leg facing the breast),
Giving a dummy post feed (assuming weight gain is good and she isn't displaying any feeding cues) as sucking can help help reduce refluxing,
Propping up the cot at the head end or placing folded towels under the mattress so raise it,
Covering all surfaces in muslins to catch vomit when it occurs and big bibs,
Gentle winding (if you wind at all) as some babies are a bit 'trigger happy' and will vomit with anything less the most delicate of handling.

HTH

Agree with what truth said. I've been back and forth to my gp for the last 6 weeks telling them dd has reflux (were talking severe vomiting, 15hr screaming episodes, fussing at the breast but at the same time going for90mins plus every hour!) They've passed it off as wind or colic and we've gone through all the remedies and only in the past month where she stopped gaining weight have they stood up, listened & referred us to a peadiatrician

Having seen them he's given us something stronger for it. But something that's worth noting is he said an intolerance to dairy shows the same symptoms as reflux. So he's recommended i minimise or cut out dairy from my diet. If dd was being ff he was going to prescribe a special formula

If you try all the practical measures though that truth said the gp can only prescribe infant gaviscon (anything stronger has to have the ok from a peadiatrician) if they won't give it you you can get it over the counter I believe

Thank you truthsweet and melliebobs, that's really useful info. Very depressing that you both had to fight so hard for the problem to be taken seriously.

So it sounds like it is reflux, but not severe. She does 'feed' constantly - people are always commenting that "she's feeding again?!" :( but she hates dummies unfortunately. I will stick with keeping her upright as it does help. My GP also mentioned diary intolerance as a possible culprit, so may try to cut out diary.