Reflux? Colic? Normal? Help!

[scarecrow22]

DS 11 weeks has had problems with wind and possetting/bringing up milk since early weeks (not first week, but soon after): on bad days he will bring up milk occasionally (or today almost constantly) for 2-3 hours between feeds, longer at night.

For a while he was regularly taking 90 minutes to wind at night and I got a bit despairing (for him and me as was shattered), but doubled Infacol dose and it seemed to subside for a couple of weeks. I stepped back the Infacolband it has got worse again, and now I feel there is no noticeable benefit when I do use it, though this might be because I'm not using it for every feed (prob about half of feeds).

A while ago I noticed he occasionally made a sort of coughing noise sometimes (similar to the noise my nephew made when he had an allergic reaction to peanuts). And a couple of times I thought I heard what sounded like liquid rising up and down his throat. Twice over the weekend he woke himself up doing that barking cough and with what sounded like a strong version of that liquid(?) rising up and down his throat. He was very distressed (which oddly he often isn't) and possetted/sicked up some "milk" (it was on sheets etc so couldn't tell how much really).

After a really awful day for the poor mite today I'm again thinking I should go to the doctor about this. Before I go though are there other things I can and should try? And has anybody had similar experiences to draw on so I can have a more informed talk with GP? I've mentioned this to HVs and GPs both when he had possible illness and at 7 week check and advice seemed primarily to ride it out. I don't rush to doctors usually but apart from his discomfort I am emotionally a bit shattered after today, on top of all the extra and longer night wakings (and we have a toddler).

He is BF and seems to be putting on weight well. Oddly his most reliably "comfortable" feed of the day is usually the 6-7pm feed fest after bathtime.

Hi - I'm not going to be much help but just wanted to say my 5wk old has v similar symptons. My doctor diagnosed silent reflux and prescribed infant gaviscon. To be fair it's been less then a week bt I don't see it making much difference and debating switching back to infacol which I was using before.

the sicky sound I wonder if us reflux bad this evening/ tonight. At least now convinced need go back to GP.

also, sorry to drip feed: DS is having tongue tie cut on Thurs. This was another reason had held back from going back.to GP yet. However I feel inside that this is not the issue with his tummy.

We have this. Deffo reflux and upsetting to see DS in such pain. We have been prescribed Infant Gaviscon which has helped but not as much as I'd like and its a pain to administer since we are BF. Me thinks I will be headed back to GP to see what's next down the line of treatment. We continue to use Infacol as that does slightly diff thing to the Gav. Do go and see yr GP and then hopefully you can start treating (and sleeping?!).

Hi, definitely go to the GP - my experience so far has been that unless you make a fuss and keep going back and telling them what you want them to do they will fob you off with generalities about "they grow out of it", "most babies have this" or "you're a paranoid sleep-deprived woman, get out my surgery" (not in so many words!)
Our son (now 13 weeks) had similar symptoms, being sick, coughing/choking in sleep, sounding like a 90 year old bringing up spit - we went through infacol (made him more sick), infant gaviscon (not v useful as half the time he would be sick during the feed before it was even given) and he's now on domperidone and ranitidine to help reduce stomach acid and to speed up the flow of milk through the stomach.

Other areas/doctors might be better than mine but I'm finding that you have GOT to become a real pain in the bum in order for them to do anything for you so be assertive!
Other things to try are keep baby upright for at least half hour after feed to allow milk to have moved through the stomach - for us this is the most effective thing to do - even putting him down after 20 mins leads to regurgitation (change nappy before feed because trying to change it after when they are propped up is v annoying!), put legs of head end of basket on a few books (don't prop mattress itself as baby still needs to be on a 'flat' surface) to let gravity help keep milk down, and lie baby on their left side instead of their back as the milk is less likely to come back up (something to do with the stomach being higher on one side of the body so it's a gravity thing again).
Hope this helps.
x

Posseting is normal, as is milk coming back up into a baby's mouth when lying down, as the muscle between the oesophagus and stomach can be weak in babies and it is something they grow out of. It only needs to be treated if it is causing them pain or distress.

If a baby is taking 90 minutes to wind, I wouldn't bother! It'll just come out the other end. If wind is causing discomfort, have you tried baby massage and leg cycling? Getting tongue tie cut should help with the wind - it may also help with the reflux.

How much does he bring up? Is it a little bit? (Like you can mop it with a muslin) or loads (like 'oh great another change of clothes for both of us!'). Does it seem to distress him? My DD (10 weeks) has reflux and signs included lots of sick, acidic smelling breath, arching her back when feeding at times, wanting to feed but then fussing on the breast.

Honestly in the night I don't wind her at all! I found gripe water more effective than infacol for wind.

Sounds like a GP visit needed definitely. In the short term, my DS with mild reflux was eased a little by me cutting down dairy, chocolate (dammit) and acidic stuff like orange juice, keeping him upright for at least 10 mins after a feed and propping his mattress at the head end (big book underneath did it). I find winding impossible (now have new twins to try to wind) but did get easier when DS got bigger (I'm reminding myself).

thanks so much for advice and encouraging words. Especially interesting about orange juice as I had a small bottle yesterday before his bad day started and I never usually drink it. Also about chocolate ( ) and lying on left side. The reason I keep winding for 1.5 hours sometimes is he is too UNcomfy to put down, clearly distressed if I try. By contrast, when he's well he is easy to put down and happy to settle himself. Also would be happy with possetting even a lot: why I'm looking for help is the long period over which he cam be in pain and sicking up (sometimes little bits sometimes loads), and the bile? rising up and down.

thanks again

hmm. apart from the recent episode it all sounds more like bad wind caused by tongue tie, rather than reflux. tongue tie and wind can often lead to reflux like symptoms because the trapped air rises bringing old milk with it. So if not for the recent episode I'd say wait and see if the snip improves things. But, if he is very distressed at the moment, it is worth going to the GP - but if they think it's reflux ask for ranitidine not gaviscon (which is a pain to get into a bf baby and isn't nearly as effective)