Which formula helped your 'silent refluxer'?

[AlmondFrangipani]

Our 11 week old DS has had terrible feeding and sleeping problems since birth. After lots of GP appointments he's recently been diagnosed with silent reflux and we're trying various meds to help. However I'm wondering if a switch in formula would help too. He's currently on Aptamil 1. Has anyone tried other brands or types with success?

There are several anti-reflux formulas on the market that are pre-thickened. I know Cow and Gate and SMA both do them. However, it's also very common for babies with reflux to have cow's milk protein intolerance - both my refluxy dds have had it. DD1 was FF from about 3 months and went onto Neocate (hypoallergenic, made from amino acids) at around 6 months which helped a lot. There are also some milks like Pepti Junior where the milk protein is hydrolysed or broken down so the body doesn't recognise it. You need to get these on prescription.

Soya can be an option but some think it's controversial. Also, babies who don't tolerate cow's milk often have a problem with soya too, although my otherwise BF DD2 has it on cereal and is fine.

my ds had reflux, probably due to lactose intolerance, and ended up on nutramigen which really helped :)

Lactose intolerance in babies is very rare. Cow's milk protein allergy is far more common and is the usual reaspn for prescribing nutramigen.

Almond, a hydrolysed formula is definitely worth a try

My DS has severe reflux (still medicated now at age 2) and what helped, along with the ranitidine and omeprazole, was me cutting all dairy protein out of my diet so it could pass through into the breastmilk.

My son had no allergy symptoms, just intolerance symptoms and was diagnosed by a consultant and dietician, he was a different child on the nutramigen and i don't dout the diagnosis thanks :/

tinkerbell I think what Ragusa probably meant was that while lactose intolerance is quite rare, cow's milk protein intolerance (not allergy) is more common. This is what my DDs have and involves no allergy symptoms (such as hives, exczema) but reflux, fussiness, pain after feeding etc. I expect the symptoms are very similar to lactose intolerance, but you would just need to be careful about trying any of the lactose free products you can buy as they still contain cow's milk protein. Milks like nutramigen and neocate are really helpful. And the good news is that the vast majority of children grow out of cow's milk intolerance! DD1 is now 3 and can have all dairy products.

Tinkerbell I didn't make myself clear, sorry.

What I meant was, are you sure the diagnosis from the paed was Lactose intolerance and not milk protein intolerance? Nutramigen is primarily prescribed for protein intolerance: for Lactose intolerance it is more usual to get prescribed a Lactose-free formula like SMA LF.
I am not for a minute doubting that Nutramigen sorted your DS out, not at all. But for the OP'S purposes it is far more likely her baby has CMPI. Congenital LI has a very, very low incidence, while estimates suggest somewhere between 2-8% of infants have CMPA or CMPI.

Poor GP knowledge of the difference between these conditions (LI and CMPI) can lead to misdiagnoses, treatment blind-alleys and months of distress for infants and parent can you tell we've been thrre so it's important a parent whose child might be affected is properly informed from the outset.

Another who tried a whole range of milks and meds, and only finally saw success on CMP-free milk (think we had Aptamil Pepti on prescription).

How much of it was going CMP-free and how much of it was growing out of it/weaning (we weaned CMP-free as much as possible) we'll never know.

Thanks so much for all the advice! My LO doesn't have any skin problems but all the rest so I will ask about Nutramigen. We're still just seeing the GP which has been a real battle. Started Omeprozole yesterday as ranitidine did nothing. Going back in 2 weeks for a review. Should I push for a referral? She seemed reluctant to give us one. Fx something helps soon as 11 weeks of no sleep is killing us all .

Thanks so much for all the advice! My LO doesn't have any skin problems but all the rest so I will ask about Nutramigen. We're still just seeing the GP which has been a real battle. Started Omeprozole yesterday as ranitidine did nothing. Going back in 2 weeks for a review. Should I push for a referral? She seemed reluctant to give us one. Fx something helps soon as 11 weeks of no sleep is killing us all .