Reflux and expressing milk...How, When??

[malachismum]

Hello. It looks as if my 18 day old ds has reflux. I have to give him baby gaviscon. Would it be better to do this in a bottle of expressed breast milk as trying to give it from a spoon or cup is crazy, plus its quite a lot.
If so when should I express so as not to hinder my supply? I had planned on giving it to him during the night as thats when its worse, so should I pump at the same time???

expressing should not hinder your supply. You can do it whenever suits you - but keep to a regular time - just put the milk in a sterile container in the fridge (don't need the fridge if you are going to use it within a couple of hours - just make sure it is sealed properly).

Are you sure it is worth all the hassle of sterilising pumps and bottles etc ? How difficult is it to give him it with a cup or spoon?

gaviscon can be given to BF babies with out the need of expressing and giving bottles.....make it up with tiny amount of either water, or you can express a small amunt of milk for this, in a tiny sterile cup/pot and then syringe in with a sterile syringe, or a medicine spoon.

I had to do this for mine (3 had reflux and needed gaviscon and other meds), and it can work.

BUT and don't be surprised if this happens, it can make them sick it back up tho.

Sadly for mine (but then they were severe and losing weight, so a whole other minefield), they did have to go over onto the bottle. Having said that tho....they were also milk intolerant and as much as I avoided the triggers, something still got thro my breatmilk so they had to eventually go onto the bottle. That said tho, with my first refluxer(DD2), she was 7mths before that happened, then my next (DD3) was 9mths (altho she had other really strong meds for it from 4mths!!!!!)....it was DS2 who was on bottle for it really early....he was 2mths.

if tho you are able to get it in your baby with a syringe or spoon then fab and welldone.

It can work for some, and indeed does, sadly for me it wasn't to be.!!

HTH and good luck. reflux doesn't have to rule your life.....altho it does create a hell of a lot more washing

Thanks, I think we'll try a syringe. Night feeds will be hard work, Im already up 5 times for an hour, Im shattered and my 2 year old ds is baring the brunt of it, poor boy.

i'd be curious to know who diagnosed your ds with reflux. not that he doesn't have it, but because it is the flavour of the month diagnosis. have you spoken to a bf counsellor about it?

hiya
My DS had reflux too, and again nightfeeds were the worst. I think cos he laid down straight after them, but like clockwork an hour or so post feed he would puke and I would have to get up again, change bed, resettle him, feed again... GRRR

We found 2 things really helped, the gaviscon was gret -we made it up with just water and fed it in a bottle after or halfway through the feed. the syringe would would jsut as well ofcourse.

The other thing was giving a dummy. Apparantly the sucking helps the reflux cos while they suck they keep swallowng and it stops the acid regurgitation.

We gave DS his on a soft weaning spoon and mixed the gaviscon with water.

If you are not happy with gaviscon, because of it needing to be mixed with feeds, ranitidine is an alternative. Its vile tasting (very strong peppermint) but only a tiny amount for small babies. I found it easy enough to give to DS right before a feed.

Megan

Hello. Im taking him to an Osteopath to see if she can tell exactly what the problem is.

Hello. It seems that my ds of 3 weeks has reflux. I took him to an Osteopath today who said to try a Homeopathic remedy. Any ideas? Or does anyone have any experience of this? I will try the Gaviscon Infant but would prefer something Homeopathic as it goes hand in hand with Osteopathy.
Thanks

Great tip about the towels etc. Ive already raised his mattress which is on the bed next to me.

Hi.Ive already posted about ds having reflux. Now Im after advice on Homeopathic remedies, anyone used or know of any for reflux. The osteopath told me to look into it.
Thanks