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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Does fomula bring on reflux?

18 replies

joorla · 02/10/2006 15:11

Hi
not sure if my 8 wk old ds has reflux or not, i am breast and bottle feeding at the moment, although am trying to switch back to solely breast feeding again.
she is being sick a lot, and after being sick she is crying as though in pain (little scream type cries). she is being sick up to a couple of hours after feeding although she isnt refusing the breast or the bottle and is gaining weight.
When i solely breast fed her she was sick quite a lot but never cried straight after bringing it up.
Any ideas?

OP posts:

poppiesinaline · 02/10/2006 15:53

It wouldnt bring on reflux. Reflux is when the sphincter at the top of the stomach doesnt close so the feed comes back up and acid from the stomach sits in the food pipe. Formula wouldnt cause this.

She may be intolerant to milk or it just may be that her system is just getting used to formula. Its harder on the system than breast milk.

MoosMa · 02/10/2006 16:28

Hi Joorla, you have my sympathies, DD had reflux up until nearly a year and it's hard work.

I changed from breast feeding to formula when she was 10 weeks old as she couldn't keep my milk down. Several people have told me that reflux babies often sick up more when given formula but I found the opposite as it's much thicker and heavier than breast milk and seemed to stay down better.

DD used to scream in pain and arch her back after feeds then was sick right up until the next feed, often it was like cottage cheese in water which apparently is the clue that it isn't just possetting.

If you think she has reflux, take her to your GP asap as they can often take ages and ages to diagnose it. We were lucky in a way as DD started losing weight so they had to do something. Lots of people I have spoken to say that the docs don't worry as long as they're gaining weight, but they're not the ones with a screaming baby!!

One other tip is to keep her tilted upright after feeding, I used a bouncy chair to let gravity help, it did make a big difference.

Good luck and I hope you get her sorted soon...

LIZS · 02/10/2006 16:43

I'm also doubtful. If they have reflux it would have been as bad, if not worse, before. It is a physiological problem not related to the milk itself. Perhaps the milk or feeding position isn't as good for her or he is taking in more air in which case a change of teat/bottle may help.

terramum · 02/10/2006 16:54

I doubt relfux is caused by formula - I know plenty of babies who are exlc bf & have it...but I have read that reflux is usually milder or easier for babies to cope with if they are bf. Are you talking to a bfc atm - they will be able to help with tips on coping with the reflux (if thats what he has)

MoosMa · 03/10/2006 11:00

Hi Joorla, how are you getting on?

Original poster

joorla · 03/10/2006 13:10

Moosma - i've breastfed this morning and have just given her a 90ml bottle of formula to see if that eases the crying (it hasnt). She hasnt really vomitted as such, nothing like yesterday anyway, has only brought up a tiny amount so far.
What you mentioned about the vomit being like cottage cheese in water is exactly what the vomitting has been like and lots of it too. I'm not sure if she's crying through overtiredness (very hard to get her to nap during the day) or if she's in pain with reflux.

OP posts:

MoosMa · 03/10/2006 15:00

Does she cry when you lie her down (especially just after a feed)? I don't want to push the idea of reflux on you but it does sound so identical to how DD was at that age!

Original poster

joorla · 03/10/2006 15:12

she does sometimes cry when i put her on her back and when i'm holding her she likes to be tipped forward on my lap in the winding position and starts to cry if i lie her back in my arms. when she vomits this also makes her cry straightb away.

OP posts:

Original poster

joorla · 03/10/2006 15:13

she was just asleep by the way and has vomitted lots which has woken her.

OP posts:

MoosMa · 03/10/2006 15:21

It does sound so much like reflux, I'll see if I can find any sites that list the "official" symptoms.

I do suggest you take her to your gp, they may give you some Gaviscon for her which you give at each feed. This solidifies the milk which stops it spilling back up, and neutralises the acid when it does which helps with the pain.

I have spoken to a lot of people who say it takes a long time to get a diagnosis though, so be persistent and don't stand for the "give it a week or two and see it goes" line.

MoosMa · 03/10/2006 15:32

This site lists the symptoms.

Original poster

joorla · 03/10/2006 19:16

thanks moosma, she certainly has many of those symptoms, i'm going to make an appointment with my GP.

OP posts:

liquidclocks · 03/10/2006 20:06

Joorla - my DS1 also had reflux and it sounds very much like your DS has similar symptoms. When you go and see your GP 3 things to ask about are infant gaviscon (forms a thickened layer on top of the milk in the tummy to stop it being sicked up), Enfamil AR (formula with added rice, thickens in tummy - better than gaviscon long term due to lower sodium levels - and easier for you!) and ranitidine (medication to relieve symptoms).

Our DS refused the breast from day one so we used Enfamil AR and found that helped a great deal. However if you're trying to exclusively BF the ranitidine or gaviscon may be the better option, though gaviscon can be tricky to give unless you express first and mix it in. Your DS may seem better after breast milk feeds as it contains a natural antacid which relieves the pain so BF can be a good option for reflux babies. There's a great site with loads of advice here .

hth and your DS gets the right treatment and feels better.

MoosMa · 03/10/2006 21:25

Gaviscon is tricky when bf-ing, I used to mix it up in a little pot then give it to her in a syringe after each feed. It's a bit of a pain but worth the effort!

Ranitidine was good too, it reduces the amount of stomach acid produced so reduces "sloshing" and the burning heartburn pain.

MoosMa · 11/10/2006 14:16

Hi Joorla, did you see the doctor? Are things any better now?

Original poster

joorla · 11/10/2006 14:46

hi - yes I saw the Doctor, she didnt think it was reflux (surprise, surprise). my dd does seem to be a little better in that she isnt bringing up so much - still being sick after feeds but not half as much. The crying hasnt stopped though, the only time I get any smiles are first thing in the morning and the odd one through the day.

OP posts:

MoosMa · 11/10/2006 17:56

Have you tried keeping her upright after feeds and did it make any difference? Also can you keep pushing the doctor or see a different one?

I know how miserable it is to see your DD uncomfortable and crying

3andnomore · 11/10/2006 20:52

Joorla...not really sure if I have an answer!
All my 3 (all boys) were "Happy chuckers" which is the form of reflux you discribe when solely breastfeeding your lil one...i.e. it's not as such a problem, and Baby is thriving well and not in pain...it's just that they chuck up a lot (and therefore just a major pain in the backside for you more then your lil one...washing, etc...)...Es was weaned off at around 4 month, as I believed stupid HP's telling me it was my fast let down and my mikl that was causing the problem....well, he continoued to reflux /chuck up well into his first year, even though he was walking at 12 month , which is when it's meant to get better, lol....ms was bf'ed till 10 month, he stopped his bad refluxing by 6 month and even when put on Formula it was still only minor and was gone by a year....ys was 13 month+ by the time he selfweaned and he stopped refluxing at 6 month and was done with it completely by the time he was 10 month or so....!
So, my personal concultion now is, that, even though it will not necessarily avoid reflux in a Baby when you bf, it usually seems to make the prob disappear quicker
HTH

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