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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How do I give my breastfed baby water?

24 replies

dragonflyinthelillies · 04/04/2015 08:42

My ebf 6 week old has reflux and needs gaviscon which in turn makes him constipated.

He has been prescribed lactulose but it is not enough and he is still constipated and it is making him upset. We went back the drs and he won't prescribe anything else but suggested giving baby cooled boiled water via a bottle.

So off I went and bought all the kit to allow me to give him a bottle of water and he just won't take it :(

We have bought a steam steraliser so it's not the smell of steralising solution and we've been using one of those 'natural' teats but it's not working and he just won't take it (I don't blame him really! )

Has anyone got any tips please? I really hate seeing him all bunged up and he's started to overflow (sorry tmi) so I feel it is important that we find a good solution.

Thanks

OP posts:

Yay4may · 04/04/2015 08:48

Spoon or eye dropper

northdownmummy · 04/04/2015 08:50

Might worth trying one of the 5ml syringes that come with calpol

Greenstone · 04/04/2015 09:00

Yes just syringe some in, least hassle.

ellennussey · 04/04/2015 09:17

If you were taking gaviscon and it was making you terribly, painfully constipated would you continue to take it?

TeamEponine · 04/04/2015 09:26

Does he have a dummy? If so, you could try getting a 5 ml syringe from the chemist and use that. If you get baby to suck on the dummy, pull it a little to one side and slip the syringe in the gap. Just give him a tiny amount at a time until he gets used to it. This is how I get DD to take her meds and I should imagine it works just as well with water.

Also, DD has reflux and had the same issue with gaviscon. She was put on ranitidine and that made a huge difference. It might be worth pushing for that?

Superworm · 04/04/2015 09:32

When you say constipated what are the symptoms? Is the poo hard?

Buttercup27 · 04/04/2015 09:40

Midwives suggested we cup feed instead of a bottle as it's easier with bf babies I would try that.

hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman · 04/04/2015 09:41

I was going to ask what the symptoms of the constipation are too?

ZenNudist · 04/04/2015 09:47

It doesn't sound like the gaviscon is a good idea if it's making her constipated . I'm a veteran of prescription meds for reflux (in myself).

I was going to suggest ranetidine (spelt?) but someone else already did.

I also think babies can have omaprazole, check it out. ThAts an acid inhibitor so actually reduces the production rather than gaviscon that calms the symptoms.

I don't understand why water better than breast milk for constipation. But I'm an ignoramus. Does BM cause more reflux?

Cirsium · 04/04/2015 09:48

Ask your GPabout other medication. DD is on Ranitidine, tiny amount given by oral syringe three times a day. HV told us the usual treatments tried for breast fed babies are ranitidine, then domperidone, and omeprazole if that doesn't work.

Original poster

dragonflyinthelillies · 04/04/2015 11:53

Thanks for the replies sorry he's been keeping me busy this morning

The dr won't prescribe ranitadine as the gaviscon is working. He said that the gaviscon just sits in his stomach whilst ranitidine actually affects the amount of acid produced and therefore is much stronger per se and its much preferable to treat the constipation.

Not having the gaviscon is not an option, the pain from reflux upsets him much more than the constipation. I'm trying to give him as little as possible but he does need it.

I know he's constipated as he struggles for hours to poo and when he does he his poos are mostly hard lumps or a thick sludge. Because he's on the max dose of lactulose there's nothing else he can have so doc suggested increasing fluids with water to try and soften his poos

We have tried a syringe but its not ideal and he tries to spit it out a lot. I havent tried a cup but isn't 6 weeks a bit young? I was hoping bottle would be a magic cure but it seems not.

Should i be insisting for an alternative to gaviscon?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 04/04/2015 11:56

You would be better increasing fluid with extra bf rather than water

TeamEponine · 04/04/2015 12:26

I would push for ranitidine. It made a huge difference to DD.

Also, maybe try the syringe with dummy trick. DD spits everything out if I don't use the dummy!

LittleBearPad · 04/04/2015 12:30

Can you use less gaviscon. Dd had it and I used half the dose as I was worried about constipation. It was sufficient to stop the reflux but didn't cause constipation.

Tbh though I'd go back to the doctor (or another obe)

More bf though than water would help.

AnythingNotEverything · 04/04/2015 12:36

If you drip water in with a syringe, blow on his face when you need him to swallow. DD has had liquid meds since birth and a nurse showed us this trick. It forces a swallow reflex.

I'm not sure water is any more hydrating than breastmilk though. I'm not sure your GP really u see stands bf and I'd be tempted to get more specialist advice from a bf helpline or you local infant feeding coordinator.

ppeatfruit · 04/04/2015 12:39

IIWM I'd look at my diet, maybe your baby is allergic to wheat (wheat is known for giving constipation esp. whole grain wheat) or coffee or whatever. It'd be better than giving all those chemical laxatives. Maybe also you could eat some prunes.

Original poster

dragonflyinthelillies · 04/04/2015 13:06

Cool thanks :)
I'm gonna try your syringe techniques and if no joy then back to the GP

Hes already on the lowest amount of gaviscon we can possibly get away with. It's definitely a fine balancing act!

Ppeatfruit constipation is a known side effect of gaviscon. I'm trying to work out what foods upset his reflux so far its too much fruit, alcohol and curry and I'm trying dairy now. I'm trying my best for him!

OP posts:

tiktok · 04/04/2015 13:50

Do speak to the doc. Lactulose for a baby is really something not to be given lightly. To take one med to counter the effects of another is something most docs would try to avoid in a tiny baby. Is there away to get back to square one and explore the original diagnosis of reflux? Sometimes a change in the way the baby is bf helps a lot with this. Hope you get it sorted.

ppeatfruit · 04/04/2015 14:08

A small amount of reflux is normal though, is it bad?

TeamEponine · 06/04/2015 05:54

Any luck with the syringe?

pullthecracker · 06/04/2015 06:40

I'm a midwife and I'm a little shocked at the GP advising you to give water. As pp's have said, breast milk is the best thing to give. It hydrates your baby enough and doesn't have anything that would cause constipation or make the reflux worse. It seems a lot for such a young baby to be on gaviscon and lactulose, I would be inclined to ask for a second opinion. What does your health visitor think?

tiktok · 06/04/2015 09:41

Glad it's not just me wondering at this apparently heavy-handed medicating of such a young baby, pullthecracker. I now wonder if the OP is not in the UK and is maybe seeing a private doctor?

AndThisIsTrue · 06/04/2015 10:02

I would try a syringe for water or a little cup.
I was going to suggest Carobel but I'm not sure how it would work for a bf baby. It thickens the milk, which is pretty much all that Gaviscon does but without the constipating effect.
I would also suggest asking to be referred to a paediatrician and get ranitidine or omeprazole.
Have you also tried cutting out dairy? A lot of reflux babies also have cows milk protein intolerance.
There is a great reflux group on FB as well.

26mrstired · 06/04/2015 15:59

I was in a similar position a few months ago and completely understand the horrible choice between painful reflux and constipation. We were prescribed movicol which is a laxative (and a nightmare to get into a baby too!) when my LO had constipation caused by Gaviscon. A locum tried to prescribe ranitidine but was stopped by one of the other GPs (We are in UK btw). My baby would take water in a bottle but not enough to help (recommended by GP and HV). If water would help, could you try adding to expressed milk so there's a familiar taste? No idea if that's a ridiculous idea though, sorry.

In the end, the only thing that helped for us was a small amount of pear puree every 2 days once he reached the lower limit for weaning. By 6 months we were able to stop the Gaviscon because he had grown out of the reflux. Obv your LO is still far too small for this but just thought I'd mention for later. It really is awful. Can you go back to the doctor and ask for more help? In hindsight, I wish we'd been more insistent as his first few months really were a nightmare.

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