Coping with reflux while breastfeeding

[lozzy1982]

Anyone had any experience re reflux and bf? My 5 week old i feel literally feeds constantly and as soon as i take him off he is sick to the point i feel like its the whole feed. He has been sick a few days but i feel the last two days has got worse. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Yes. I had this. Ds was a puker, though never seemed in pain. At 10 weeks there were hints of blood in his vomit one morning, Dr told me to go to a&e (NOT a blue light situation) and paed there prescribed ranitidine and domperidone. He got slightly better, but was still very sicky. He grew out of it at 9 months when (I think) his core muscles strengthened and he could hold down food/milk more. At this point I gradually weaned him off the meds. He still refluxes now (11 months) as in sometimes he burps up more liquid food but then swallows it down. It was blimmin hard and I did not enjoy his early months as I was covered in sick. People told me he'd grow out of it which I struggled to imagine but he did. We had hundreds of muslins and he wore (coordinated to his outfit) triangular bibs - his 'cravates' became his 'thing'. Good luck x

Have you tried a dummy? They are supposed to be good for a reflux baby/

It's pretty crap however you feed them. They will grow out of it though, as hellish as it might be now.

Try and keep as upright as possible, feed upright if you can. Keep upright for 20 min after a feed. Foam wedge in the cot etc...

Otherwise it's keeping on top of pain and discomfort. See your gp. Ranitidine helped us as it reduced the acid and therefore the damage to the oesophagus.

Breast milk is thought to be better for reflux as it is easily digested. Formula stays longer in the stomach so lingers around to be brought up, even a while after a feed.

Yeah, it's really hard. For better or worse 8 decided not to medicate and dd has settled down a but since starting solids a few weeks ago. Try to feed with one boob at a time, and wind lots and lots.