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

Infant feeding

Infant Gavison hell

9 replies

hebs72 · 06/04/2016 18:05

Hello ladies - I'm hoping someone can give me some words of wisdom

Our nearly 6-week old has reflux, and the GP has prescribed Gavison. She's EBF, and I have been expressing and mixing the Gavison with that milk. However, I now don't seem to be able to express (the breastfeeding counsellor suggests its probably anxiety, as LO is still feeding well herself), so I'm now finding it really hard to administer the Gaviscon - it seems to end up with both of us in tears

So, the questions I have are as follows:

How to administer 15 ml of Gaviscon - she'll happily take a bottle, bless her, but that little amount seems to get stuck in the teat, and no amount of sucking will get it out. A syringe definitely isn't working - she thrashes around, and I'm worried that I'll hurt her mouth. I can get a bit in from a cup or a spoon, but nowhere near the necessary amount.
She won't take it made up with water, hence expressing. However, for the last day I've had to use ready made formula, up to about 20ml, to try to get it down her. I'm not sure why it can be mixed with water and formula, and not breastmilk, tho (various sites seems to suggest mixing it with breastmilk). Surely if there was a problem with doing that, then it would also be a problem when it comes into contact with the breastmilk in her stomach?

Feed before, during or after a meal - I've ended up giving it to her beforehand, when she's hungry, as she's just not interested in the middle of a feed, and afterwards she's too full and will just be sick.

I'm not sure it's making much difference anyway, and it's definitely making her constipated, so I'm back to the GP tomorrow. However, it is making me feel really down, so I need to talk about that as well at our appointment.

Thanks in advance

OP posts:

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icclemunchy · 06/04/2016 18:15

It's been 4 years since I had to give DD1 gaviscon but I'm sure it used to say on the packet that it should be mixed with formula or ebm.

Can't help much with getting it into her but have you tried expressing whilst feeding from the other side? May give you a bit more joy :)

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Lovewatchingrainfall · 06/04/2016 18:15

Sorry I can't give you the total answers as it was 3 years ago. However I did mix it with Breastmilk and had no problem. I would always give it to start with. And yes it will cause constipation. If you don't think it is working then go back to your doctor and tell them.

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HairyBoob · 07/04/2016 20:03

Had the same issues. Gaviscon is a pain in the arse to give to BF babies. I went back to gp and got ranitidine which can be syringed directly in with no faffing.

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KP86 · 07/04/2016 20:06

I was using Infant Gaviscon for 3 or so months in 2014 and always mixed with expressed BM.

It's miracle stuff. Hope you can work it out.

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ToffeeForEveryone · 08/04/2016 10:34

What sort of bottles are you using? Maybe try a bottle with a faster flow teat so it comes out easier?

Ds1 is 4.5 weeks and just been confirmed he has reflux, I gave him Gaviscon for a couple of days and he instantly got totally constipated 😟 Had to give him additional water seperately to get him moving again. Haven't given him Gaviscon for a couple days, so he's pooping now but still being sick ... It's hard work being a baby!

I assumed the reason not to mix with ebm is that the baby will need the extra fluid?

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Nan0second · 08/04/2016 10:35

You can mix with water and you only need 2 or 3mls (which then makes syringin got a spoon very easy!!)

(This is what we did with my ebf baby at that time)

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Nan0second · 08/04/2016 10:36

But ranitidine is far far better

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imeatingthechocolate · 08/04/2016 10:38

do tommee tippee still do the variflow teat? it had a cross in it instead of holes and was great for thickened milks

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thenewaveragebear1983 · 08/04/2016 10:41

When i used it with my ds, we would sterilise 4oz bottles and put an ounce of water in each, then add the gaviscon powder and give during each feed, usually after a few minutes on first side. I did find though that it began to affect my supply as he was taking an ounce less from me iyswim. Could you express a few ounces to use purely for gaviscon purposes? I gave up in the end, it was my 3rd baby and I just couldn't be bothered with the faffing around. He got wise to the salty taste of the gaviscon as well and I couldn't express so after 10 weeks we switched to reflux formula which he was happy on.