12 week old bringing up lots of milk after feeds (on anti reflux formula and gaviscon infant powder)

[Jedimastermama]

My LO has struggled with reflux for a while, currently on anti reflux formula and recently the GP prescribed Gaviscon infant powders. However, LO is still bringing up lots after most feeds.
Any suggestions what else I can do?

Many thanks

How is baby generally? Is it just the vomiting that’s a problem or does LO cry and seem uncomfortable? Is there any mucus in the poo as well?

It could be worth asking whether adding a thickening powder like Carobel would be ok. It really helped my DGCs especially the youngest who brought up vast amounts of each feed.

How is your little ones weight and do they seem uncomfy/irritable or are they happy but sicky?

@SnakePlant It won't work in OP's case as anti reflux is already thick and gaviscon is a thickener as well (it's not like adult gaviscon at all) so adding Carobel would just triple thicken the formula.

@Jedimastermama If your baby is otherwise well and gaining weight, maybe nothing to worry about. If theye are unhappy, have you looked into a possibility of allergy? Why are you adding gaviscon while on anti-reflux formula which is already very thick? Gaviscon as abovve only thickens it further, but it is already quite thick? It does not do anything else.
I would maybe look if reflux is not a symptom of an allergy rather than a thing in itself, does baby have any other symptoms?

Are there any other symptoms - now of before? What made you put him on the meds?

My third baby vommed after every single feed. But he was in no pain, happy and putting on the right amount of weight so I didn’t worry. In my experience once they start eating food them stop vomiting.

One of the better baby books recommends we throw a teaspoon of baby milk about so we can judge how much coverage we get from a small overflow of milk.
To help evaluate how big a problem we have. It might be a smaller problem (the size of some teaspoons) in which case no nutritional etc solution is needed, just a laundry problem to solve...

monalisa didn’t realise that anti reflux milk was a thicker consistency. Carobel definitely not a solution in that case as would be like wallpaper paste.

My LO is generally happy, gaining weight.
No mucus in poos, has suffered with constipation previously but not so much now. His poos are Yellow mustard coloured poos, a couple weeks ago there was a green poo but GP said that’s fine.

Always seems to have a bit of a bloated tummy.

I did mention a few times to the GP that he’s on the anti reflux formula but she said to continue along with the gavisvon infant powder.

I was worried that he was vomiting not long after feeds. But he’s putting on weight, lots of wet nappies.

He does have a lot of gas at times. So I’m wondering if it’s a combination of factors.

I did wonder to about allergies, which I’ll raise with GP on follow up tele consultation.

Maybe I am over worrying, but he just gets so surprised when he vomits But he doesn’t appear to be in any pain.

Thanks for listening.

Sometimes reflux can be caused because the stomach sphincter muscle not fully developed so may resolve on its own.

Another cause can be Cow Milk Protein Allergy. My wee one had non-IgE mediated allergy which meant he didn't have classic allergy symptoms (rash, hives, diarrhoea) but was very gassy and had silent reflux. He was in ALOT of pain though and cried most of the day. I think since your wee one is generally happy it's probably not that but may be worth considering after talking to HV/GP.

Agree that constipation and a bloated tummy can be signs of non-ige CMPA. Babies with this are usually quite unsettled though.

Have a read of this from Allergy UK and see what you think

@Jedimastermama I would ask for a second opinion re gaviscon and anti reflux formula. Gaviscon infant does nothing more than to thicken it further, we used Carobel instead of it to thicken our milk, but if your baby is still bringing stuff up, then the thickener may not be an answer at all.
It can only give additional constipation...
If baby is happy overall, it may be that the problem will resolve itself in a couple months time, for many babies around 6 months, so I would not be doiing anhything if there are no other symptoms. We had CMPA and it was horrendous, my child screamed and screamed from pain, and both specialised milk and medication was necessary, otherwise I would have not gone down this route. If you think baby is happy in itself and there are no other issues it may be the digestive system needs to mature and you will soon see an improvement.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile That was our experience with CMPA too, it was awful :(