CMPA, silent reflux or just fussy?!

[LD23]

Hoping someone has had similar symptoms from their little one but actually got a diagnosis!

My son is 11 weeks old, 14.2lb and formula fed, currently on Aptamil.

He drinks around 29oz a day, but not happily every time, each bottle is different. He sleeps from around 9.30pm till 6am. His 6am bottle he drinks between 5-6oz with no problems (he's usually sleepy though)
And then after that he just gets worse through the day.
He can drink 1oz and then he starts squirming, sometimes crying in between every 3-4 sips. He keeps going back for the bottle and showing other hunger signs so I know he still wants to drink, just something is bothering him.

We give him a break and he then does end up drinking a bit more, so he's gaining weight(he lost 1lb after his injections as for 2 weeks he was 1000% times worse with drinking)

Constant symptoms, especially after feeding:

• Hiccups (he has had hiccups multiple times a day since 35 weeks pregnant)
• Occasional cough
• Sneezing

-Bubble/gurgling sounds in tummy which you can feel when you hold his belly

• Tensing his belly if you touch it
• runny/watery poo (he did have the odd sticky/mucus poo after his injections but that's got better)

I've also noticed occasionally little brown bits in his poo

• he has dry/flakey skin on his ears, no noticeable rashes but can look a bit spotty

Health visitor said she thinks it's reflux. Doctor wouldn't give him gaviscon because he's gaining weight and does drink his bottles.

Health visitor also said there was no point changing formula "as they're all the same"

I've ordered some aptamil Pepti so I have it incase. But not sure whether to try gaviscon or Reflux formula first. My worry is is rather rule out allergy first, instead of having even more time with him drinking this formula incase it does end up being CMPA

Any advice will help 🙏🏻

[SassyPants87]

Sounds like silent reflux to me especially with the screaming whilst having feeds, hiccups and coughs. Most of the time reflux is always a symptom of something so it could very well be CMPA especially with the other signs such as dry skin and watery poo. I would go back to your docs as they can prescribe dairy free milk for you

I’m afraid it’s all just a guessing game and you just have to throw everything at it on the hope you’ll figure out what the problem is

[Swhelo]

Definitely sounds like silent reflux to me, my 15 week old was diagnosed at 8 weeks and out on Losec tablets and I haven’t looked baby she is like a different baby and even sleeps better at night (she would never stay still in her sleep). Symptoms are the exact same and was mistaken for CMPA, it’s a horrible time because you just want your baby to enjoy their feed. If you’re not happy I’d definitely go back to your GP it took me a few go’s before they gave me something for my LO. Hopefully you get the right medication soon!

[PritiPatelsMaker]

It could be CMPA. I think it's definitely worth ringing the Allergy UK Helpline and talking it through with them.

[LD23]

@SassyPants87

Sounds like silent reflux to me especially with the screaming whilst having feeds, hiccups and coughs. Most of the time reflux is always a symptom of something so it could very well be CMPA especially with the other signs such as dry skin and watery poo. I would go back to your docs as they can prescribe dairy free milk for you

I’m afraid it’s all just a guessing game and you just have to throw everything at it on the hope you’ll figure out what the problem is

This is my worry. I'm 99% sure he has reflux, but I do know that it could just be a symptom and caused by CMPA.

[Clogs152]

Hi @LD23 Did you find out what was causing the fussy feeds?

Were in exactly the same boat, it's like i couldve written your post. Our baby is 11 weeks now and is being treated for reflux, but she is still very fussy at feeds. Obviously something is hurting her and she'lleither refuse the bottle completely or be done after a few sips (only to cry and stretch/kick legs after). She's losing weight because of this and i don't have full confidence in the reflux diagnosis. Were at our wits end and are wondering if it could be CMPA too..

Hope you figured it out and your LO is drinking well again!

[Grace9090]

Hello Clogs152, I don’t have an answer but this sounds just like my little girl. She will usually have the first 2oz fine and then either give up or scream after each sip. She’s dropped a centile and doesn’t seem to drink what’s expected of her age (now 11 weeks)

We are on omeprazole for silent reflux. We’ve tried a CMPA formula but it seems to make her reflux worse and she doesn’t want to drink it either.

Finding it really stressful and it’s hard not to just obsess over what’s she’s drank each day.

[SiouxsieSiouxStiletto]

@Grace9090

Hello Clogs152, I don’t have an answer but this sounds just like my little girl. She will usually have the first 2oz fine and then either give up or scream after each sip. She’s dropped a centile and doesn’t seem to drink what’s expected of her age (now 11 weeks)

We are on omeprazole for silent reflux. We’ve tried a CMPA formula but it seems to make her reflux worse and she doesn’t want to drink it either.

Finding it really stressful and it’s hard not to just obsess over what’s she’s drank each day.

Have you tried adding Vanilla essence to the formula to see if she will drink it? It's supposed to make it more palatable

[Purple89]

@Grace9090

Hello Clogs152, I don’t have an answer but this sounds just like my little girl. She will usually have the first 2oz fine and then either give up or scream after each sip. She’s dropped a centile and doesn’t seem to drink what’s expected of her age (now 11 weeks)

We are on omeprazole for silent reflux. We’ve tried a CMPA formula but it seems to make her reflux worse and she doesn’t want to drink it either.

Finding it really stressful and it’s hard not to just obsess over what’s she’s drank each day.

Poor you that sounds so tough. I know the days my DD was struggling with reflux and crying constantly were some of my very darkest days. It will get better.

I echo the previous suggestion of vanilla essence, but also which formula did you try?

[Purple89]

@LD23

Hoping someone has had similar symptoms from their little one but actually got a diagnosis!

My son is 11 weeks old, 14.2lb and formula fed, currently on Aptamil.

He drinks around 29oz a day, but not happily every time, each bottle is different. He sleeps from around 9.30pm till 6am. His 6am bottle he drinks between 5-6oz with no problems (he's usually sleepy though)
And then after that he just gets worse through the day.
He can drink 1oz and then he starts squirming, sometimes crying in between every 3-4 sips. He keeps going back for the bottle and showing other hunger signs so I know he still wants to drink, just something is bothering him.

We give him a break and he then does end up drinking a bit more, so he's gaining weight(he lost 1lb after his injections as for 2 weeks he was 1000% times worse with drinking)

Constant symptoms, especially after feeding:

• Hiccups (he has had hiccups multiple times a day since 35 weeks pregnant)
• Occasional cough
• Sneezing

-Bubble/gurgling sounds in tummy which you can feel when you hold his belly

• Tensing his belly if you touch it
• runny/watery poo (he did have the odd sticky/mucus poo after his injections but that's got better)

I've also noticed occasionally little brown bits in his poo

• he has dry/flakey skin on his ears, no noticeable rashes but can look a bit spotty

Health visitor said she thinks it's reflux. Doctor wouldn't give him gaviscon because he's gaining weight and does drink his bottles.

Health visitor also said there was no point changing formula "as they're all the same"

I've ordered some aptamil Pepti so I have it incase. But not sure whether to try gaviscon or Reflux formula first. My worry is is rather rule out allergy first, instead of having even more time with him drinking this formula incase it does end up being CMPA

Any advice will help 🙏🏻

My DD was similar but she also had visible and quite sizeable vomits.

I would try the Pepti and see if it makes a difference. Your HV is wrong on this. My DD is on Pepti and within 24 hours seemed much happier and her poos were more normal. Until this point every poo was like water. If the Pepti doesn't work you could push for Neocate which is amino acid but for many the Pepti works.

As well as the Pepti my DD is on omaprezole and this improved her reflux. We had to try the Gaviscon first but it made DD constipated. Push your GP - the weight gain doesn't matter, you need to solve the pain. My DD has managed to keep gaining weight this whole time but she still had reflux and Cmpa.

Really feel for you, it's so tough but it's clear you're a very caring parent and doing everything you can for your DS. It will get better. My DD is 5.5 months and her reflux is tons better now she's on the right formula and we are even reducing her omaprezole now.

[LD23]

@Clogs152

Hi @LD23 Did you find out what was causing the fussy feeds?

Were in exactly the same boat, it's like i couldve written your post. Our baby is 11 weeks now and is being treated for reflux, but she is still very fussy at feeds. Obviously something is hurting her and she'lleither refuse the bottle completely or be done after a few sips (only to cry and stretch/kick legs after). She's losing weight because of this and i don't have full confidence in the reflux diagnosis. Were at our wits end and are wondering if it could be CMPA too..

Hope you figured it out and your LO is drinking well again!

Hey! My son is now 6 months old next week. We went back and forth with the docs and then we're prescribed gavison on 1st feb. Instantly his reflux seemed better, but it made him sick, really constipated and equally miserable!

By 4th feb I told the doctor I was trying another formula. Even though the health visitor said "they're all the same, so there's no point"
We switched to hipp organic and he was a completely different baby!
He still gets the occasional hiccups, and we did have the odd time at first when he was fussy with the bottle at the start of a feed, but I think this is just because he has got used to pace feeding and having a bit then stopping.

Even now, he will drink 1/2oz then want to play, then finishes the rest when he gets tired (he has 8oz now)

Might be worth trying another brand. Im so glad I did!! Aptamil has 4 different oils in (if I remember right) and I think that was what was giving him the watery poo. His poo changed on Hipp too.

[LD23]

@Grace9090

Hello Clogs152, I don’t have an answer but this sounds just like my little girl. She will usually have the first 2oz fine and then either give up or scream after each sip. She’s dropped a centile and doesn’t seem to drink what’s expected of her age (now 11 weeks)

We are on omeprazole for silent reflux. We’ve tried a CMPA formula but it seems to make her reflux worse and she doesn’t want to drink it either.

Finding it really stressful and it’s hard not to just obsess over what’s she’s drank each day.

I was exactly the same! I was lucky that he didn't lose weight, but that was probably due to how much I obsessed about how much he was drinking, I tracked every feed, I was sticking to strict schedules etc.

I spoke to a nurse, and she reassured me that he just might not be a super greedy baby, to try and pace feed, give him breaks, don't stick to a schedule etc.

I also ended up dropping a feed and that after a few days meant he was drinking his bottles better too (he has slept through the night since he was about 2/3 months so only day feeds)

[Clogs152]

hi! So sorry to hear youre going through the same. It's so stressful.. all we want is for them to drink enough to grow! It's a really hard thing to deal with and i totally recognize the need to track all feeds and obsess about how much theyre drinking.

Were on Nexium for her reflux and this has stopped the excessive crying, but she still doesnt drink near enough.. Our daugher hasnt gained weight in a month now. Very worrying.

Weve also been given a new formula to try (Pepti) but her reflux also seems to have worsened!

I'm worried that the reflux has caused a feeding aversion. Due to the pain from the reflux and (unknowlingly) pressuring her to drink more. Maybe your little one has the same? Weve just started doing the Rowena Bennett method. It's raved about online. Were on day 4 of 14 now and we have definitely seen improvements.

Last week she would only drink 2oz per feed and be incredibly fussy. But now she's drinking 3oz per feed and seems more calm. Sometimes she still won't drink anything, but i'm definitely seeing an improvement.

The method is hard to do as it involves stopping the feed if you see any sign of rejecting the bottle/boob (no matter how little she's drank).. so it's making me very anxious. But as i say i do think it's helped and i hope to see more improvement in the upcoming days.

Definitely worth a read. I was very surprised to learn how much i was unintentionally pressuring her to feed and it also gave me more clarity on what signs meant she was rejecting. Part of the method is also to let them, let us know when they want to eat (hunger is a great incentive the book says) instead of sticking to a strict schedule.

I really hope you figure out what's going on. What has the doctor said the next steps are?

[Grace9090]

We were given a CMPA SMA formula for DD to try but it’s so watery that it makes the reflux worse and she doesn’t want to drink it either. She was sick yesterday having it which she’s never normally. Today we are trying HIP but I’m conscious of trying too many formulas. I don’t think she has a cow’s milk allergy, I do think reflux is an issue though.

I have heard of that book, will give it a read as I do wonder whether my bottle paranoia is causing m problems in itself. I see babies the same age as DD having 7oz bottles and then feel sad as I see 3oz as a massive achievement for her :(

Do you find you have one good bottle and think things have got better and then the next is back to normal? We had a really good bottle last night but then today’s have involved lots of tears and throwing herself back.

[Clogs152]

@Grace9090

yeah youre right the cmpa formula is really watery. They say we can thicken it, but i don't want to throw another factor into the mix.

Since starting the program (day 6 now) i've seen a steady improvement since day 4.. but even now she still can have one really good bottle and then be really fussy at the next. Very frustrating.

I can relate to comparing to others. But the Rowena Bennett method says to trust the baby, as in he/she knows what he needs. I'm trying to do that and have a weigh in next week at the docs. I'm hoping even though she drinks nowhere near what she should, that this is enough for her as an individual..

What are the next steps for you and your LO? What did the doctor advise?

[Lynstar05]

@LD23 Hey did you use the HA version of HIPP organic or regular? I am about to try the HA. Its sooooo watery duno how that would help reflux.

[LD23]

@Lynstar05

@LD23 Hey did you use the HA version of HIPP organic or regular? I am about to try the HA. Its sooooo watery duno how that would help reflux.

Hey, just the normal hipp organic. We have no problems at all now!