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Infant feeding

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

Reflux or allergy?

8 replies

onetiredmum20 · 04/10/2023 18:57

First time posting here, sorry if I ramble but I’m looking for some answers.

Second baby boy, 10 weeks old breastfed for 7 weeks, formula fed for 3. First two weeks were great he latched and fed well, slept okay and plenty of wet nappies. Then it went downhill.

First symptom I noticed was he started to pretty much regurgitate his feed and he was never content or settled he looked like he was in pain, went to the doctor and was prescribed gaviscon. There was slight improvement but still lots of spit up and constant crying. Back to the doctor who gave higher dose of gaviscon but still very much the same.

Wasn’t gaining as much weight as he should and breastfeeding became a nightmare so changed to cow and gate formula and went back to the doctor who prescribed omeprazole. Massive improvement with the constant crying, he didn’t seem as sore, however he’s still spitting up quite a bit sometimes hours after the feed. He sounds very phlegmy and his tummy rumbles very loudly. He’s very windy from both ends and he goes days without pooping and when he does it’s like water, up his back every time and I definitely think he’s still uncomfortable at times. He doesn’t have a rash and I haven’t noticed any blood in his stool but he does smell bad. My first wasn’t like this and I know all babies are different but something just doesn’t seem right.

Any advice or suggestions anyone has will be much appreciated. Hv is due out tomorrow but I’ve not had much luck with them this will be my third hv in 3 years and all they bring me is anxiety.

OP posts:
katerose2022 · 05/10/2023 19:03

Not an expert here but a FTM who experienced something similar: Our baby also has very watery poo but he's mixed fed and the liquid poo started from around 4 weeks when the breast milk intake increased. GP said sometimes it takes a few weeks for the baby's digestive system to adjust to the change in diet.

Bad smell poo is worth mentioning to your doctor but formula poo is supposed to smell worse than breast milk poo?

Also attaching the diagnostics tool someone posted here earlier: d2yhgir88ahms2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/14100910/hcp559-infant-feeding-diagnostic-tool_final.pdf

jadey1991 · 05/10/2023 19:09

Hi op, not an expert but what formula are you using and also whatis babies belly like?

Poppercorn · 05/10/2023 19:28

My son had both reflux and dairy allergy. I would say it sounds like the diary allergy is causing reflux with your baby.
HV were useless with me. If HV doesn't help then see a GP (and keep moving around till one helps you). I would ask for dairy free formula (Neocate is the best as Nutramigen had traces of cows milk - or used to).

However my son had angry looking spots and sometimes hives after he fed.

Good luck and well done for getting to the bottom of it with the reflux and Omeprazole so quickly.

onetiredmum20 · 05/10/2023 21:20

Hv came out today and I've to continue with the omeprazole and cow and gate formula for another two weeks as he's already had a lot of changes so his system could still be adjusting. He went from, breast to formula, gaviscon to omeprazole. There is definitely an improvement. Before he just cried constantly and it wasn't a normal baby cry it was almost a shriek, absolutely awful for all involved. He was 11lbs 8oz two weeks ago and is now 12lbs 12oz so his weight is picking up. I've to take poo pictures and she'll have a look to see if it's normal or not. I understand these things take time to diagnose but I just want my baby to be okay also a little gutted the newborn stage has been so difficult as it's been hard to enjoy it, nobody wants to see their baby in pain and time just disappears.

OP posts:
Poppercorn · 05/10/2023 22:26

I bet you're feeling like tomorrow won't come quick enough let alone two weeks.
Sounds like the HV is taking you seriously however don't feel you have to wait the two weeks if it is unbearable and if your gut is telling you he is allergic.
Cutting out cows milk takes a couple of weeks to fully leave their system I think too. So do send the HV the pics before the two weeks, if things don't improve.

jadey1991 · 06/10/2023 11:12

Op now u have mentioned cow and gate as rhe formula I'm just wondering if that might be making baby uncomfortable as cow and Gate is known to make babies constipated. With all 3 of my kids it made them constipated( very very badly) then I changed to sma gold and they were absolutely fine

onetiredmum20 · 06/10/2023 11:26

He was the same when breastfeeding, hv doesn't seem to think he is constipated as he is going. So far it's been a one off that he didn't poo for three days and currently seems to be going every other day but when he does go it's very watery and usually needs a complete clothes change as it's up his back. I haven't seen any blood or mucous. He doesn't have a rash but I'd definitely say he has excessive wind and sometimes cries as he's passing it. My first baby was on cow and gate with no problems so it was just my go to but second baby hasn't been as easy, I guess I was naive to expect they would be the same.

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 06/10/2023 11:39

It definitely sounds like a dairy allergy, mine was the same with the painful wind and shrieking like an animal in a trap. It takes a few weeks for cows milk to leave their system so I'd go to gp asap for some dairy free formula. The difference is amazing if the allergy is what it is

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