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Infant feeding

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Barium Test 7 month old still - unsettled since birth

4 replies

Lcfmmm · 30/06/2025 21:20

My dd is now 7 months old and I can’t quite believe that she/we are still going through this. I feel for her deeply that she is still struggling with feeding and just constantly seeming in awful pain. We have been to the GP back and forth. Private paediatrician. Private tongue tie specialist. And then referred to paediatrician at the hospital who we still see regularly.

From around 2 weeks old things just became a real struggle with feeding. Arching back, refusing feeds, constipation, rash. GP prescribed Gavsicon which made constipation worse. Then trialled nutramigen for a week before HV tasked GP to put us back on regular formula, as baby had dropped centiles. I didn’t know much about CMPA at this point, so I had no idea that at it should have been atleast 2 weeks-6weeks. Anyway GP called to say maybe best to put her back on regular formula. She was on Hipp 1 but I knew this caused constipation so I really didn’t want to put her back on this again. So we agreed to try C&G Comfort she was on this for around 6 weeks still refusing feeds and unhappy but would be happy layed on back. She has always really resisted when being held so contact naps ended at 3 weeks old. Paediatrician prescribed Neocate and to begin with she was worse that ever, had awful trapped wind which she always struggled with on regular formula. But after two weeks she stopped refusing feeds and seemed to feed much better. We saw a real difference but it was short lived. She was then prescribed Omperzole. Made her sick. Then Lansoprazole and after 17 days she began to projectile vomit after every feed. It was like a burst pipe. She also had really acidic nappies. She was going 5-6 times a day and once I stopped the Lansoprazole this all stopped. Even though the Neocate is really thin, she never brings any milk up. But we are still told that it must be silent reflux but there’s no end in sight. She constantly is crying no matter what we do. The only thing she loves is going for walks in the buggy. Other than that she cries all day. Cries after feeding. Tried solids and I really thought this may help but it just made things worse. When eating solids she sound congested after and like it was all stuck in her throat. We asked the doctor why, if it’s silent reflux does she react to every medication she’s been given? We even tried gavsicon again recently and that also makes her sick and she refuses the feed after a ounce. Anyway we have an appointment for a barium swallow. I’m really nervous. I just want to make her comfortable and happy but at the moment there’s no end in sight and I’ve been searching for answers. I’m hoping we may get some from the test. Has anyone’s baby had this test before? What were the results? Was it okay? Nervous about her taking the liquid? Thank you for reading.

OP posts:
Bunnybear42 · 30/06/2025 22:20

Sounds exactly like CMPA but it could take weeks on a dairy free formula for you to notice a significant difference in baby. I breastfed my DD and was fobbed off for weeks when I complained about her having 15+ dirty acid type nappies a day (it was like a dripping tap at other times she was never really clean), unconsolable screaming, not sleeping, arching, weight loss. Anyway after being fobbed off by Health visitor , a midwife who told me to supplement with formula( I had an older child (well teenager) so not a complete newbie to this. I pushed for answers - CMPA ! a GP spotted it straight away I immediately cut dairy from my diet but it took 6 weeks till dd was thriving and feeling better. It turned out she had other allergies too but after 2 weeks the dirty nappies decreased slightly and she started sleeping more. Worth noting some CMPA babies react to a lot of dairy free formula as they still contain stuff they react too apparently I remember Neocate is the one to persevere if you have explored others and they don’t make a difference.i think I read you can buy something to thicken the liquid ? Follow consultants advice of course but I would revisit dairy free as it could be you didn’t try for long enough or need an alternative formula. Join the CMPA groups of Facebook I still use them now as struggling still with allergies . They are very helpful and you can get more advice on formula etc. I do hope you get some answers and baby feels better soon xx FYI my dd still suffers with gut issues mostly constipation due to her now restricted diet so has movicol a few times a week. It’s hard to balance it x feel free to reach out if I can help further

Bunnybear42 · 30/06/2025 22:23

Sorry I’ve no experience on the barium swallow I went off on a bit of a tangent 🤣

Springadorable · 30/06/2025 23:11

I've had a barium swallow test as an adult and it's not an unpleasant test. The liquid is thick and chalky but not particularly strong tasting. It'll make her poo grey though and pasty so be ready for that. Really hope you get some answers soon.

Superscientist · 01/07/2025 09:28

My daughter is allergic to coconut as well as dairy so can't have neocate, she had alfamino instead.
She has severe silent reflux which she is only just outgrowing at age 5.
She only got relief from omperazole at the highest dose, needed as much gaviscon as I could get in her, lactulose for the constipation and domperidone too. My mum has severe silent reflux but ppis like omperazole and lansoprazole make her unwell. Being made ill by the treatment doesn't mean the diagnosis is wrong.
We have had the discussion about barium tests with my daughters paediatrician. In her case we know her symptoms improve with reflux meds, it is likely to show reflux, they are treating for reflux the test won't make a difference. In your case they can't use the reflux treatment managing the symptoms as proof of reflux. There are structural issues that can cause reflux as well

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