Reflux/CMPA/laryngomalacia - argh!

[thismotherhoodthing]

7 week old DS was breastfeed/given eEBM xpressed breast milk for first four weeks. Had a very tough time establishing breastfeeding - which would be a whole other
Post in itself - so started switching to formula at 4 weeks (he had small amounts of it to supplement before this). Could be the switch or just his age but he was quite uncomfortable. Sleeps a lot during day (contact naps only) but when awake is stiff, unsettled during feeds etc. the day times are ok but he is really bad on a night, currently taking it in shifts to hold him on our chest as he is choking when laid flat. Since turning seven weeks on Saturday it is much worse he is choking when laid down. He also has two extremely sticky eyes filled with yellow discharge which I have asked docs about and been told they are blocked tear ducts but they look quite extreme - they have been swabbed so awaiting results.

Took him to GP two weeks ago as I had a long reflux journey with DD and didn’t want to end up in the same boat. With her she ended up on Neocate+thickener and Omeprazole highest dose. I’m not 100% convinced she needed the Neocate but she was losing weight before it. The Omeprazole sorted her out and we never looked back. Weaned her off it at 1 no issues since.

Despite me not wanting to rush down the CMPA route GP gave a trial of Aptamil Pepti which I don’t think has helped. He is throwing up a lot more as it’s so thin and not sure I’ve seen any improvement - possibly more frequent poos.

We have a referral to paeds as I also suspect laryngomalacia as he has all the symptoms of that but it’s another three weeks away

I think I am going to ask GP or paeds to trial Omeprazole and treat the reflux rather than assume CMPA and possibly go back to an off the shelf formula. I’m just not sure whether to go back onto kendamil or try a different one. If trying Omeprazole should we keep formula the same (Kendamil or pepti) so we can really see the impact of the Omeprazole on its own ? Also if laryngomalacia is the issue will any of this even help?

Can’t believe we are back here again!

That does sound difficult @thismotherhoodthing

For his eyes, has anyone suggested squiring BM into them? Thats usually the best cure.

I think it’s worth ruling out Tongue Tie at this stage. Do they have any of these symptoms?

And if you are considering going back to regular formula, I’d try a different ine from Kendamil, there are some many threads where babies are having problems with it. How about Hipp Comfort?

We had a very similar situation. We saw a private ENT who used a scope to rule out Laryngomalacia then started her on Omeprazole. He referred us to a Gastro and we ended up on nutramigen, carobel thickener, omeprazole and domperidone. It was the domperidone that helped the most. She still can’t have any dairy now at 7.

@BunnyRuddingtoni insisted on another swab for his eyes and turns out it is bacterial conjunctivitis! Good thing I asked again.

he had been checked for tongue tie by the infant feeding team and they don’t think he had one. He has a slight frenulum but nothing they were willing to address. I didn’t go privately this time. For my daughter she had to have her TT snipped twice, once on the NHS and once privately. It could be he has a posterior one but I haven’t paid for the private appointment

he is incredibly mucousy and throwing up mucousy vomit. Currently trying to work out if that could be part of the infection he has, or from the kendamil. I think the next stop is to try a different formula. I have avoided comfort ones as they are usually hydrolysed similar to the pepti so concerned that his digestion may improve but reflux may get worse

@User1839474yes we had a similar journey with DD too and Omeprazole was the thing that helped us although she was also on Neocate and thickener. I am reluctant to go down the thickener route yet as it may worsen his constipation but may have to.

The anti reflux kills just have thickener in but may end up trying one of those

does anyone have a recommendation for another off the shelf milk to try other than kendamil? I’m thinking it’s worth trying another one as Kendamil is quite rich