My baby seems to have both reflux and colic. He’s on omeraprazole for reflux (5weeks old) he cries a lot and clearly seems to have a lot of abdominal pains. Any suggestions

[BoyMumToBe34]

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https://www.babydoc.com.au/faq/colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep/

Have a read of this I think that this explains newborn behaviour really well. Hope it helps.

This is a really excellent read.

I think we are in danger of pathologising normal newborn behaviour tbh. Babies cry. Some cry more than others. It's shit but it doesn't last forever.

@BoyMumToBe34 what do you do when he cries? What comforts him? Is he breast or bottle fed? Can you carry him upright in a sling most of the time and see if that helps?

I’m surprised your doctor has prescribed omeprazole. Even if it’s effective to reduce your baby’s acid reflux, it won’t stop them from crying or being irritable. Infacol is gentler and possibly more effective.

As PP said, keep your baby upright as much as possible and burp during and after feed.

@CapybarasAreJustGuineaBigs
It is such a good article isn’t it? I agree that we are (understandably) very quick to think that when baby’s cry it is for some awful reason that we need to treat. Having studied a little about infant brain development. I think we assume that babies behave like adults. Overstimulation and not coping with or adapting to their new environments is very misunderstood IMO. We expect too much of them in our busy world.

First things first you need to check the type of omeprozole. The omeprozole that is dissolved tablet beads suspended is not suitable for babies! You need the full liquid suspension which is custom made and hard to get.

We had a complete drama with this. Much foot stamping to get the right formula.

Thankfully during this I had a GP who is incredible ring me up and say look; if this was my child I wouldn’t give it them. I said why! (Considering his reflux was so bad he had a brue event). He just said trust me, don’t do it. Just do whatever you have to do for the next few months to keep them upright.

It was tough. Really fucking tough!

But we did it. We got through it and he grew out of it.

So the reflux survival kit; tilt the cot. Make a nest of rolled up muslin or thin towel to keep them from sliding to the bottom.

Day time; baby carrier. Upright!

Seated; baby bjorn titled upright sleeper.

Dummy! It helps with reflux because the dummy keeps them swallowing/ sucking even at night, which keeps things going down.

Not over feeding. Small feeds very often.

Ear defenders for you. White noise to calm baby.

It’s hell. You will get through this. Hang in there! 🌷

@BeanfiendYes it’s the tablet that I disperse in water and give using a syringe and yes I see tiny beads. Can I ask why it isn’t advised and what the liquid version is called please? He also has many Brue episodes. We were advised against raising the cot due to risk of sids. Thank you for commenting

It’s very scary. I am sorry you have been having brue events too!

The suspension is powdered so you can dose correctly. We wouldn’t have known if it wasn’t for the pharamacist refusing to dispense. It looks like this in a bottle… https://www.rosemontpharma.com/omeprazole/ (not sure if it’s that brand). The pharmacy have to order it specifically to be mixed and you can ask for additional flavourings.

Basically the issue with the tablets are that the balls are the active medicine. So it is possible to use that method but only if you are giving exactly a whole or a half tablet. Which for babies and it being so sensitive to weight and dosage changes that just isn’t possible 90% of the time - and if it is.. it won’t be in a few weeks when they grow so what’s the point of using that method!

If you are doing an exact half or whole then you can do it by putting the tablet directly in the syringe. Then drawing the water so you are dispensing the correct number of balls.

We were being told to dissolve a tablet, then draw up x of the substance. That is not consistent with number of balls and impossible to do! So you are either underdosing, or overdosing, or a combo day to day. It’s just no way to administer medicine.

If you are having lots of brue events then obviously you have to discuss with your consultant/ GP rather than trust a random on the internet.

FWIW it was the hospital themselves who tilted my son at 2 weeks and showed us how to make the nest. For him he was most at risk of brue/ SIDS by being flat!

Also would recommend an owlet sock and webcam. You shouldn’t rely on it solely, but if everyone does have to sleep then it’s better than nothing. Ours had many false alarms but never missed an actual issue.

Hang in there. Being a mum to a reflux baby is super tough! Mines 3 now and until this post I had nearly forgotten about these times!

My youngest son is 33 now. As a newborn he had a lot of abdominal pain, and a friend recommended a cranial osteopath. From the first visit he started to improve, so I would give it a try.
Good luck!

Have you tried to go dairy free? Sounds like my son was and it was only when my daughter was born we realised that the reflux and colic were actually from dairy

I do like the bore your baby to sleep article. I’ve seen it recommended a few times on MN.

Has Tongue Tie been ruled out @BoyMumToBe34 avd does LO have many of the symptoms?

Have you asked to be referred to paediatrician gastro? Or has your GP prescribed that? My son now 14 was diagnosed with GERD/severe reflux at about 4 months from hospital paediatrician after projectile vomiting, crying, reflux etc. He was put on three different types of meds all liquid forms. Even with the meds it continued. We were told he would grow out of it at about 13 months. He did exactly that! But an exhausting period of time. Was our second child, so was a bit more aware of what was different. Anyway if the meds are not working get a second opinion, it did and his endocrinologist agrees possibly affect his growth which is just sorting itself out now. He is also still windy now ;;))) I hope you get some answers.

Sling was my sanity saver! Although increased my laundry pile! Keeping both my reflux babies upright on my chest the majority of the day helped keep the milk down.

I exclusively breastfed both and for both I had to give up dairy for a year.

Both mine were on omeprazole and domperidone - both as liquids from the pharmacy. Was lucky that my GP surgery had a community paediatrician. We were frequent fliers at the weighing clinic for weight checks and dosage adjustments.

we ended up co sleeping with both babies as so unsettled and neither could tolerate flat on their backs. Mine were not silent reflux and my son would keep upchucking violently until the liquid was yellow bile, then scream as he was hungry. They slept on their sides to avoid the choking.

We did a lot of tummy time with a towel propping them under armpits, both could roll over at 16 weeks.

Sending you unMumnetty hugs, vats of tepid tea.

The BRUE episodes must have been frightening. My DCousin’s last baby kept doing this. Pleased to report he’s a very lovely, very relaxed and happy adult now.

If you let us now how you’re feeding, FFing or BFing, we might be able to give you some more tailored advice .

My lo has suffered badly and we bought a reflux pillow from Amazon that straps him in for monitored daytime naps. Also dairy and soy free (bf). From experts I've spoken to, reflux is a result of something causing it rather than normal baby behaviour. My first suffered for 8 months before he was finally diagnosed with cmpa, knew the signs with my second. Both bf.

That must have been so tough. I totally agree that reflux is usually a symptom of something rather than a diagnosis in itself.

Usually the main culprits are CMPA which affects around one in ten babies]] or Tongue Tie.

Obviously others things can cause the screaming but it’s useful to rule out those two.

Have you looked into CMPA? We put symptoms down to colic and reflux and was on gaviscon, gave coleif etc until 3 months when we tried prescribed milk; the first prescription made her worse but then second milk solved everything and I wish I had of thought if it sooner

@andanotherproblemcan I ask what milk you tried and which worked. Baby is currently on pepti junior which isn’t helping much it’s extensively hyralyzed but I think he needs amino acid one but I heard it’s not easily accepted as the taste is terrible

@SleafordSodsbaby is now as of 2 weeks on extensively hydralyzed formula aptamil pepti junior- doesn’t seem to make a difference

The usual advice to deal with the taste is to add alcohol free vanilla essence or Nesquik to make it more palatable.

Did you read the article I linked to on CMPA and do the symptoms sound familiar?

Did you know you can call or email Allergy UK if you want to talk through some of this with them?