Reflux, Infant Gaviscon and Constipation.. anyone got any experience...

[ChocOrange05]

DS is 10 weeks old and since birth has been a very sicky baby - sometimes sicking up watery milk right after a feed and other times the cottage cheesy stuff 1-2 hours later.

He was on Gaviscon for 10 days and it gave him terrible constipation which seemed to bother him more than being sick ever did (straining, groaning, going bright red) so we stopped the gaviscon and thankfully he is now pooing normally. The downside is he is very sicky once more and also fussing whilst feeding - pulling on/off breast/bottle and crying. The HV has suggested giving him 1 sachet of gaviscon per feed (rather than the 2 I was giving before) and also offering him drinks of water to counter the constipation effects. I am really reluctant to do this as apart from seeming uncomfortable when feeding and being sick he is a generally happy baby and gaining weight well. Obviously my washing machine would appreciate the Gaviscon and if it makes him a happier feeder I would use it but I am scared the constipation will come back.

Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks in advance

Constipation seems to be par for the course with Gaviscon. My DS suffered a bit with the constipation, but not to the same extent as yours. I did drink quite a lot of orange juice, when I was breastfeeding, as this seemed to make DS a bit 'looser'.

I wouldn't give extra water for a breastfed baby, as I think it will fill him up, where the milk should be.

Reflux is a natural maturation process I was told - all babies go through it to a greater or lesser extent. If you aren't bothered with the sickness, confident he isn't in pain (mine used to wake up screaming in pain and wouldn't lie down at all), then I would continue without the Gaviscon. Is he gaining weight well? TBH, my Doctor/MW weren't bothered by the reflux whatsoever, as DS was fine weight wise. It was me sticking my heels in for medication, as he was screaming in pain, which I was bothered about. He was on Gaviscon and Ranitidine. The Gaviscon seemed to reduce sicking episodes and the Ranitidine stopped the pain and he slept better as a result.

Sorry, just spotted you said he was gaining weight well.

It might be worthwhile speaking to your GP and asking for a paediatric referal. Reflux babies do tend to feed with more difficulty as you are describing.
Other treatments which may be benificial for him are ranitidine or domperidone. But these are usually only commenced upon paediatric advice. It is definately worth having him checked out.
My ds3 also has severe reflux an is on gaviscon and other meds including the ones i have suggested above. I think it would be worthwhile putting in just 1 sachet to see how he gets on. It may give him some benefit without the constipation.
If you need any other advice or support I am happy to help. I know what its like to have a reflux baby and i'm a good listener

Thanks for the advice - he is feeding a bit happier at the moment so I am going to hold off on the Gaviscon unless it gets worse again. The reflux isn't that bad but appreciate the advice about the other drugs in case I do need to do anything else.

Thanks again!

Sorry if I am pointing out the obvious, but some things we found did help with reflux:

Keeping upright for 20 mins after feeds (a bit like a bottle without a lid on it, the valve is quite 'floppy' so stomach contents come back up). Likewise, 'tilting' the cot slightly, so he wasn't lying totally flat.

Making sure DS was well winded.

Smaller, more frequent feeds.

We used to get good days and bad days. I hope your DS grows out of it soon.

Thanks likessleep I have been feeding him upright and keeping him upright which does sometimes help, but not always!

I hope he grows out of it soon too!

Chocorange05 I could have written your post about my DD2. Especially your comment about the washing machine - mine just broke down!

DD2 is now back on Gaviscon as I also stopped giving it to her because of constipation and tried using "thickened" formula (aptimil Easy Digest). this worked for a couple of weeks then the sick came back. Dr advised to try Gaviscon again seeing as she was a couple of weeks older so I did, and she again got hard poos. I switched to a "gentler" formula (Hipp Organic) as I know Aptimil has loads of pre-biotics in and this has got better - but I have been giving her a little bit of extra water a day which also seems to help the poo.

TBH - she now only seems to puke when she is under a bit of stress and out of what would be normal (i.e. if someone else feeds her).

So - for my money - I would try the extra water and be kind to yourself and your washing machine!