BF and medicines - is there an easier way?

[LaTristesse]

Hokay, I'm looking for some good ole Mumsnet brainstorming here, as my brain has gone to mush and I'm reaching the end of my tether with this:

DS (9 weeks) is exclusively BF but is having to take a whole load of other stuff due to colic, thrush, silent reflux... (poor lil chap). So... I don't want to give him a bottle with water / expressed milk as his latch is knackered already due to the thrush, so how the hell do I get colic drops into him before a feed and Gaviscon into him after a feed?
Currently our routine is as follows:
colic drops in expressed milk given by dropper, then feed him, then Gaviscon in boiled water again by dropper.
This sounds straightforward enough but it does mean I can't just feed him when I want to - it all takes a marathon planning / sterilising routine which is limiting the amount of food he's getting, I'm sure - often he's rooting about for more food 20 mins after this whole process, but I can't put more food in on top of the Gaviscon can I or it renders it ineffective...?

All I want to do is feed my baby whenever he wants it, but all this naffing about with medication is limiting his food intake I'm sure. His weight gain is pretty small anyway so I want to get as much in him as poss but there doesn't seem to be anyway of actually doing this whilst still getting his meds in him - help someone please, I'm going mad here!
Thanks! x

What about using a syringe, could have 6 lets say for each so less sterilising.

As for eating after the Gaviscon, as you mix it with the feed in a bottle if he wanted more soonish after i personally wouldn't think it would be a major issue, but in the past a mum i knew was advised to give it 5 minutes before the feed as her dc was still being very sick and it worked a treat for her.

Be aware that it can make #2's firmer.

Yep you're right about firmer - we're currently somewhat plugged up and straining! Poor little guy, like he needs anymore trouble...
Thanks for the reply Money... multiple syringes sounds like something to try.

extra water or lactalose.

Gaviscon in't the only treatment for reflux but it's the cheapest. Other options are domperidone (motilim), ranitidine & omeprazole amongst others.

I used gaviscon with DD1 but soon stopped and switched to domperidone as gaviscon made her poo marbles! It also did nothing for her reflux.

However, when we did use it we had a flask of cooled boiled water in the kitchen and measured out the required water into a breastmilk storage bottle then added the gaviscon powder. A standard size teat and bottle collar fits onto breastmilk storage containers so we used that to feed the gaviscon to DD1 before a feed (as per Dr's instructions). DD1 was very used to bottles though as was predominately bottle fed for 8 weeks.

To be honest syringe feeding the gaviscon would probably been easier but it didn't occur to us until we started on the domperidone which you give by syringe (very precise dose based on baby's weight). Domperidone works by speeding up the transit of milk through the gut so it's not in the stomach long enough to come back up.

What is your DS having for colic? Is it definitely colic or is it the silent reflux that is making him scream? DD1 screamed for hours when she wasn't feeding (which she did for hours on end!) but when we got the reflux sorted and she started gaining weight the screaming/'dolphining'/vomiting/constant feeding all settled down.

Cool info about the alternatives TruthSweet - thanks. I'm going to look into these today.

I just give DS Colief drops for his colic - the GP was typically dismissive when we raised it with her - 'it's just what babies do' was the response. Then we saw a cranial osteopath who diagnosed an immature gut exaccerbated by his ventouse delivery which caused strain on his abdomen (basically he can't just poo stuff out, he has to really work at pushing it all out). She worked some osteopathy magic on him, and it did free things up a little, but she agreed he will just need to grow out of it basically.
He's getting to the age though where the colic might start to ease up, which is good (if it happens), but it seems that it could be replaced by reflux now.

Thanks for the replies anyhow ladies - always better to rely on Mumsnet wisdom than sketchy Gps if you ask me!