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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Sounds stupid, but can reflux 'develop' as baby gets older

6 replies

MissusRabbit · 14/05/2010 13:39

DS is 8 weeks, first 4 fed like a dream, no problems. Last 4 weeks full of wind, sick all the time, despite being upright etc

If i don't wind him he's screaming in pain, if i do wind him he's more sick and in pain. He's on gripe water for the wind and i'm seeing GP next week and will ask about gaviscon.

What else can i do....?

Apart from wait for him to grow up!!!

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RunningOutOfIdeas · 14/05/2010 14:16

My DD had reflux. An osteopath told me that reflux can get worse with growth spurts (DD got much worse at 3 weeks old). This is because the diaphragm, which is the muscle that surrounds the top of the stomach, does not always grow in synch with the growth of the child, so it needs time to stretch. With DD, she gets frequent bouts of hiccups whenever she has grown alot, her reflux gets worse and then gradually settle down again.

When you wind your DS, only gently rub his back - do not pat it. Patting can trigger the vomitting. The trouble with wind and reflux is that if the wind comes up in one big bubble, it needs the top of the stomach to open wide, which allows loads of milk to be brought up at the same time.

With DD, I found that all the winding in the world did not help. This was because she did not seem to be swallowing air while feeding, but generating wind over about 30 minutes after feeding. If this sounds like your DS,
I suggest you ask your GP for a prescription for Colief. You add it to milk (whether ff or bf) and it helps to digest lactose. If your DS is not fully digesting lactose, the bacteria that are naturally in his gut will digest it and produce wind as a result.

Do you have the cot elevated and also his change mat? If he is uncomfortable, try lying him along your arm, face down (tiger in the tree position). The pressure on his tummy may help him to feel more confortable.

Gaviscon did not work for DD, but I am aware that it does help some. There are several other medicines available to treat reflux. So, persist with your GP until you get something that helps.

Finally, it really does get better with time. DD is now 2 and has very few problems with reflux. So hang in there!

jellybeans · 14/05/2010 14:20

Yes I read that sometimes it takes a while until (up to a month) the baby is taking a big enough volume of milk to start off the reflux.

MissusRabbit · 14/05/2010 15:40

Thanks for the replies and advice.

DS1 had reflux and gaviscon was useless...made him even more unsettled!!!

Have got the bed elevated etc DS2 is breastfed but does seem to be windy when i feed him and after. I have been trying to manage my fast let down to see if it helps. Will look into the colief too. DS1 ended up on bottles sooner than i would have liked (difficulty bf) so all meds went in his bottle. Will have to look at this and BF.

It's not the sick that bothers me but the little man being in pain so will peservere wtih GP if i get no luck at first

Very interesting about their organs not growing in synch with their bodies!

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RunningOutOfIdeas · 14/05/2010 18:39

Gaviscon made DD constipated and did nothing for her reflux. She was much better on ranitidine. The dose is very small (about 1ml) so easy to give without a bottle.

Minshu · 14/05/2010 22:48

I read that reflux is at its worst between 4 and 7 months. They get more active, jiggling the increased volumes of milk in their tummies then their internal plumbing gets better able to cope, along with having more solid food.

All gaviscon did for DD was make her vomit more viscous. The sickiness doesn't seem to bother her as much now, though. I do remember really distressing days when she was younger, but that does seem to be in the past [touching wood]

Sorry if that's not much comfort - my DD still has vomity days at 7 months (but now it's often orange with sweet potato)...

MissusRabbit · 17/05/2010 12:55

Well been to the gp and got the gaviscon to try. Had great fun trying to get him to take it with a syringe! Probably only got half of it down, and it just made his sick thicker! So we'll see how it goes.

If no joy in a couple of weeks will have to go back.

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