ds has terrible silent reflux. would we be better switching to formula?

[nickytwotimes]

6 wks old now and it's been hell.
been in hospital and on gaviscon and ranitadine with slight improvement. feeds are hell and he is very upset afterwards, he sleeps fitfully on my/dh's shulder.
would thick formula be better? don't want to give up bfing, but i feel llike i am going nuts.

I can totally sympathise as I also had the same issues with my DS. I would suggest trying to prop the cot up or get a wedge pillow to put under the mattress as this will elevate your little one. This works wonders and I could kick myself now that I went through months of torture and as soon as I got the pillow he settled pretty much the same day!
Don't give up breastfeeding though, it should hopefully improve as his stomach muscles improve.

Good luck.

i ccan 't get him down at all.
takes hours to settle him at all

i have just taken him to my mum's.#i cannpot cope anymore

Nicky you sound like you need help. Have you spoken to your HV? is there anyone who could take him for a few hours so you could sleep?
It does get easier, I know at the moment it must feel awful but it will. You need to speak to the HV or Doctor to get help?
Can your husband take a nightshift if you can express?
I feel so sorry for you just now.

My DS1 had Enfamil AR (anti-reflux) - it is a prescription formula but you can buy it over the counter. It revolutionised his feeding. My ds glugged the whole bottle (after weeks of fussing/arching/screaming). You need to make it up with cold, sterile water and you will need a bigger teat.

I found gaviscon made him constipated and went on to have success with ranitadine + domperidone.

DS2 is bf and at 10 days old starting to show symptoms. However, I don"t think this heat is helping?

I am sure someone will be here to guide you through bf with silent reflux, but maybe you could consider 1 bottle a day to take some pressure off yourself?

thank you.
i have this image in my head that if i give him enfamil ar he will be miraculously better! possibly unrealistic.
I suppose i could try it for a bottle every so often.
i am keen to keep up the bfing as i feel it might help him wrt avoding minor ailments whne he already has something to contend with iyswim? But if there was AHYTHING that would make him feel better then I'd use it.