What to do with reflux baby that hates everything!

[milkyjo]

13 week old dd is breastfed, had a posterior tongue tie snip a week ago, is having gaviscon however the reflux remains. She screams a lot like she's in pain from either the reflux or wind. She hates lying down but will also eventually cry when being held upright so she ends up crying herself to sleep as she is exhausted but wake after half an hour. She won't go in a sling, I've tried 3 different ones, she hates the car seat and car, she cries in the pram. She hates lying on her tummy. We have a wedge for playtime, she tolerates a swing for 5 minutes. She will puke about 5 times and then the crying begins. We are waiting for an appointment with paediatrician but it's not until july. I am at my wits end as I can't stand to see her in pain and also it's really affecting ds 2.5 as he gets quite upset when dd cries. She is fine weight wise. Is there anything else I could possibly try or will I just have to wait it out? We are all so miserable, if it wasn't for the fact that ds needs to go to groups I don't think we'd leave the house!

Not much else to offer - you have had some excellent advice here. Just did not want to read and run. Wish I had known about mumsnet when dd2 had reflux. Awful time - she was on the gaviscon until she was three and a half years old. only diagnosed at six months - until then i received the classic health visitor's advice of "babies cry"!!!! it is terrible when you feel you can't make your baby happy and I often felt like I did not even like her as all she did was cry!

Dummy is a good tip - wish we had used one sooner. We waited until she was two and it really helped.

Good luck and keep asking for help. X

We're still working on it... So far omeprazole hasn't done much, and we're at the highest possible dose a paed can give, so are waiting on an appt with the gastro paed (the waiting lists are so epic that he'll hopefully be recovered before we actually get to see someone in NOVEMBER!)

What has worked so far: napping in the ergo sling (he did object at the beginning, so it's worth sticking with it), sleeping with him on my chest, secured with a moby wrap (not as safe as a separate bassinet, but a whole lot safer than a mother who has slept 1 hour a night), keeping upright with absolutely no jiggling or playing after a feed, using wedges below the change table, the activity gym etc; resting upright in the baby bjorn bouncer inbetween sling carries. Public transport everywhere because the car and pram were completely useless.

We also tried a month of total dairy and soy exclusion and 2 weeks of having him on the elecare hydrolysed formula (prescription only, total allergen-free), but neither worked so we are finally back to breastfeeding which is much better, it is more easily digested, so less likely to cause painful gas and/or constipation, plus he finds it more soothing when he gets upset. If you are going fully dairy and soy free, be careful of things like bread and even sweets - but the goo news is that many brands of potato crisps are ok, as is Lindt 75% cocoa chocolate!

A bit of a sideways look at it from me: my DS had silent reflux so we did all of the above but really it only improved at around 9 months when solids came in quantity.
So - what will help YOU...respite care/day care once or twice a week. Getting a decent night sleep once a week or a half day to lie on the sofa, could give you the mental energy and werewithall to sustain for the next couple of months.

Just a quick post as most has already been said. DS is now 12 weeks, having been diagnosed with GORD at 7 weeks. He is on omeprazole and domperidone which has definitely got his pain under control. Ten days ago we had a major breakthrough when having bought just about every useless reflux aid under the sun with no effect, we bought a Poco baby hammock. The first night we tried it he actually fell asleep in it without needing a two hour pram journey! He now already goes to bed happily at 7.30 and doesn't wake until about 1 am for a feed, then miracle or miracles, will go back in his hammock until about 5 am. We have gone from DH on the sofa and me sitting up all night holding DS to having our evenings back and SLEEPING in the same bed. Won't work for all I'm sure but at £160 and lasts until 9 months, if you get just a few hours sleep, I think you would agree its worth it! Got mine from Kiddicare for next day delivery but they also have their own website.

Thanks for all the advice. Dairy, soya, caffeine, citrus fruit and spicy food elimination didn't work and saw absolutely no difference from stopping them, then restarting them a month later. The reflux got really bad when she reached 3 months and now at 4 months we have been prescribed omeprazole. Yet to try it as we're waiting for it to be ordered by pharmacy. It didn't stop ds vomiting but did help with the pain. He was on it by 5 weeks though.