Reflux which formula....what to do

[Ilovelamp484]

Our DD is 6 week old. Around 3 week she started showing signs of reflux/silent reflux. We were advised to try anti reflux formula and it worked a treat after the first bottle. We could play with her again we could lie her down....we could leave the house. She then got a bit constipated but slowly her body started getting used to it and her poos were getting softer to a firm paste. Our only issue was wind. She grunts and writhes around all night long. And it seems to be a night issue like shes built it up all day.
We took her to the doctors and they wanted to trial her on similac for a cows milk allergy....they never diagnosed her it was more like an experiment to rule things out. We tried the similac of course for 24 hours however after the first feed she was sick. She spent the rest of the day after each feed, and even hours after, gagging, arching her back, crying, pulling sour face, swallowing when she wasnt feeding and crying. It brought all of the symptoms of reflux back. So i want to put her back on anti reflux which works fab....but what can i do for wind. They want me to keep her on similac for 2 weeks but i know my DD best i cant watch her in pain when i know theres another formula whoch stopped her reflux pain and gave her just a little wind.

What would you do? In my head anti reflux formula is perfect she just needs a little help digesting. Is this something her body will get used to over time?

Reflux is very common and will resolve in almost all babies as they grow and develop, regardless of what treatments you do or don't give. As long as there is ok feeding and growing you don't HAVE to do anything.

There does seem to be evidence for reflux associated with cow's milk protein in some babies but as you say there aren't reliable tests for which ones. If your anti-reflux milk (these are normal milks with thickener essentially) was working for you I think you can choose to stick with it if that felt better. The option to switch off cow's milk won't go away if you do want to try it later on.

There isn't really a "medical" solution know to work for wind but it is something that resolves over time. Frequent burping and avoid overfeeding are what healthcare professionals will say - as yet nothing better has been invented but the things available over the counter are general quite benign and some people prefer to give them.

What bottles do you use? I didn’t find a formula that worked at first but once I changed bottles to Dr Brown it was life changing. DD still needed anti reflux medication but she was 100% happier

Thanks for your replies. Im currently using MAM bottles. From birth she wouldnt take to anything else so we now use MAM with a number 2 teat for the thicker anti reflux formula.

I feel like im awful not following the doctors advice like im wasting their time but you spent so much time with and wathing your child i think your gut instinct takes over.
She only drank 3oz tops of the similac yesterday wheeras she was drinking 5oz of anti reflux. The last bottle of similac she had she kept pulling away and crying but then crying and rooting because she wanted more. It was a horrible viscious cycle to watch.

Do you think i should go back to the doctors today to make sure theyre aware of the situation and ive stopped?

Id rather try cool boiled water or prune juice...then maybe lactolose for her digestion over this similac

If your child is meeting their feed requirements and gaining weight, with no high-rise features like bloody stools, I don't think the GP will mind what you do! If you want to keep them posted I'd leave a message rather than making another dedicated appointment. You have the routine community midwife appointments keeping an eye on you anyway.