Does this sound like silent reflux?

[Moonshine160]

DC2 is 2.5 weeks old and breastfed.

He only occasionally spits up but he coughs and gags at the breast, gags randomly for no reason, lots of spit bubbles around his mouth and has hiccups several times a day. He’s also very congested in his nose and has been since birth. The main problem is nighttime; he groans, grunts, screeches, strains and wriggles in his sleep which is so, so loud. He will then wake inconsolably crying and arching his back. This has been going on for 5 nights now and I’ve had virtually no sleep.

Phoned the health visitor today who said it sounds like silent reflux and to make a GP appointment. The strange thing is that although he seems in such discomfort at night, in the day he doesn’t do any of the weird grunting, doesn’t cry much at all and seems quite happy. He will also happily sleep on his back in his crib whereas at night as soon as he’s placed on his back (even if co sleeping) he seems in so much pain and distress.

Does this sound like silent reflux? Surely it’s something he would have 24/7 rather than just at night?

It does sound very much like my daughter, who was also diagnosed with Cows milk allergy, which might be the cause of the congestion?

Does any of these in the photo seem familiar?

I also think it sounds like silent reflux, the hiccups and gagging were what I remember most when my DD was that age. She had CMPA too and once I cut out dairy it settled massively (it took about a week) xx

Coughing and gagging could be a very fast let down maybe?

Sounds the same as when my daughter was a baby with reflux. Always at night too, I guess worse then when they are lying for long periods on their back?! Omeprazole helped my dd.

Coughing means the milk is trying to go down "the wrong way" ie towards his lungs and gagging means he's not dealing well with the flow rate. You could try repositioning him so he's a bit more upright and giving him pauses after every few sucks so he can keep up and not get overwhelmed with the flow rate. I would ask the hospital if they have an SLT specialising in feeding as they often do and they would be able to provide some safe feeding recommendations having seen him.

The coughing and spluttering, and also congestion can be a symptom of tongue tie. It can also cause reflux too. Both my children had a posterior tongue tie that was missed by the tongue tie specialist midwife and various other health professionals. I had them checked by a tongue tie specialist who diagnosed them. Posterior ties are not easy to spot but can make breastfeeding difficult. Have a read of the attached screenshots and see if anything else sounds familiar x