REFLUX:- Anyone had experience of this

[JPM]

My 3 month old developed 'reflux' at 2 weeks. She didn't throw up loads so I thought it may just be over-feeding but she was so fidgety on her feeds and couldn't relax at all. GP said it could be mild reflux and prescribed Gavison. Seems to work but now 3 months on she still needs it - will this problem go away on it's own or is it a long-term thing?

Hi JPM, am about to go to bed - but just wanted to say quickly that both my boys (age 3 and 6 now) had reflux and had gaviscon in their bottles till just past 8 or 9 months when it stopped. Once the stomach muscle strengthens when they are sitting up the reflux stops. It did in both my boys cases. And mine too (if you listen to my mother ).

You'll need plenty of bibs. We don't have a single picture of my boys without a bib on before they were sitting up as the were always being sick !! Funny now - NOT at the time !!

it will go away, it may seem at the moment that it's here to stay but surely your DD will outgrow it. Once weaning starts at 4-6 months it will get better (but do not be tempted to wean her before she is ready)

Agree about the bibs, once the reflux was gone teething arrived... DS is the bib baby!!!

It will go away but there is no defined timescale. dd improved slightly around 4/5 months (could sit up early) but once more mobile it became problematic again. Introducing lumpier textured foods proved difficult but we got there gradually. She improved significantly at around the year mark and was eating normally by 14 months. Some parents see a good improvement when solids are introduced but unfortunately it took dd a while longer.

She is still, at almost 3, prone to vomiting readily, such as if she has a cough or in the car.

Hate to say this, but dd2 had it even when being weaned. All that tomatoey stuff came up - no one wanted to hold her! It will eventually go away.

my sd had this and it ended up with her in hospital lots of times, and they couldn't find the cause until she had pnemonia 4 times and then they said reflux!
I think she out grew it at about 8 months old, I will check with dp.

There was a baby whisperer about this on ages ago and one fo the best things to do was realise when they are in pain from the acid coming up and holding them a certain way as well as investing in a special cushion for their beds that raises their torso (It works fro pregnant women too!!) - get the baby whisperer book I am sure there would be stuff in there about it.

Hi JMP,

My DD suffered from reflux from about 4 months till 9 months.
So it does get better..
I tried the gaviscon and it worked but then I got lazy and stopped putting it in her feed, but she seemed to grow out of it when she started to cruise around furniture..
I at first thought I was givng her too much milk and the HV suggested giving her enough milk that she finishes in 1 go which was about 3oz..
It worked no more vomiting..
Then gradually I increased her milk intake and she seemed to take it alot better and the vomiting subsided..
It's amazing but all her pics pre 8 months are with bibs and when I look back at them now I cringe..
But don't lose faith it does get better I know that SMA do a formula milk that is called Staydown milk that has the same ingredients that gaviscon has so you could try that..
I am sure DD will grow out of it..Mine did.. But I went through lots of bibs and carpet cleaner
Good luck

Hi JPM
DS1 stopped at weaning time (4/5 mths), DS2 stopped about 8 months. For DS2 I did a combination of Gaviscon and SMA staydown, he was a very unhappy baby with it. Now he's a lovely 15mth old, the carpets have been professionally cleaned and 25 muslin squares and 30 newborn bibs are on their way to the charity shop. I hope it stops for you soon.

Hi JPM

My ds had quite bad reflux (had to have non-licensed medicine ... dom peridone or something - I know it sounded like champagne)! Anyway, spookily the reflux calmed down completely once I stopped breast feeding at 7 months so I was never too sure whether it was reflux or it was me over-feeding or whether he hated my breasts! he used to scream for up to an hour before taking any milk and then would promptly throw it straight back up again!

He's now nearly 2 and guzzles milk like there's no tomorrow!

Hang in there!

One of my dd twins had really bad reflux for the first year. She was on domperidone 3x / day and something else called ranitidine at the same time. Pretty strong combination. She still threw up EVERYWHERE and the carpets were constantly being moussed with Vanish! But she did grow out of it. It got a little better with weaning and then back to normal (although the lumps were bigger !!) and then, literally overnight, suddenly stopped. She is now the least sicky of my 3.

It will get better but it is hell when you are going through it. I would stick with the Gaviscon if it is working. It is horrible to have to rely on drugs but if we adults have that acid feeling it is so nasty and it has to be the same for your 3 month old.

Good luck.

Hi JPM

All three of my boys have had reflux, but they've all been a little different. DS1 had it from birth and was throwing up up to 30 times a day. (Thank God for the Dyson washing machine.) Got fed up with being told I was overfeeding or that he was 'possetting'. It was no better when he sat up, or when he was weaned. Eventually the doctor put him on ranitidine (an antacid) which worked like a charm. He was on it until he was 18 months old, which is when the consultant said the muscle at the top of his stomach would be as strong as it would get. He's been fine ever since, but if ever he's ill with anything, he's always sick too.

DS2 didn't start with reflux until he was 6 weeks old, but due to the past history he was put on ranitidine and that stopped it. DS3 started at 2 weeks , but infant gaviscon worked for him where it had failed with the others. He's now 8 months and doesn't need it anymore.

The consultant I saw recommended that the following things can help: prop your baby up after a feed; make sure you burp baby regularly through the feed; if she'll take a dummy, this will help as she'll be swallowing more which exercises the relevant muscle in the tummy and generally helps to keep things down. The good news is that this is temporary, as she gets bigger and the muscle gets stronger she will grow out of it. Also I was told that the medications that are given for this aren't absorbed into the body, they just mix with the food, or coat the tummy lining and are then passed, so don't worry about her being on something for it. Good luck!

my ds didn't have reflux but had colicy episodes alot and gripe water before a feed really helped him bring his wind up, often before the feed even began suggesting it was storing up in there! we syringed a little in, gave him a burping session and then the milk.

Glad to see this thread! DS is now almost 3 months and has started being in real pain after a feed. At first I thought it was the breastfeeding but when it happened after his bottle feed as well I realised it must be mild reflux or indigestion pain - he really screams with the pain of it, it is a real effort to get the wind up and when it comes it invariably includes a load of clear mucous as well. I am off the the shops this afternoon and wondered if I should get him some baby gaviscone (is there such a thing?) or perhaps colief or ABC dolphillus? Can anybody suggest something?

We had Infant Gaviscon going into DD for a while after reflux was diagnosed, and were able to get it without prescription once when we ran out at weekend. But think her reflux was fairly mild anyway, esp. after reading this thread. We took her off it because it just got thrown up along with everything else!

my husband is 32 and has just had a reflux operation last week he has had problems for 6 years plus with mouth ulcers the doctors said that the flap in your throut that allows food down and acid up had collapsed so he was getting permanant acid in his throat and mouth also the reflux muscles in his throat did not work he is on soft foods and replacement drinks now. keep an eye on her and if you are not happy ask to get a second oppinion from the hospital

CP, I think the Solar ABCdophilus is definatly worth trying. it will help baby digest milk properly, and improve digestion in general. makes it easy for wind to come out (both ends!)

Has change of formula made any difference? Many babies who cannot tolerate regular formula get on fine with Nanny formula or soya formula.