Hi mums
Anyone else out there who has a baby with reflux? My baby, who is now almost four months old, was diagnosed with reflux in January. Having a baby with reflux (silent reflux in his case) has been a really difficult experience - it's been so awful to see my little baby in so much pain and discomfort. I am a new mum and it's been a really steep learning curve!
Here's my story: At about two weeks old my baby became incredibly alert and would constantly arch his back. I became increasingly alarmed at his behaviour but was reassured by the midwife that he was just a very active baby. I managed to continue breastfeeding him, although he was such a fussy, squirmy feeder and put on very little weight. He hardly ever slept and cried loads and loads. A month went by and after numerous visits to the doctor and hospitalisation over the new year, my baby was diagnosed with silent reflux and referred to a gastro peadiatrician. He was prescribed gaviscon (which seemed to work for a while), then ranitidine, domperidone, and finally losec which he is currently taking. It seemed such a shame - I wanted to feed him naturally yet he was on all these artificial medicinces. I decided to explore complimentary medicince and he has also been treated by a cranial osteopath which definitely helped to improve his condition.
Then I researched reflux on the internet and found links with cows milk allergy. I have been on a completely dairy-free diet for two months, difficult because I love cheese and milk, but happy to do it for my baby. Interestingly, I was absolutely addicited to milk when I was pregnant and the baby constantly had hiccups in the womb.
There were many times, and there still are - when i wanted to give up breastfeeding altogether, and wonder whether the baby might have had less reflux on hypoallergenic formla milk, but I have been advised that breast is best and I try to cling on to that belief.
Am now at the stage - finally - where my baby will sleep in his cot if it's elevated (he slept in the moses basket only a handful of times when he was newborn), but he is still a terrible feeder (he feeds for 8 - 10 mins on average per feed) and sleeper, with little in the way of a day or night time pattern.
He's such a lovely, cheerful baby when he's not feeling ill and at times we get glimpses of the baby he could be without the reflux. He had an immunisation jab today and hardly cried - the pain is so minor compared to what he's been through already in his little life so far!
Would really love to hear from other mums who have had or are having a similar experience. If anyone is reading this and relates to what I've written it would be great to hear from you - although I totally understand that there's hardly any time to do anything let alone go on the mumsnet page when you've got a reflux baby!
love hippydippy
xxx