Infant Gaviscon and constipation

[NessieD]

My 6 week old Son is suffering from Reflux and has been prescribed Infant Gaviscon by our GP, he is currently on Aptamil formula and we mix the powder in with the feeds 6 times a day. Since starting the Gaviscon his poo has really thickened in consistency ( now looks like Marzipan) and as he has suffered from constipation in the last few weeks (from trying other formulas as the doc originally though he was Lactose intolerant) I know how badly constipation can effect him. My question is does anyone have any experience in using the Gaviscon and did this make your LO constipated? I have been giving him the maximum dosage at each feed but not sure if I need to? I have been told that a little boiled water in between feeds should help but I'm not sure how much I should give. Any help appreciated

gavsiscon did nothing for my DS's reflux - in fact made it worse as he got very constipated

i think you need to get back to your GP to see if you can get different meds

boiled water is usually given to help with constipation, but in this case as you know what is causing it, i think you should look at removing the cause

Infant Gaviscon is notorious for causing constipation - frankly, I think it's rubbish stuff, lots of sodium in it too. It did nothing for my dd's reflux either and isn't even an antacid, just forms a barrier on top of the stomach contents to supposedly keep it down. THere are other medications which are much more effective tbh. Is your ds being sick with his reflux or suffering from silent reflux?

Thanks for all your messages, today low and behold he is constipated and as a result has been grizzly ALL day, I will have his 6 week check on Tuesday so will ask the doctor to change his meds then. Does anyone have any experience of their LO's with reflux just not sleeping at all during the day? DS has slept a total of 1 1/2 hours today and is REALLY cranky we thought that he was getting better but are now scared that this is going back to exactly how he was before in not sleeping at all during the day, which is getting really, really draining

My LO always had trouble settling in the day
he would only really sleep in his carseat (upright)

we really only saw a difference when he went onto 2 meds - ranitadine (an antacid) and domepridone (moves milk through the gut more quickly)

reflux can be easily managed and most children grow out of it by 9 months to a year, but you may well see at difference at 5/6 months when they start to sit up and become more upright

Visited the docs on Monday and have been prescribed Lactulose which is working wonders!! DS is now happy and contented and satisfied after his feeds, he has been having a growth spurt this week so now feeding every 2 hours! oh what joy! now to tackle the daytime sleeping...........