Gaviscon v Enfamil

[NessieD]

Hi all, my DS has Silent Reflux and has been placed on Gaviscon which has worked really well for the last few weeks, however he is getting more and more constipated and his poo in like Marzipan and virtually dry, the doc has prescribed Lactulose which works really well at getting the poo out but doesn't do anything to soften each and every poo. My DS has spent hours yet again tonight trying to give my DS his last feed and get him off to sleep, however he just keeps screaming after a few mouthfuls and it looks like he is trying too force poo out as he goes V red in the face and kicks his legs out. I'm going to go back to the docs tomorrow and I know that the docs will tell us to increase the Gaviscon as he is now over 11 lb and should have 2 sachets, however I just can't bring myself to do it as he is in just too much pain night after night and this will just make it worse. I want to just come off it as I feel so sad for my DS but my DH won't let me without referring to the doc first. I have researched Enfamil AR formula and wondered if anyone has any experience of it and if it had any side effects? i'm not sure that if it will have the same effect as Gaviscon as it is a thicker feed anyway? I know that we can try Ranitadine but I really don't want to put my DS on meds if I can help it as he's only 7 weeks old ...

Gaviscon is hellish for giving babies constipation. It is also quite high in sodium. THere is a milk thickener you can buy called Carobel, or I would be inclined to go with the enfamil if I was you. Infant Gaviscon is not actually an antacid, it just forms a 'layer' on top of the milk in the stomach to supposedly stop it coming back up. Also, my dd was on Ranitidine from about 4 weeks old, and I can promise you, it did no harm to her. SHe is 2.9 now and no longer refluxes, thank god! I was also reluctant to put her on meds, being such a tiny baby, but in the end she and I were both so desperate that I did. She was also on erythromycin, which was to keep her digestive system moving effectively. If/when you do get him onto ranitidine, just be aware that it will take a couple of weeks to work and that it is also VERY weight dependant - you will need to up the dose every time he puts on a significant amount of weight. Don't feel bad about the meds, if your ds is in pain there in nothing bad about giving him meds to try and stop that pain... HTH