Reflux???

[peachyuk]

hi all

really could do with some advice, been told that my 9 week old girl has got reflux

we've been told to try hungrey milk - didn't work, tried gaviscon - works a little bit but leaves her really consitpated, then was told to change her milk to sma stay down - has made it worst

so am now thinking that thicken milks aren't working has anyone been given anything or got any advice which would really help

am gonna try and get her into doctors tomorrow and she has now starting to chock on her sick in her sleep

hope this made sense and please help

Hang in there, first job is to get the moses or cot tilted. Stick a few books or magazines under the legs of the head end this should help with the reflux and choking worries. Hold her upright for a good long while after feeding too.

There are other thickeners, Carobel (made by Cow and Gate) for example. Your doctor will be able to advise. Get your daughter an appointment ASAP and describe all the symptoms.

My little girl is 21 weeks and has a milk allergy as well as severe reflux so I know how hard and distressing this all can be. There are lots of things that can help.

Is it just the vomiting that she has or does she have pain as well, does she go rigid, arch her back and scream? It may help to make a list of all her symptoms to take with you to the Dr.

Good luck.

Ah, sorry you're dealing with reflux.

If the choking becomes really bad then do take her to A&E. I remember only too well leaping out of bed at every tiny little wet burp/cough just in case... But it was fine.

Who was it that initially diagnosed your DD? Was it the GP? If it was, and they advised to try the Gaviscon you could ask about the next stage of meds. My DD had Domperidone & Ranitidine but there are others. You could also ask for your GP to refer you and your DD to the local hospital's reflux clinic.
Be prepared to be pushy and don't be fobbed off - referral appointments can take 6 weeks to come through.

Would also advise propping the cot. We used a lever arch file under the mattress head end, but books under the legs work too. Sucking can also help keep the muscles of the throat keep moving downwards so can help if she will take a pacifier (DD used to suck my little finger). Oh and our wrap sling was a godsend as she could sleep upright all day much more comfortably than in the cot and with much less vomiting.

Support board here and a support website

Do let us know how you get on tomorrow

hiya thanks for your reply

i've titled her cot, keep her upright for 20mins after feeding. i should have added that she was amitted to hospital due to the sickness and thats went we were told it was reflux. thats when she was given the gaviscon

and yep we have the screams, goes rigid and arch's her back, we aldo get projectile vomiting

Peachy I expect that you will be given something a bit more useful to give your baby by the GP. My wee one is on ranitidine which works for us. They will probably want to keep an eye on the vomiting too.

Don't worry too much though, make that appointment and find a good position to hold her when she has episodes. I hold my DD along my tummy almost in a breast feeding position and I give her a dummy when she comes to the end. As Fumblina says it is a real comfort. The cherry ones rather than the orthodontic ones are good as there is more to suck. It will help her muscles along her digestive tract.

Peachy, I really sympathise. But it can and does get better. Like the others have said, you sometimes have to be pushy as some GPs are a bit too relaxed about reflux (ours even denied it existed!). There are meds that work, and slings and dummies are a godsend. Also, if you're using bottles, you might like to try Dr Brown -- they're expensive and a bore to clean but really helped our DS. Swaddling also helped with sleeping. Stay strong, you'll both beat it! xx

DD had reflux. She ended up on ranitidine. It really worked although you have to keep adjusting the dose as the get bigger. I think she was on it until about 9 months. Her cot was also tilted, a lot - 4 videos under each leg (well two top legs). I also carried her in the "tiger in the tree" position a lot, where they lie with their tummy along your arm. Anything that put pressure on her tummy seemed to help.

Keep on with the doctors. My DD was a grizzly mess before we got the dose of medication right, but a real joy once things settled down. For everyone's sanity it is important to keep pushing.

thank you for all your replies

well managed to get into dr's but what a waste of time just got given something to ease the consitipation.

have made another appt with a different dr for monday

i've got the dr brown bottles and yeah they are a bugger to clean lol

i will try to swaddle her tonight

Swaddling helped us a lot.

at rubbish doctors. Could you feed her just before you see the doc on Monday. Worked for us, DD right on cue vomited ALL OVER the doctor (and no I didn't plan it but it was bloody handy!)

thats my plan lol

it worked when i took her to a+e about it. dr tried to fob us off saying that some babies are quite sick. then she threw up everywhere and i mean everywhere

we were admitted after that lol