How did your baby's reflux first present?

[Writerwannabe83]

I'm just interested as to what symptoms your baby had that lead to the diagnosis. I'm a bit worried about my son, doctors have said it's reflux but I'm not sure.....

Projectile vomiting after feeds

My dd only had it mildly and was sorted with Gaviscon.
She had: projectile vomiting
possiting after feeds
trapped wind
wanting to feed quite often but then, conversely, refusal to feed and only taking an oz or so
screaming for several hours every day
sleeping really well at night
good head control for her age

Oh why are good head control and sleeping well signs of reflux mumof boyo?

Tbh I've no idea; it was something the health visitor said or asked about when I went for dd's 12 week check and I burst into tears in her room. She asked loads of questions and just said they all, including the head control and good sleeping, pointed to reflux. I was in too much of a state to ask why!
The sleep thing might have been a side issue really because ds was a great sleeper as well and had no issues with reflux or anything. In the early days it was the only thing that kept me sane.

Main thing my daughter had was constantly screaming and unable to lie flat... Never sleeping unless we were holding her upright. Didn't really vomit much but if wasn't upright would get awful hiccups and breath would smell of sick.

Thanks everyone. We had some issues a few weeks ago with persistent vomiting (some projectile but not all) and him being very unsettled at night. The doctor thought it may be reflux and prescribed Gaviscon but said it was to mine and DH's discretion as to whether to use it. DS was gaining weight really well, was a happy baby and the doctor wasn't sure if the Gaviscon would cause more problems than do good. She said that a lot of babies have reflux and if DS is a 'happy vomiter' who is gaining weight then we could choose to just ride it out if we so wished. Me and DH decided not to give it. The sickness stopped after a few days so thought it may have just been a stomach bug.

However, over the last 6 days DS has been being sick afterwards very feed - not huge amounts and not projectile but more than just the usual possets. I did consider whether to use the Gaviscon but I still feel ensure about it. DS is still gaining weight very well. His vomits come in the form of milk pooling in his mouth and then dribbling down his face and usually my arms.

I spoke to my HV who said this new onset of vomiting may be due to him over feeding due to a growth spurt. She said he's probably just bringing up the excess milk as there's no more room in his stomach.

It's so hard to know what to do...

My daughter had gaviscon initially but it made her very constipated which upset her as much as the reflux had, (she literally screamed for 12houra straight till opened bowels). Personally if he is happy and gaining weight I wouldn't give it, although he may not get the side effects from it. My daughter is now on omeprazole and we have a supply of gaviscpn but she hasn't had any for at least four weeks.

Writhing uncomfortably after a feed, then a few minutes later bringing 70% of it up. Gaviscon really helped. Then he grew out of it at about 9 months. Horrible at the time, but we survived! He never minded being laid down or anything like that. Wasn't a grumbly baby. It was literally only sparked by feeding.

Projectile vomiting every feed, screaming, being uncomfortable, back arching. It was bloody exhausting.

Had gaviscon by 8 weeks, that just made him constipated, eventually got him on ranitidine, and diagnosed with a cows milk allergy and eczema.

All babies do have some degree of reflux, my DS always out on weight, but was miserable.

It sounds like it's hit and miss in terms of symptoms then - what one baby has, another one doesn't.

DS hasn't been sick after any of his feeds today and is generally a happy baby. He feeds comfortably and settles afterwards.

This is why I'm a bit reluctant to start the Gaviscon as I'm not 100% sure he needs it.

My DS whose now 9 months and is still being treated for silent reflux. As a newborn he was very unsettled, would thrash and shriek in his cot, snack fed but always seemed unsatisfied after feeds, was a poor sleeper, has had a constant cough, disliked being on his back etc. I just had a strong instinct that something wasn't right but had to fight hard to get support from my GP. In the end changed surgeries where they had younger (read less archaic) doctors who were even aware of reflux and then he got some help. He's so much better now it's controlled by meds. Gaviscon did nothing but made him constipated but Ranitidine and Omeprozole really helped.

My DS could not be laid flat, even when already asleep. He would wake within minutes, screaming and arching his back. He fed almost constantly (prob as the milk soothed his throat) so did gain weight even though he was sick a lot. Cried all the time when not feeding, and wouldn't sleep for more than 30 mins at a time when tiny. That gradually improved but he would sleep only sleep for a maximum two hours at a time by six months. I was a total wreck and exP and I split up as we just couldn't be civil due to sleep loss!

He is 21m now and has gradually improved. He does wake at night but only the once, straight back down after a drink. He burps and hiccups if he has eaten too much, and that's pretty much it now.

DD had silent reflux.

Very early head control.
Constant screaming.
Very little sleep.
Screaming after 1oz.
Waking up within 5 min of being laid flat.
Constant screaming.

Oh, did I mention the screaming Worst day was 13 solid hours of screaming at 4 months. Not a wink of sleep in those 13 hours.