Silent Reflux? Please help - I'm struggling

[BeeHobz]

Hello wonderful MNers,

I'm starting to think that my 10 week old DS has silent reflux - but would like some advice. Spending Xmas with his cousin of the same age, I realised how unsettled he was, and how much I seemed to be feeding him. Here's a rundown of how he is:

• not fussy at breast (I'm exclusively BF) but would stay there for hours if I let him

• short breaks of happy time (about 30-40 mins) before he cries, and can only be stated by going back on boob

• crying starts as a whimper and can progress into full scream fit, red face, the lot. Only boob stops it.

• generally happy in car or buggy, will nap in either - but will NOT nap in the day unless I do lying down feeds and he drops off

• TMI, but quite explosive poops every three days or so. Quite farty in the day.

• burps and sicks after every feed - but neither bothers him much.

• doesn't like being held in a sitting position, but does like over the shoulder

• sleeps very well at night, up to 7 hours, and is snuffly in the morning

• sometimes sounds like he has a 'cloggy' throat

• sneezes a lot and coughs a bit

My questions are:

1. Does this sound like silent reflux to you?

1. Should I go to the GP?

1. What should I ask for at the GP? I've read that infant gaviscon is basically useless.

Thank you for any answers - I am really struggljng with this. I just feel like he could be a much happier baby - I see flashes of it, but then something always seems to go wrong. It's heartbreaking.

Bx

Hmm. Someone will be along soon with more knowledge I reckon but here’s what I think. Dd had silent reflux and it doesn’t sound exactly like this.
Basically he is sleeping for periods at night and in car and when he cries it’s not a sudden acute pain like my dd had.
Worth checking out with gp though definitely.

Also worth checking is toungue tie and milk allergy/intolerance.
Toungue tie as he is spending a fair bit of time on the boob, not dropping off, satisfied. Dd had toungue tie and feeds were cut a lot shorter (and she was a LOT happier bless her!!) when it was identified and snipped.

Milk allergy as he seems to have an upset tummy. Could be worth cutting out dairy for a bit if bf or using cpa formula.
Sorry- I did not want to hear that advice (love my chocolate) but it helped my dd’s eczema and probably would have helped her colic if I’d have bitten the bullet earlier!

All the best xx

Sounds tough but I don’t immediately jump to a silent reflux diagnosis (I am a midwife and HV) He sounds like he has a strong positive association with the breast and the fact that he settles well at night is great.

He is still quite young and it’s hard as we always want to diagnose and treat something; in babies sometimes we simply don’t know. It’s just what babies do and they are not all the same. I know reflux can be awful but it is over diagnosed and over medicated. Agree that gaviscon is awful. Have a read of this; apologies; I post it a lot but it relates so much to what I see in practice. I wonder if he is a baby that gets over tired and stimulated really quickly??

www.babydoc.com.au/faq/colic-bore-your-baby-to-sleep/

Hmm, I'm not sure. I've had two DSs, the older with classic and my fifteen week old has silent reflux.

Both have been terrible night time sleepers as they couldn't lay down comfortably. DS will only do an hour or so on his own at night 😴 and it takes almost as long as that to settle him. Reflux babies tend to like being held sitting up too.

My DS is on ranitidine and omeprazole, so there are options aside from gaviscon. Best to make an appt with the GP if you are worried, and good luck 😀

Mrs PD that article is really interesting! Thanks

Sounds a lot like my 11 week old. He does have a bit of silent reflux and is on ranitidine for it but I don't think that was his main problem.

It took me a while to realise he was chronically overtired from his poor daytime napping. 1.5hrs awake is his absolute limit. He's been a lot happier since I've kept a close eye on his awake times.

He also has intermittent explosive nappies which are apparently normal for breastfed babies. He gets trouble with intestinal wind and Colief has helped a bit.