6w old baby reflux driving me mad, pls help.

[Aw12345]

Has had mild reflux for a few weeks but now has got a lot worse, I feel so sorry for DS and it's driving me crazy.

24/7 he feeds for a couple of minutes then scrunches up, bright red face, grunting etc then 5 minutes later he wants to feed again. I'm literally struggling so much now because I never even get a full hour to sleep or wash or do anything. We've tried car journey, walk in pram, walk in carrier, vibrating baby bouncer, DH taking him so he can't smell milk, bath, baby massage... ... ... Nothing has helped. He is getting worse by the day 😪😥

He's on gaviscon, exclusively bf on demand.

Please any help or words of wisdom needed as I am absolutely going insane and I'm desperate to help my poor baby :-(

Laura why has the GP ruled out cow's milk protein intolerance so definitively?

With Ranitidine, I totally understand how it feels daunting to give a tiny baby a pharmaceutical like that. However, the benefits are twofold: firstly it eases the pain of the reflux (which can range from agonising to merely uncomfortable, depending on the baby). Secondly, it protects against long-term damage of the oesophagus from stomach acid. This can cause scarring, and even, after a long time, damage to the cells. So for the babies who need it, Ramitidine and the PPIs like Lansoprazole/Omeprazole are very very necessary.

Sorry, I meant to add that I would personally be very very wary about giving a necklace to a baby because of the strangulation risk.

I agree with all those points Leopard

Keep the baby head above stomach at all times
Towel under mattress
Pillow or cushion for nappy changes
Keep upright after a feed and then propped up all other times

Do not lie flat

Makes a high difference

Thank you Leopard. Ive clearly not seen the bigger picture and will go and see my GP next week. Thanks. I just worry giving medicine to a little human.
Oh i meant anklet, not necklace. I agree i wouldnt risk. Thanks x

YVW! These things are not very generally well known. I was clueless to begin with when my DD started refluxing, and only became a bit more knowledgeable after getting some help from MN! I remember those days well, and like to pass on help to anyone else in that situation if I can. Good luck with the GP!

The reflux occurs due to the stomach muscle not being closed in some young babies. Bit like when you're pregnant be the stretching opens the muscle

It closes properly when the babies reach 6 months and can sit up.

This is why when you lie them down they get acid burn.

Keep head above stomach

Just found this on one my my professional forums

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2018/05/the-omeprazole-priloseclosec-epidemic.html?m=1

Thanks for more tips, he seems a bit better today without the dairy... Hopefully he will continue to improve. It's awful when they're in pain.

I'll call someone about the cranial osteopathy tomorrow too :-)

Has anyone mentioned silent reflux? My DD didn’t sick up everywhere so I was initially told it couldn’t be reflux, but it turned out she was just swallowing the vomit back down each time. It hid the problem for a while and made it harder to diagnose.

I don’t quite no why your GP can’t prescribe the ranitidine - mine did. Its good that they are referring to the paediatrician to check everything but I’m sure they should be trying to help in the meantime?

Oh and Swedish Glace ice cream is really quite nice!

I found out GP shockingly ignorant of correct treatment for reflux. We saw a paediatrician privately and immediately moved to a hypoallergenic formula called Alfamino and ranitidine medecine - this medication only worked for a while and so we were moved to lansoprazole and had a happy baby. We weaned hypoallergenically and she overcame the milk allergy at 13 months with help from a dietitian. My friends who breastfed still had to move to hypoallergic formula even when they gave up milk (and soya as common allergy for milk allergy babies).

Thanks so much for all the advice and help... In summary the issue has been completely resolved by getting his tongue tie cut privately. I now have a different baby! He feeds so well, sleeps so much better, is so much happier.

The best £150 I have ever spent! I could cry with the huge amount of joy and relief to have a happy, content baby.

Thanks so much for mentioning this as a thing to look into!

Woohoo! So happy for you
and a teeny tiny bit smug

Our 3 m/o son isn't quite colicky, but he has a lot of gas issues and reflux when he lays down. Baby magic tea works like a champ to calm his tummy down and help him sleep and he spits up less often.

I would be smug if I was you!! :-) honestly has changed my life so far!! Thanks again!

Brilliant news!