Reflux, struggling, help please?

[ANewHope18]

My DD was diagnosed with reflux at 5 weeks, she is now 13 weeks and seems to be in discomfort for most of her awake time. DD is formula fed and feeding is inconsistent and a nightmare to be honest as she will scream after a few gulps or sometimes after around 2oz/60ml. This happens at most but not all feeds and we have no idea why some feeds are better than others.

DD can also be very tense, sucks furiously on her dummy, clenches her fists and furrows her brow as we try and comfort her. We've tried Gaviscon which caused constipation and DD refused all feeds, changed to Carobel which does help with keeping milk down and DD seems to prefer a thicker milk. GP prescribed Ranitidine initially at 1mg/kg, some improvement for around 5 days then it was upped for her weight. After a week the GP increased the dose to 2mg/kg and finally to max of 3mg/kg. I think Ranitidine no longer has an effect as DD still screams during most feeds and her daily feeding amount is 400ml to 700ml.

After another visit to the GP DD was prescribed Nutramigen LGG, I was so hopeful this would work as she does have some allergy symptoms and seems to suffer badly with wind and stomach pains, she can scream and squirm before passing wind and it's horrible to see her like that. DD has been on this milk for 3 weeks, the first week and a half it was mixed with her usual formula to get her used to the taste, there has been no change to her dry skin, she still sneezes after feeds, her sticky eye and stomach pains haven't improved but I plan to give the milk a couple of more weeks as I know it can take a while to work.

After a particularly bad couple of days feeding wise we called NHS24 and a doctor at the hospital prescribed Omeprazole (10mg once per day). I'm so hopeful this will work as I'm struggling to watch DD suffer and I dread taking her out as feeds can be awful, she also screams if she's tired or her stomach hurts. I've cancelled baby classes, I find it hard to see other mums out enjoying time with their babies and I'm constantly comforting DD.

I've taken DD to a cranial osteopath who said she has a very stiff neck, DD does tend to lie with her head to one side so I thought that after a couple of sessions she might feel less uncomfortable. She's had two and screamed throughout, not really noticed a difference but we have another appointment next week.

I'm not sure why I'm posting really, maybe other mums have been through similar and have some positive words? I've been so hopeful that each thing we've tried would work and they haven't. It's really starting to get me down and I'm worried about PND as I'm struggling.

Sorry this is so long! Does anyone have any advice?

Anyone?

No advice really, but a similar story and didn't want to read and run! DD is 18 weeks and on dairy free formula, carobel, ranitidine and omeprazole (sp?) she gets tummy aches, vomits a lot and always has hiccups. It is very upsetting. I know she will grow out if it, but it's hard. Do you have a sympathetic GP?

Hello,

I'm afraid I don't have much advice but I wanted to say that I know what you're going through and it's so hard. But you're not alone - and according to my sister in law Omeprazole does work well.

My baby (first one) is formula fed and has silent reflux. He was prescribed Gaviscon (no surprises there) by a disinterested GP which made him constipated and didn't do much else, so I now use Aptamil Anti-Reflux milk. This did actually quell his pain during and immediately after eating. However he's never able to go on his back without bursting into tears. His bed, my bed, playmat, changing mat - every time. He won't lie still in his pram if it's stationery without crying, so no lunches out for me. At baby classes, older and younger babies surround him lying docile and happy and I have to take him out of the room because he's in hysterics as soon as I gently lay him down. So I feel your pain - it's depressing and I feel distanced from my mum friends who seem to have easy babies.

After seeing a paediatrician privately on Friday he's prescribed the baby 1ml of Ranitidine x3 a day. I don't feel confident about it but we'll see. I assume I'll eventually end up with Omezaprole, like you, as I can't carry on like this! I spend the entire day carrying him about (he barely naps) and cannot wait til his bath and bedtime, which makes me feel guilty.
Fingers crossed your little one feels better soon and sorry I can't help more!

Thank you both for replying. I know there is no magic cure though I wish there was and someone on here knew it! In a way it's good to know I'm not alone. I feel like every other baby I meet is easy going and happy and my little one is a sad wee grump in pain.

I hope all our babies will grow out of it sooner rather than later

Dailyfail my GP is sympathetic and I feel i can ask to try DD on the entirely dairy free Nutramigen (can't remember the name) even if just to rule out an allergy though I fear the real answer will be time I'm struggling more as the weeks go on as so many people told me she'd grow out of it at 12 weeks!

Butterscotch, Ranitidine might be the answer. It works for many babies, fingers crossed.

Thanks again for replying

It sounds like your LO needs neocate (completely dairy free formula) with carobel. Omeprazole 20mg (and then you can slowly reduce when settled on it)

Buy a wedgehog from amazon or their website

Keep upright after feeds

It is a horrible horrible thing you have my sympathies 💐

We have a wedgehog and do keep upright after feeds, I think we've got that side sorted.

We have two tins left of Nutramigen so maybe finish them then make a GP appointment and request Neocate. Omeprazole is 10mg, bit of a nightmare to dissolve!

Our omeprazole is a liquid suspension, do much easier give. I tried a syringe but she spat it out. Now use a numi dummy thing that has a little space to add medicines that she then sucks through the dummy. So much easier!!

Hang in there. I had similar problems with my DS and I was told it could came down at 3months. It really didn't but I think that was due to him actually having tongue tie. We got that snipped at 4months and I'd say at around 4 and half months, things did settle down. He definitely had reflux, but his tongue tie made it worse.

Now at 7months he's teething and it's flared up his reflux again. However, it's not half as bad as those dark new born days as he can sit up more and spends more time naturally upright.

You've survived 3 months and I'm sure it'll get better in the next month or so. Just hang in there! I was exactly the same with baby groups. I even dreaded a trip to Tesco bit those days are (kind of) behind me and I'm able to enjoy my baby so much more.

The omeprazole is a bit of a faff but I dissolve 20mg in approx 5ml water. Give with a calpol or nurofen syringe

also be careful giving baby nurofen for anything because nurofen /ibuprofen flares up reflux too.

Ds is 22 months now and his last molars are coming through, his reflux is really bad at the moment it's a lot easier than newborn days but it's still hard