Reflux in premmie baby - need help

[Poppyseed87]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting and I could really do with some help. My little girl was born at 27 weeks and is now 38 weeks corrected. She was discharged this week and is now at home. Her biggest issue whilst on the neonatal unit was reflux and whilst things have improved I feel like it's now displaying new symptoms which is scaring me to death.

She now seems to be chocking quite often and it can be a good couple of hours after a feed. Today she went a dark purple colour and looked like she was desperately trying to breath. I put her on my shoulder and patted her back and she eventually got her breath back but it was horrible. She's on various meds, gaviscon, donperidon, omeperozole but this choking phase is new. I elevate her Moses basket, hold her upright for most of the day. Is there literally anything else I can try????? Doctors keep saying she will grow out of it but it's just so scary I just can't sleep as I'm worried she will choke.

Any advice is greatfully received.

Sympathies - reflux is hard work. My ex-prem baby used to go blue (we were still in hospital at this point) - it was terrifying.

In your shoes I'd be tempted to ring the neonatal unit and ask for advice from one of the drs, especially as you've just left. Have they tried renitidine? That worked for us, but the dose has to be right.

Alternatively do you have open access to the children's ward as you're ex-neonatal? That might be another way in to get quick treatment.

Definitely ring the ward. Ds didn't do the going purple thing but ranitidine worked for him.
He also slept on his front (GP agreed) with a breathing monitor.

I tried PAU and the community nurse team have checked up on her too. They all just keep saying that she will grow out of it and we just need to persevere! It is so hard though! I just find myself wishing the time away with her which makes me feel guilty.

She is my first and I knew babies were hard work but omg I don't think anything quite prepared me for this!!!

Video it, show them.

I think they maybe aren’t realising how bad it really is.

That’s a good idea, I’ll try that thanks

Have you got a motion mat in the moses basket? Angel care do monitors like the ones in special care where it bleeps or flashes when baby takes a breath, if they don't (or I'd you take them out the cot and forget to turn it off) an alarm goes off. This stop DDs reflux but it was reassuring. The best thing was propping the cot up and holding her up for 20mins post night feed but she would still regularly gag and be sick in her cot.