Suspected reflux- finding it very stressful. Advice needed also for formula feeding

[Thismummyruns]

HV has agreed my 6 week old likely has reflux, waiting to see the GP next week. She has dropped just below the 50th centile.

I dread feeding times. Keep beating myself up for not breastfeeding and think this is my own fault.
The washing basket is brimming with sick and acid covered clothing.
Feeds are now exploding through her nostrils hours after in the middle of the night. I'm at my wits end.

I took it upon myself yesterday to buy a reflux milk, cow & gate to be more specific. She has been totally different on this milk but it takes upwards of 40 minutes to feed as it is so thick, I don't think she's able to suck it through the bottle properly.

I just don't know what to do anymore. I feel useless!

Reflux is tough but it will pass. I spent months covered in vomit. Laundry overflowing. We used giant muslin cloths from Aiden + anais and took changes of clothes everywhere. We used pillowcases as the sheet for the Moses basket as we could go though several sheet changes a night.

My ds had reflux with a severe cows milk protein intolerance.

The GPs in our practice were useless with this condition. Please press for a referral to a paediatrician. We had a wonderful consultant for ds who prescribed special formula and meds and had a wealth of experience and tips to help us feed him. She also (together with a dietician) helped us to wean him early as this can help with reflux.

Ps don't beat yourself up. Breastfeeding is hard. Breastfeeding a baby with reflux is REALLY hard.

I had this. You have my utmost sympathy. I battled with breastfeeding for months. We were all miserable. I wish we had stopped earlier.

With the reflux milk you may need a different size year for the bottle. We actually used the variflow ones but mine was bigger when we tried those.

Also, the comfort milk is also thicker than normal but less thick than the reflux. We were eventually able to swap to that which was easier to prepare!

Maybe try a larger teet if it’s thick? We tried quite a few different types!
Don’t blame yourself, that’s just hormones. Formula is fine. Totally fine. Look how many people had/have it and they’re all fine xxxx

It’s a fucking nightmare, to be blunt. You have all my sympathy.

I agree that you should press to see a paed, preferably a gastroenterologist. CMPA/I needs to be ruled out or in, and DC should be monitored for certain conditions that can develop in the oesophagus. If it’s CMPI/a you might need an allergy clinic referral too.

Please don’t feel useless! It’s extremely difficult to deal with on top of the average newborn extreme challenge. There is not much you can do apart pressing the HCPs for action (sadly, you might well need to be assertive), and do best practice, like sitting up for 45 mins after feeds etc (total ball ache, but makes things so much better).

Is she on any meds etc? Does she cry a lot?

All three of my dd’s had this. It is really awful and feels as though it will never end. I nearly went out of my mind. It will pass even though it doesn’t feel that way now. In my situation gaviscon and thickened formulas worked briefly with all dd’s but caused constipation, then became ineffective and the vomiting, crying and feed refusal worsened. My middle dd was the worst and was prescribed Zantac and specialist formulas such as nutramigen and neocate but would also refuse these as they were absolutely disgusting. At 17 wks I was advised by Paeds to start solids as this helps with reflux as less fluid volume. It was really only at the point that all three dd’s could sit up, and eat solids that things improved. It was thought to be cows milk protein intolerance with all three of my dd’s.

Gracey I take my hat off to you for having three after a reflux baby. Mine will be my last.....

Hang on in there things will improve in time. As a PP said use a faster flowing teat for the thicker formula. If this doesn’t work you could try infant gaviscon with regular formula which you can buy over the counter if no luck with GP. It was only with my 3rd dd I felt confident managing it myself initially with gaviscon and various formulas. I was lucky enough to have a really proactive gp at that time who felt confident prescribing Zantac and was planning to commence lanzoprazole if that didn’t help but fortunately it did for her. With my first two dds the gp’s wouldn’t prescribe anything and I had to wait several weeks for a paeds referral. My second dd lost weight and ended up being admitted to hospital due to this.

My son had silent reflux and was on cow and gate comfort and carobel. Definitely move up to a bigger teat and see how that goes x it's so hard and don't beat yourself up. You are doing a fabulous job x

My LO had awful reflux, still does at 7months, on thicker formula, medicine & 3 meals a day! He dropped from the 50th to between the 9th & 25 centile. He also done involentarily movements/shudders that requried 8 hours in a hospital ward and lots of appointments with the childrens hospital! Like you, feeding times were full of dread! We finally got ranitidine off the doctors, it helps with the pain, but not the sick and hes a much happier boy! Also, we tried tommee tippee, & Dr Brown bottles, neither helped and finally have settled on Nuk, they have helped him alot! Another thing, GP prescribed carobel for him, and it gave awful runny nappies and severe nappy rash, And didn't even help. Most Anti Reflux milks and thickners tend to give them either runny nappies or constipation! Ps, a dummy might soothe him once you take the bottle out, And dont lay flat as it will hurt them more Hope you get sorted!

I bought the next size up teats at about six weeks I think. I had different problems with me daughter they thought silent reflux or cows milk intolerance but actually for her her milk just didn't agree with her. Switched her to hipp organic and second teats which made all the difference.

The GP should be able to give gaviscon for reflux I'm sure you can get something called carmigen or something like that which thickens milk too.

Hi all,

Thank you so much for your replies. I went out yesterday and bought vari-flow teats for the TT bottles we have and what a game changer. All feeds yesterday were a total improvement!! She seemed far more relaxed and happier.
Morning bottles so far have been positive too! Can't believe the difference.

The next battle is she is now constipated
I'm assuming this is down to the formula I've changed her to. If it's not one thing it's something else! At least I know she is getting a decent amount of milk now. Hopefully the GP will give me a plan of action next week 🤞🏼

It will go against all the professionals advice but a little bit of cooled boiled water may help with the constipation.

My first was constipated (he also had lactose intolerance but I didn’t find that out for a while longer!). My paediatrician friend really reassured me about the constipation; the squirming, gurgling and faces don’t mean pain, they can just mean funny sensations and a baby can go for days without having a poo and be fine. Drinking milk and seeing is more important on a daily basis. I obsessed over it with my first, but I was more chilled about it with my second. They do eventually poo (usually in the car seat I found!).

• weeing not seeing 😂

Dts had horrendous reflux. Bari flow tests helped with the formula and the gaviscon which made it even thicker. They got constipated but we have them infacol which have them an upset stomach so the two combined balanced each other out and resulted in normal nappies.

Tilt the cot, get a reflux wedge. Cover it in layers of Muslins so in the middle of the night after the inevitable vom you can just whip a couple of layers away instead of a whole cot change.

Keep upright for at least 20 mins after every feed.

Tilt the pram too.

Hopefully the gp will get you on a medication schedule. Bear in mind that dosage will change as your baby puts on weight.

She can have lactulose, so ask the GP for that next week. If they give Gaviscon, definitely don’t leave without a lactulose prescription, because it always causes constipation, yet somewhat inexplicably, GPS never seem to consider that might add to the discomfort, and just prescribe it with the Gaviscon.

I forgot about the wedgehog (used by nhs) but you can buy online. I think that worked really well for mine x