Formula feeding.. losing my mind!!

[JanJC]

Feel like I’m losing my mind and anxiety is increasing!!

My LO (little one) was 3 weeks on Monday and formula fed.

At 2 weeks old the GP prescribed gaviscon for reflux. This has helped to a degree but her feeding pattern has me all over the place!

She has been taking 1.5-3oz every 2-3 hours but the prescription for gaviscon is 1 sachet in 4oz, up to 6 sachets in 24hrs.
I’m worried she’s not getting enough of a dose as she’s not taking anywhere near 4oz at one feed.

Plus, she’s recently been taking 2-3 oz then rooting for more after 1-2hrs - she refuses the bottle once it’s gone down to room temp!
I feel like all I’m doing is wasting and making more bottles than ever. On top of the puking and fussiness and the lack of sleep it has me demented!!
I’ve done nothing but cry, I’m not eating properly and I feel like a complete & utter failure 😭

If you are making a 4oz bottle up every time with the right amount of Gaviscon, then your baby will get the right ratio of it even if they only drink 3oz of the bottle.

Of course you aren't a failure. I have no experience with baby gaviscon (my son had something else, cant recall what it was now and didnt help him much, but there are alternatives and one may suit your baby) but talk to your doctor again and see if there is anything else he can suggest. I know HVs seem generally hated on Mumsnet but they might also have some ideas.

Has there been any improvement in baby’s reflux symptoms ?

My son went onto gaviscon at around 4 weeks. Reflux started at 2 weeks but I was told it was colic and he would grow out of it. Gaviscon did nothing for my DS except constipate him. He still had all the same symptoms. So we kept going back to the doctors. They usually prescribe raniditine next and then omeprazole. My GP refused to do either until my HV spoke to him directly. He has been on omeprazole now for a month and his symptoms have improved. As he has improved his feeding has and now he goes 3-4 hours and has 6-8 oz at a time. He is 3 months old though and quite big with it.

Your little one is only 3 weeks old so the amount and how often sound right to me. I wouldn’t worry about how much he/she is getting because presumably you are doing it in 5 feeds a day. Remember to keep an eye on weight also- once baby is 10lb I think they can have two sachets 5 times a day (check the box for that though). If symptoms are improving then great, if not go back to the doctors and also ask for a paediatric appointment.

Last thing to consider is CMPA which goes hand in hand with reflux so it would seem. I don’t think my DS has it but something to think about. When your little one is feeding how is it? My DS would scream during the bottle and arch his back.

Last thing ! At week 9 we switched to aptimil anti reflux milk. This is thicker than normal formula and therefore you can’t use gaviscon with it (as far as I’m aware) because gaviscon also works to thicken it. I’ve found the combination of omeprazole and AR milk the best for my son although he still has his bad days.

Good luck, it’s not easy but you are doing amazing !

Gaviscon is rubbish go back say it's not helping they will try something else also my daughter had cmpa and needed a special milk it's worth looking up and seeing if your baby has any symptoms. At this age it's normal to not finish a bottle and be hungry often. Dont worry it gets better and they stop eating as frequently. Dont forget your baby is only 3 weeks old they can feed every hour or two hours at that age its normal. Your not a failure the fact your worrying and upset shows you care and that is the main thing xxx

I was in a similar situation with my LO at the beginning. I put her on anti-reflux milk and her symptoms improved. It did take 2-3 weeks for her to get used to it but she started taking bigger bottle and not vomiting them back at random times pretty quickly. It may be worth a talk with your HV to see if it could work? I did try medication but was not very keen on it as they are so little and I am happy the milk worked on its own. Now 4 and a half months and drinking 5 7oz bottles a day and sleeping like a
You can do it!

Please don't stress, it is quite normal for babies to each as much as every hour when they are this young, it takes time to establish a routine. As for the gaviscon, keep doing what your doing, the ratio is right, and you've said it's helped. Don't expect there to be no sick at all as regardless of the gaviscon they can bring up some of the feed with gas, or will 'posset' some if they over eat in one sitting, where the milk never reached the stomach as it's full and so it has no where to go but back up.
You're doing a great job, have some faith in your instincts, and I promise it does get easier, tiredness makes everything 100 times worse. Ask your partner for a break, have a bath and an early night. Your LO is bottle fed so no reason others can't help.
Good luck and congratulations xxx

@AdaPink I’m not keen on giving my baby medication either but it’s the only thing that’ll help unfortunately ! I’d rather that than my child constantly in discomfort and upset. I’m glad your little one didn’t need that though.

What milk does baby have at present?

@Nat6999 thank you!

@starfishmummy thank you. I feel a bit better now, planning on speaking to HV on Tuesday at the clinic x

Thank you @BellaNutella88! Her symptoms seen to be improving greatly since I posted. I think lack of sleep took over and my anxiety ramped up big style!

I worry about feeding amounts etc because I've noticed that apart from frequently being asked "how is she sleeping?" I'm continuously asked "what she's feeding like? How many ounces is she taking?" Etc..
So this has made me question if she's taking the right enough.. even though I know that every child is different & she's only 4 weeks old today.

I'm hoping that a few more settled nights and I'll reset myself 🤞🏼

@Magicmama92 thank you Sleep deprivation has a lot to answer for!

I had her back to the docs for a review and they've kept her on gaviscon for a further 5-7 days, then they'll look at prescribing ranitidine xx

Thank you @AdaPink!
We have switched her formula from C&G to Hipp organic and she seems a lot not settle x

Thank you @Cloudsandrainbows

@Shannatate she was on cow & gate first milk, now (for the last week) we've used hipp organic.

I worry about feeding amounts etc because... I'm continuously asked "what she's feeding like? How many ounces is she taking?"

As someone who combination fed for the first 8 weeks or so before moving to almost ebf, it's easy to get hung up on how many oz. baby is having, but when you're bf you have no idea - just make sure baby has enough wet nappies and is gaining weight and it'll be fine.

My baby has been mildly refluxy and we found that anti-reflux milk stopped her bringing it back up, although we had to mix it with regular formula as the anti-reflux was too thick for baby to drink from the bottle without getting frustrated at how slow it came through. Good luck and you're doing a great job - I know it's easy to feel like you're not sometimes.

Not sure if you're using it but HIPP organic go a reflux milk which is thickened and it really helped with my LO's reflux.