Please help!!

[MamaStew]

Hi I'm new here but really need some advice.
I'm a FTM and my baby girl is 8 weeks old.
From about 2weeks old, she's been unsettled but as she's my first I assumed it was normal.
As the weeks have passed I know there's more to it but not entirely sure what

We think she's suffering from reflux. She doesn't bring up lots of milk but can hear her swallowing lots which results into hiccups. This week it's started affecting her naps. She's fighting them. Is this an 8 week thing? Or could it be due to her reflux?

We are on milk thickener for it but thinking of going back to the doctor to try something different. Please make me feel better as I've cried along with her tonight

Xx

Hang in there, I know how heartbreaking it is when your baby is in pain and you feel so helpless. A few questions, why did your gp suggest milk thickener, what do they suspect is causing it? The nap fighting- does she seem in pain? Have you tried feeding her with her positioned more upright? Do you wind her after her feeds? Sorry for all the questions but based on what you’ve said we’d need a little more info. You’re her mum, if you feel something is wrong, a mother’s instinct is there for a reason, it’s probably something that could be easily fixed. It gets easier, I do understand how you’re feeling, I went through similar with dd1 she’s 6 now and only reading posts like yours brings it back to me.

Hi Phonenix76.
Thanks for your reply. To be honest I assumed he was going to prescribe Gaviscon as that's what I'd read from other people beforehand but I had also heard it causes constipation so when he said milk thickener to start with to help keep the milk down, it seemed like a better solution. It was one of those situations where I agreed with the doctor but in hindsight I probably should have questioned.

We feed her upright and keep her upright for at least 15/20 mins after winding her. When the bottles finished she's fine ( so it's not hunger ) but soon I change her positions to wind her she cries. Not inconsolable, but I don't know why she does it.
I watch for cues and soon as she starts to yawn it rub her eyes I lay her down and play lullabies. This quickly turns into her getting upset. I've tried different time windows incase she's under/over tired but when she's worked up it's very hard to comfort her which I find hard as I should be able to settle her. She has a dummy but will only take it if she's tired otherwise she getting frustrated with it and spits it numberous times and clamps her lips shut. Wouldn't have said it was a painful cry but more discomfort that escalates quickly into full on cry.
She currently feeds after a nap - could that be the issue? Could it be something simple as her 'routine' ( using the word routine very loosely) sorry for the essay xxx

Did the health visitor suggest it might colic? If no actual milk is reappearing and nappies are normal it might not be a milk-related problem (ie, reflux or lactose intolerance) but air trapped uncomfortably which their tiny system can’t yet effectively expel.

Maybe it is worth asking.

Hey. Go for the gaviscon - we messed about with thickener for ages. It does make them a little constipated but - which is worse?
Also keep them upright as you can during feed and 20 mins afterwards - literally doing that right now with mine! Good luck x

Sounds.like she may also be overtired -.my dd is 9 weeks and needs a lot.more.help to.fall.asleep.for a nap eg patting or feeding to. Sleep but if. She misses one she is gets beside herself so.wortg.perservering to get her to sleep

The doctor mentioned colic yes! Aswell as reflux. All he said about it was that there's nothing he can do and just got to ride it out. I think part of it is colic.. but I'm just trying to eliminate other things incase I'm missing something. Going to watch her over the weekend and go back to the doctor is nothing has changed.

I try and catch her before she gets to that point but it still results in the battle. Have you found anything in particular works to send her off? Xx

Thanks!! Will speak to the doctor if it doesn't improve xx

It sounds like silent reflux. I thought milk thickener was to mainly stop babies being actually sick.

My baby had silent reflux, it was awful. He had ranitidine prescribed and it worked amazingly for him, apparently they don't prescribe that anymore though.

My advice would be to skip the gaviscon and ask the gp what other medications are available for reflux.

Have you tried Infacol for the colic? It’s does help, you can get it from supermarkets

Yes i agree. I didn't know much about it before I saw the doctor but now I'm confused why he's prescribed it. I think I need to go back.
Would it explain the fighting to nap??

We tried it a few weeks ago but I've read it irritates reflux so we stopped xx