5week old, silent reflux, constipated

[MissPepper8]

Just advice on constipation really, we've had to stop bfing as part of the problem was he was vomiting it all. At 4 weeks we suspected Silent reflux, soI stopped bfing and started thicker milk from Aptamil (and 2 normal bottles/expressed) to try keep him loose.

Last few days he's been sicker than usual so reduced it to one and now not only does he have constipation but he's projectile vomiting. So much so, I rang Gp today for Gaviscon but from what I can work out is its going to make him even more blocked up.

What do I do? This is second baby but I've never had this before. I've given him a oz of cool boiled water and he was still quite solid when he went. Can I give him 2oz?

Any help appricated it's like you stop one thing and then another develops :(

Reflux is really a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Had the GP discussed with you why this might be happening, for instance the possibility of Cow's Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA)?

Oh and I definitely wouldn't give Gaviscon to a constipated baby. It's notorious for making them constipated.

I’d advise a trip to the doctors. Silent reflux is where you are sick but don’t actually vomit, you swallow it back down, my DD had this. If your DS is gaining weight well and is not actually distressed by the vomiting, then the doctor is unlikely to prescribe anything. Some babies are sick a lot. Do you know why your DS is constipated? I have no medical knowledge but thought this was unusual for a baby just taking milk - my DD got constipated when she started various treatments for reflux, not before. There are medications which can help reflux such as ranitidine and omeprazole. Keeping your baby more upright, especially after feeds, can help too. We put a wedge of foam under the sheet in DD’s bed which kept her more upright and seemed to help. It took several weeks and many trips to the doctors to get omeprazole for DD, once she had them they did really help. Gaviscon didn’t help DD, & like JJJ said, seemed to make her very constipated . Good luck, reflux is difficult to handle for the whole family.

@3JiltedJohnsJulie They won't see us, gp, hv and the midwife signed me off 3 weeks ago. Conversation today was over the phone, very brief and just gave me gaviscon. I've just came to this conclusion myself to be honest. I'm on my own with it right now and it's really stressful I have no one to help or see him. Yeah I figured that and I told gp (on the phone) he was constipated too but he still gave it to us. I'm more concerned about the pooing issue right now, just exhausted everything I know.

@MilkRunningOutAgain Same as I said above really, no one will physically see us, health visitor came 2 weeks ago and she didn't want to come. He's not been weighed in 4 weeks. The gp assessed it over the phone and gave us gaviscon but I know it bungs babies up more so I'm at a loss.

Oh no hes constipated because he's on reflux formula and has been for 2 weeks now, we were doing 2 normal/expressed feeds but he's got more sicky so went down to one normal aptamil. We try keep him upright, I held him upright for an hour today and got vomited all over, he's really uncomfortable unless he's lying on us in the day.

Have you tried colic and constipation milk?
Aptimal comfort or cow and gate colic and constipation milk. As others have said silent reflux is where nothing comes back up and wanting to be upright all the time sounds much more like colic than reflux.

My son spent 4 weeks only sleeping upright in my arms until we got the colic under control then it was like having a different child

@MilkRunningOutAgain Ah I see, I thought it was that as when this started week 1 he would just scream, tense his body and choke almost. Now it's progressed to more vomiting, occasionally choking and crying/body tensing at night. No I didn't know it existed to be honest, can you get it in tesco or sainsburys? I've just grabbed the anti reflux one in tesco and not really looked. Thank you though, I will look into it.

@MissPepper8 that sounds exctly the same as my son. Yes colic milk is available in all the main supermarkets and big pharmacies etc. Hope it helps

Did you manage to read the link on Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy?

Our paediatrician told me there is no scientific evidence that all these comfort milks or colic milk actually work and the majority of them are just heavy so its kept down. Do what jiltedjohnsjulie did, this person has helped me loads on my posts and has words if wisdom seriously. My 8 week old has a cows milk allergy after weeks of similar symptoms to yours. Hes been on special milk since Monday and I've noticed improvement already x

Thank you Laylor

@JiltedJohnsJulie I've read it thank you, I didn't think it would be an allergy (no rash ect) but he's been wheezing, choking and when I was bfing he was screaming and screwing his little body up. I don't really consume a lot of dairy myself but I did think my milk was worrying him at the time because of the dairy I ate (seemed worse on different days).

@Laylor I don't think these thicker colic/reflux formulas help to be honest were still no better. Issue is I can't physically see gp until he's 9 weeks (couldn't fit him in for 8 week check up) and my on call Dr isn't great, think he'd be dismissive. I guess least if I wait a few weeks, even two I can say gaviscon didn't work (as it's basically a thickener which we know doesn't work for him).

I have CMPA without a rash. It's a common myth that they need to have a rash to have an allergy. The wheezing is worrying. Is he wheezy today?

My son didnt have a rash to begin with. Wheezing is another sign of cows milk allergy. Honestly look it up on NHS tou will be surprised what the symptoms are. Wheezing, rash and a blocked nose!! Who would ever think but my baby had all of them and his rash was very minor. Just around his eyes and mouth etc. I packed in breastfeeding at week 2 because I struggled and the day before I started him on the new formula I gave him the last it of my frozen breastmilk not realising the diary transfers and my god he was sick like you wouldnt believe. Really hope you get it sorted, it's awful to watch isnt it.

Not sure about your doctor but my doctors arent allowing anyone in unless absolutely urgent. He has his jabs last week and we were both supposed to have our 6 week and 8 week checks but they cancelled. Be really persistent with them. Threaten to call them every morning if they wont help you, it helped me.

@JiltedJohnsJulie My cousin has it, but he had the rash, blue lips so I just didn't think really. He's been on off with it, Its why I rang my gp I thought milk was going down the wrong way as he's been choking on it when he vomits. He's got a blocked nose too.

@Laylor He's got a blocked nose, he's snorting when he feeds. We have a toddler so didn't really think of it anything other than the pair of them having a cold. He's not had a rash, just baby spots that's cleared up but what you say with bf was my problem. If I had cheese i noticed he'd be terrible for the evening before bed and then a week later it was just coming up instantly, he wouldn't feed at all one night so I ended up giving him a formula bottle DH bought for my hospital bag.

No they won't see us and its really stressful because I need help with this :(, I rang and got a call back yesterday. I've got 8 week jabs, and then 9 week check up. The Dr is a bit old fashioned, I know I'll get him so maybe get DH to ring and ask for help with it, he's more persistent than me.

There are two types of allergies. One that comes on straight away and another than comes and goes and can take weeks to show. Hang on let me have a look x

Symptoms

2 types

Thank you, I think it's been building up as he's vomited the thick stuff up today. He was OK keeping it down just uncomfortable, now it's every feed with that stuff :(.

Sorry its not amazing quality but this is something that he's had but I thought baby rash, but looking at it they're not like pimples he's had that clears up after a day or two. I managed to get reduced lactose milk until Monday. Going to ring my gp them, he's been really bad today.

@Laylor Thank you for this, its really stressful :(

Please dont keep swapping formula. Sorry I dont mean this to be patronising. If baby has a cows milk allergy no amount of swapping with help. Instead of changing to lactose free milk try colief drops instead. Colief breaks down the lactose in milk. If that works then consider changing formula. It's very costly but most chemists do it. We paid £11 for a 7ml bottle seriously and it's a nightmare to prepare But if it works then perfect. Babys rash looks actually worse than mine. If hes well in himself and producing wet nappies then ring doctors Monday but if not I would be tempted to visit the paediatric unit at your local hospital. I've been 4 times and my baby is 8 weeks but I am pathetic.

Yes it is stressful, really feel for you and baby and hope you get it sorted soon. Let me know please. X

@Laylor No I get that, I was hesitant when DH wanted to try the reflux one but I've been using colief and infacol, being using colief week and half, no real difference in fact it's got worse cause he started projectile vomit.

We had a bowel motion since, I'm watching him but I'm definitely ringing gp on Monday and texting my health visitor. I don't know what my hospital is like tbh, they shut down most units. I just feel upset for him, and I don't know what to do.

Personally I wouldnt bother swapping his milk to the lactose if the colief isnt working. Just because they both work in the same way but you know your baby best. I dont want you to think I'm tell you what to do honestly. I just know from past experience. I'm sure your doing everything you can to make him as comfortable as possible. He just needs his mama. Please let me know what the gp says. I'm normally soft as anything but when it comes to my baby I get a bit carried away. I would try and push for the cows milk allergy formula. Try for two weeks and you can always go back if not working. Mine is called neocate and my god it stinks and it tastes like what I'd imagine acid to taste like. They say the earlier the baby is on it the easier it is for them to take it. Its gross. X

Its £40 for 400g so they are very hesitate to prescribe it. X

Reflux babies like to be upright especially for 30 mins after a feed. Breast milk is good for reflux. Renitidine is better for reflux than gaviscon. Cmpa can cause reflux. Sucking 9n a dummy helps ease the discomfort of reflux. Raising the head where he sleeps will help too.

@Laylor No its not worked, he's more gassy and he's come out in a rash all over his face, neck and chest as soon as I fed him :(. I fed him before I read your post with the first bottle as I thought it might help but no you were right, least I know what this is now and I'm ringing Monday for help. I don't know what else to do but I'll get my health visitor on my side first. If they won't ill buy it, anything to help him. No I'm the same, its upsetting me cause he's just so uncomfortable. Thank you so much for your help, atleast I know I'm not going crazy now.

@bedtimestories He just couldn't tolerate my milk at all :(, I was making him really sick even expressed with Dr browns bottles. Thursday I had him upright for an hour and he projectiled all over everything so think it's a bit more now. I do though put him in his pram with the back up as he hates being on his bakc and he's got dummies but he's not too fussed unless it's night time.