7 month old reflux

[Cakeandslippers]

Hi all, I'm just looking for others experiences of reflux in a baby on solids. DS has been sick constantly since birth, it was ok at first, despite multiple outfit changes a day he was ok. Once he started sitting unaided at 4.5 months, he was still being sick but it started to improve but then he became very unsettled and stopped sleeping, screaming anytime he was on his back. At 6.5 months I rang the GP and we got some gaviscon, he's a totally different baby now which is lovely, so happy and his sleep is (very) slowly improving but he's still sick quite a bit.

As long as this is normal, I'm ok with it but I wondered how long others have found it takes to improve? He'll often spit up after a feed then around 3-5 times a day he'll do quite a big sick which is now thick and full of food and often the gaviscon. It can be up to about 3 hours after he eats food too so no warning.

I've just had to stop him trying to eat the partially digested blueberries in his most recent sick 🙈. How long have other babies had this?

I'd speak to the GP and explain that the habits on is not working and you'd like to try some other reflux meds.

My DS is 3 and still takes medication for reflux

My DD has been on gaviscon since she was 5 weeks old and she’s 9 months old now but she’s still sick a few times a day. Now that she’s 9 months I’m offering food before milk, have you tried this? I found giving her milk first was making her bring up the food too.

Thanks @BunnyRuddington I have spoken to her but she said the next step is a referral to paediatrics which seemed a bit extreme to me.

@Vicky1989x yes it doesn't seem to help as the food all just comes up anyway a few times a day. Never thought I'd miss milk sick!

Have you considered whether the reflux might be cause by something like cow's milk protein allergy?
www.allergyuk.org/information-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/469-cows-milk-allergy

I don't see why a paediatrics referral would be "extreme"? But perhaps you are not concerned if your DC is ok and not distressed or in pain?

Thanks @BunnyRuddington I have spoken to her but she said the next step is a referral to paediatrics which seemed a bit extreme to me

I think it's probably best to go and see a Paediatrician if I'm honest. They can rule out any unusual physical cause and if anti-reflux meds are needed, they will be able to prescribe the correct amounts for baby's weight and monitor LO properly.

You GP probably just wants your LO checked over by someone with more training in this field and that sounds sensible

@NameChange30

Have you considered whether the reflux might be cause by something like cow's milk protein allergy? www.allergyuk.org/information-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/469-cows-milk-allergy

I don't see why a paediatrics referral would be "extreme"? But perhaps you are not concerned if your DC is ok and not distressed or in pain?

What an incredibly mean thing to say!

My baby isn't distressed and doesn't seem to be in pain. I've been told by a previous GP and also by my HV that reflux is a laundry issue unless the baby is very distressed. I do think it's extreme when this is what I've been told and when he's never been seen in person by a GP.

I know a lot about cmpa as my daughter has it and yes I believe he probably has a mild form but he has no dairy whatsoever in his diet and I am pretty sure he's fine with soya.

@BunnyRuddington thanks. It just seemed like a big jump as he's never been seen by anyone in person and until today I've been told it's all totally normal and a laundry issue rather than a medical one.

I think you misread my post, it wasn't my intention to be mean at all! You didn't seem concerned so I guessed that was probably because your DS is not distressed with it, what's described as a "happy spitter" in the reflux book I read. I assumed that if you'd been concerned (as in worried) about your DC you would have been keen for the referral, so the fact that you thought it was overkill suggested that you're not too worried.

That was really long and rambly, I don't see why I feel the need to explain/justify myself. I've been called worse than mean on mumsnet before

Is he breastfed and are you dairy-free?

Oh gosh, so sorry 🙈 very sleep deprived! Yes you are right, he's generally happy (a poor sleeper though).

He is breastfed yes.

I'm not 100% df now, I did 2 months and it made no difference but I mostly avoid milk and yoghurt and rarely have cheese.

I gave him yoghurt and he seemed to react to it (eczema, rash, mucous nappy and unsettled).

I gave him yoghurt and he seemed to react to it (eczema, rash, mucous nappy and unsettled).

It does sound like it could be CMPA then. This article from Kellymom explains BFing and dairy very well, much better than I could.

And I'm sorry but I think you've been fobbed off a bit in the past, eczema, rash, mucous nappy and unsettled aren't laundry issues and you need to know what's causing it, although from your posts, it seems highly likely he has CMPA.

According to the NICE guidelines you should have been offered a referral to the Allergy Clinic and a Paediatric Dietitian.

DS has been very sick since about 4 weeks old. When i say very, he dropped 5 whole centiles in his red book becuase he was vomiting so much. He ended up in hospital around 3 months old as he just couldn’t gain a single oz and looked very unwell. The whole time it has never bothered him, no pain, never got upset just completely oblivious to the mess he was creating 😂.
He was put on/and still is on Carobel in his milk and Omeprazole and now under the paediatrician just to keep an eye on him.
He is 11 months this week and still is a bit sick now and then even with solids but no where near what it was. I was told by the dietitian that when they start to sit/crawl or round about 6 months ish (obviously this will vary for each child) that the reflux either hugely improves or gets worse for a while and that seems to be the tipping point.
I would go to the GP and ask for a referral, you will likely be seen by a dietitian too which could really help rule things out and get you some answers.

I agree with Bunny, CMPA sounds likely. You need to cut dairy out of your diet completely. It's also possible that he could react to soya, you could give him a soya yoghurt to see.

Personally I think it's best to cut out the foods that are causing the reflux rather than continuing to give them and have to give stronger medication like omeprazole. Obviously if the medication is needed then fine but it's a shame to give it if you can resolve the issues by cutting out the allergens.

Thanks everyone. I know quite a bit about cmpa as my daughter had it and we've just completed the milk ladder.

I have already done 2 months df and sf and it made no difference to him at all and I've previously been advised by the dietician (we were under for my daughter who did react through my milk) not to alter my diet if it doesn't affect the baby so I am continuing to follow that advice - though I am generally avoiding milk, yogurt and most cheese anyway.

He's had a soya yogurt and was fine so I think we're ok there.

I don't want stronger meds, he's happy and I don't feel the need to give him medicine to make it more convenient for me though obviously if there's a medical reason I'll give him whatever he needs. I was more interested in what people's experiences are of reflux in this age baby as everyone I know has found it stops by 6 months.

Based on what everyone has said I will accept a referral if the GP thinks it's necessary so thank you for the advice. Hopefully he'll grow out of it soon!