Reflux- not eating enough?

[Namechangegardens]

My formula fed 11 week old has recently been prescribed omeprazole for reflux - he has been screaming his way through most feeds and as a result has dropped 2 percentiles, poor sausage.

Omeprazole only started yesterday so not expecting any improvements yet, however today has been a really bad day for his eating. He has only had 510 ml (normally 700 plus). He did take a lot yesterday and day before (800 plus).

He's now out for the count - do I wake him up overnight to feed? Is there a chance he could become suddenly unwell because he has had so little today?

No, don't worry. He will wake if he's hungry. Babies go up and down a little, so one day won't make a difference.

You're doing the right thing by tracking his centiles - if he doesn't start gaining once the omeprazole starts working you can go back to your GP.

Good luck. I had a terribly refluxy baby, it can be very hard! My baby grew out of it completely around 6 months - hopefully yours will be the same.

I've had 2 with severe reflux, the time omeprazole will soon kick in. Don't wake him, if he's sleeping he's well and happy. If he was hungry enough to be unwell he'd wake up. As long as he's had over 300ml he'll be hydrated enough xx

Thank you @User5252727 and @Roisin78 - I really had no idea reflux would be so terrible! Reassuring to know re. Volumes, thanks x

My eldest had severe reflux as in the vomiting kind and averaged about 20oz a day until she was weaned early under a paediatrician.

Youngest is currently 17 weeks and managing around 15oz a day at a push. She doesn’t have obvious reflux as she doesn’t bring anything back, but is on omeprazole in case it’s silent. The omeprazole kicked in after about a week and stopped the screaming at feeds, but she will still resolutely only take 2oz at a time and won’t touch a bottle until it’s been three hours since the last one.

The last time we were sent into paeds they told us that 10oz per day will keep them hydrated, and to just make sure you keep offering milk when they’re relaxed and in a good mood. We’re going back for a weight review next week and if she’s no made any progress then they’ve said they’ll likely have us wean ASAP again.

Good luck, reflux is absolutely awful. It’s soul destroying watching friends’ babies enjoying a big bottle and then nodding off calmly, makes you feel like you’re failing somehow but you’re absolutely not.

FWIW, eldest has just turned 3 and has no weight issues at all. She ate half a punnet of strawberries this morning while I was distracted by trying to feed her sister!

@Timeturnerplease thanks for sharing your experience and I'm really sorry you're having the same difficulties at round two. You hit the nail on the head, it was pretty soul destroying watching all the quiet feeders at our antenatal class reunion, that's what prompted us to finally get help. Especially since he started off loving his feeds! Hope your little one freeds get better and that she continues to put on weight