Newborn Reflux

[ohsotiredd]

Has anyone any tips for helping a newborn with reflux? DS is 8 days old and is constantly sick during and after feeds, sometimes hours after. He's being well winded and we're using Infacol but it doesn't seem to be helping. He's taking the hiccups regularly too. We just changed him cos he'd been sick and the babygrow lasted about 60 seconds cos he was sick everywhere again

Bumping as an insomniac for you.

It's many, many years since I experienced reflux with DS and I've no magic cure.

All that helped was making sure he was quite upright for BF.

Then burping, soothing and gently in cot when he fell asleep (or not, then repeat).

How is he fed?

Sorry just to clarify the feeding position was important to us.

A comfortable BF for me, equalled reflux for him.

I had to gently adjust to keep his neck and stomach aligned as best I could.

Can't help more as said "baby" is at Uni but hopefully you'll get more support.

Infacol was also useless btw.

Currently awake with my 3 week old im sat in tears. Was breastfeeding until dr put me on antibiotics not suitable to feed on but no alternative so told to pump and dump. Supply dried up. All was fine before this. Tried aptamil and kendamil baby screams 24/7 and scrunches up tightly, struggles on bottle, and is so unhappy also sick sometimes. He then wakes toddler up who screams aswell. I have no family support and feel like I'm going to loose my mind. Had this with my daughter for over a year. I genuinely just want 30 minutes sleep. Handhold.

He is bottle fed, at the beginning we thought it was mucus cos he was born by CS but it's not now. Just fed and changed him and 5 mins later he's just been sick all over his clothes. Feel like I've no sooner got him winded, changed and clean until it's time for another feed and it all starts over again. So frustrating.

A few things from the mother of two reflux babies.
If bottle feeding stop and burp him regularly, offer small feeds regularly rather than what it says on the bottle. They can't keep much in their tummy they need little and often.
Keep them as upright as possible in all situations. Put books under the cot to raise their head up to help the milk stay in their tummy when lying down.
Get lots of muslins. Catch the sick in that to avoid multiple clothes changes. Bibs also help with this.
Speak to GP who is likely to prescrive gaviscon which helps thicken the feed and keep it in their tummy. If they are still in pain with the reflux the gp can prescribe omeprazole, both of my babies were on that until weaned.
@Needingsupportplease your symptoms sound more like CMPA. Formula has 100x more cows milk in it than breast milk so this is likely why you saw the difference switching to formula. Also cmpa is more immediate vomiting after feeding. Reflux babies are sick all the time, even between feeds.

@Inthesky42

A few things from the mother of two reflux babies. If bottle feeding stop and burp him regularly, offer small feeds regularly rather than what it says on the bottle. They can't keep much in their tummy they need little and often. Keep them as upright as possible in all situations. Put books under the cot to raise their head up to help the milk stay in their tummy when lying down. Get lots of muslins. Catch the sick in that to avoid multiple clothes changes. Bibs also help with this. Speak to GP who is likely to prescrive gaviscon which helps thicken the feed and keep it in their tummy. If they are still in pain with the reflux the gp can prescribe omeprazole, both of my babies were on that until weaned. *@Needingsupportplease* your symptoms sound more like CMPA. Formula has 100x more cows milk in it than breast milk so this is likely why you saw the difference switching to formula. Also cmpa is more immediate vomiting after feeding. Reflux babies are sick all the time, even between feeds.

Will try these; thank you! X

My baby had horrendous reflux. He was sick about 25 times a day.

Honestly nothing really worked to stop the sick - I just had to wait for him to grow out of it. Around about 5/6 months it suddenly improved over the course of about a fortnight and he’s been fine since.

I would just advise having absolutely loads of muslins to hand all the time, and keep your baby in a soft towel bib to protect clothes. When you go out bring a couple of spare sets of clothes (for you too!).

We’ve just changed to the reflux milk for the brand we use - hipp organic. It’s thicker so doesn’t come out the windpipe. It’s amazing! He used to be sick numerous times after a feed now he’s never sick. Like changing as I was doing so much washing. Now I don’t even need to put a bib on him to feed him!!

Hold him upright for 20-30 minutes after every feed (get your OH to help during the night). Also think about what formula you are using - we found HIPP much more gentle but you can also get anti reflux formula which could help. Hope you're doing OK. Reflux is hard but he will grow out of it!x