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Parenting

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Reflux or CMPA?

1 reply

reginaphalange22 · 03/01/2022 19:40

Advice needed for a very tired sleep deprived FTM. My little one is 4 weeks old, from he was born he's had problems with being sick, every time he was put on his back he was vomiting and crying, he was struggling to bring up wind. HV advised I start Carobel so I did, the same HV then advised me to take him off it as he was having approx 5 very watery dirty nappies within 12 hours. She got the dr to prescribe him Omeprazole.

Without the Carobel he was much worse, vomiting loads after every feed. Struggling to keep food down, another HV advised me to put him back on Carobel and that his nappies weren't a concern. I rang the GP for clarification as the two health visitors appeared to be contradicting each other, she advised to try Carobel again and hold off on the Omeprazole as at the time he was only 14 days old. I asked about CMPA but the GP said to try Carobel for now, I listed his symptoms but she appeared dismissive.

Fast forward two weeks, DS is now 4 weeks old and things are getting worse instead of better. He's still on Carobel but for the last 5 days he seems to have turned off his bottle, he went from draining 5oz bottles to only taking sometimes 1.5/2/3 ounces at the most. He is so unsettled day and night and I'm wondering is it CMPA or does he need the Omeprazole?

A full list of his symptoms may help:

  • Trouble winding, can be windy right up until his next feed despite our best efforts to wind him in all kinds of positions, we're using Infacol every feed.
  • Straining to fart, face turning bright red.
  • Straining to poop as though he's constipated, again face turns bright red and he really strains yet when he does go its very watery, he has several watery nappies a day (5-6)
  • Spitting up milk.
  • Congested/blocked nose, he gets saline nasal drops daily and I find myself using a snot sucker almost daily now too cos he sounds like he can't breathe through his nose. He seems much clearer afterwards but it comes back again.
  • Hiccups every day at least once a day.
  • Pain when trying to bring up wind, completely straightens himself out and leaves it almost impossible to wind him sitting up.
  • Can't put him down sometimes between feeds as he squeals in pain, when he's not sore he loves his play mat and its not a case of he's used to being held all the time.
  • Cries between feeds, finds it hard to sleep after a feed.

Currently its taking us about 2 hours to feed, wind and settle him during the night and he's fed 3 hourly so we're not getting much sleep. Its very frustrating as he literally appears to be in a lot of pain. I just want him sorted, all babies cry and bring milk up to a certain extent but I don't think what he's doing is 'normal'.

OP posts:
PippinStar · 03/01/2022 19:57

I’ve had two with reflux and CMPA. My first came off omeprazole just before his 2nd bday, my second is still on it at nearly 18 months. It’s so, so hard for the first 3-4 months so I really feel for you.

It absolutely sounds like he has reflux, but CMPA also a possibility! I think something like half of babies with reflux also have CMPA. Two different paediatricians told me that having a red ring around the bum is one of the ways they can tell if a baby has CMPA - so check for this.

I would give him the medication for sure, it makes such a difference to their distress. If he’s still not totally comfortable, then he will need a thickener in his milk too. So either a comfort milk, or carobel. Or some babies do well with infant gaviscon instead of carobel.

As there’s no definitive test for CMPA, I would probably err on the side of caution and try convince the GP to prescribe a dairy free formula. In a few months, you can reintroduce it when he’s weaning and see if he reacts to it then. Might as well do all you can to make him comfortable now.

Again, I really feel for you. It’s all trial and error and so hard when people are giving conflicting views. (For this reason, all three paediatricians I saw had the same formula for dealing with it: omeprazole + dairy free formula + carobel or gaviscon … simplified the process and you can wean them off one at a time when they’re older).

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