Infant gaviscon and reflux help

[Clare1989]

Hello looking for advice my 7 week old was prescribed infant gaviscon for reflux as she was dropping off her weight chart slightly. Although she was constantly sick she was a content baby. Now a week with infant gaviscon baby is still being sick but crying and unsettled from around 4pm until 9/10pm arching back, trying to sleep but after a few minutes wakes screaming in pain. This happens after poos so don’t think it’s constipation. Has anyone experienced infant gaviscon making things worst and should I go back to GP to see if there is something that will help. The GP already advised when they prescribed infant gaviscon they don’t like prescribing anything else. Thank you

There are other things they can try, and should, if gaviscon isn't working –you can look up the NICE guidelines to push at them, if necessary. Carobel or another starch-based thickener is usually the first thing to try, have you had that already? If neither gaviscon nor carobel work, they can prescribe omeprazole. We're currently trialing carobel, can't say it's working brilliantly for us, but I know it does for many babies.

Carobel is trial and error for helping keep the milk down. 1 scoop per 100ml seemed like our balance.
Gaviscon didn’t work, just gave constipation

Omeprazole turned my son into a diff baby! It didn’t stop the puke but it stopped the pain. It was trial and error too.. eventually 10ml was the best along with carobel.

Weaned off around 14months

GPs are reluctant to prescribe Omeprezole because it's expensive but if you're trying things and they aren't working then you need to keep on their case and go back. We started with Carobel which worked but then made constipation worse then we had an awful few episodes so now on Omeprezole. Good luck!

Are you sure she's not going through her first leap? Those were pretty standard witching hour behaviours here.

Thank you, we were not offered anything else just gaviscon infant. It might be a coincidence that she stared crying in pain for hours since we started the infant gaviscon but she’s still so sick and definitely feels like acid pain causing the issue. I’ll look at the guidelines and see what they can offer at her 8 week check tomorrow. Does the carobel stop the crying Pain and distress probably caused by acid?

Unsettled behaviour from 4pm onwards around the 4-9 week mark is classic witching hour.

We found Carobel helped initially in that she took more feed so was more content but inevitably found it was masking the root of the problem so we needed extra help with the acid. You can buy Caorbel off Amazon and it may be worth a go before you can get another Dr appt and Omeprezole can take 2 weeks to work.

I have looked into witching hour a lot but this is a strong squeal and cry normally after a feed and sick or as soon as she is put down. She will be basically asleep but minutes later wake up squealing and arching making her body stiff I’m sure it’s the acids from reflux. It’s so hard to manage and see her like that. Gaviscon was supposed to help keep reflux down to put on weight and now there’s all this pain. Comments are much appreciated for ideas - thank you

Gaviscon was no good for us. Carobel worked.

Not Gaviscon but had this with Omeprazole. It caused by baby so much pain. The crying in pain stopped the day we stopped the Omeprazole. Now, I wouldn't give her anything for reflux even though it makes her miserable.

My ds had reflux, he was combined fed. I found he would throw up half of the formula milk - tried aptimil, hpp, sma. Combined feeding for first 5 weeks and gradually moved to EBF.

Now his EBF and reflux is not an issue, he might spit up small amounts.. but doesn't fuss and isn't affecting him much. His 10 weeks now.

I think it was combination of growing out of it and breast milk is easier to digest for my son

Ask your GP for a paediatric referral.

GP's are reluctant to prescribe anything for babies outside basic meds.
My baby was diagnosed by the GP with CMPA without seeing her. She was put on prescription formula.
We asked for Gaviscon but were told no.
We saw an out of hours GP at the hospital when she got worse who gave us Gaviscon straight away.
It worked for a while but she soon got worse.
When speaking to the GP they basicallly said they wouldnt do anymore but refer us.
Referral was the same day and we were given Omeprazole which has been an absolute game changer. We no longer have reflux symptoms and we have a happy baby.

On a side note, Gaviscon doesnt solve the cause of the reflux. All it does is form a protective layer effectively over the milk in the stomach and thickens the milk once consumed. It doesnt reduce acid.
Thats why it has to be given with each feed as it doesnt have a lasting effect on the body.
Omeprazole on the other hand is a class of drug called a proton pump inhibitor which reduced the acid content of the stomach and should therefore stop the acid creeping back up the oseophaugs.
Hope that helps reassure you that Gaviscon doesnt have a long acting effect so poss isnt causing your baby to be worse?

Update - thank you everyone after speaking to GP and being prescribed Omeprazole little ones symptoms instantly improved and she has been happy ever since. Reflux still present but less but pain instantly stopped from the acids 😊👍