Help with omeprazole

[Grace9090]

My six week old DD has been prescribed omeprazole for suspected silent reflux after lots of problems with feeding and her generally being upset.

I’ve read the instructions and it advices to give it in the morning before milk. My DD isn’t in any form of routine at the moment - she usually wakes for a bottle between 2 and 4 and then 5 or 7 but we never really know when this will be. when she is hungry, she goes from 1-100 and has to be fed asap!

I’m not sure how to judge when to give her the dose. Would it be a case of waking her early in the morning when I know she isn’t hungry, giving it to her and then getting her back to sleep? Or could I give her her first bottle early AM and then give the medicine say two hours later?

DD2 has been on omeprazole since about the same age. I'd give it a bit after the 5 or 7 bottle, before she's likely to be too hungry. I definitely wouldn't be waking her up for it, far too likely she won't go back to sleep. (I make it up when I'm making my tea and breakfast - the tablet breaks down a lot faster and better in warm water, so I used the leftover from the kettle and just check it's cool before giving it to DD.)

Thank you for replying, the Dr didn’t give any guidance on when to give it and I feel I’m being cautious as she’s so little at the moment and I’ve never given anyone else medication before! I will aim to give it a bit after her 6/7am bottle, we have been given the liquid form.

I would give 2hrs after the feed as you suggest. I was told it can reduce the effectiveness if not given on an empty stomach so personally would want to try to do it on as empty stomach as possible.

Yes, it's scary giving your wee baby medication for the first time – we had to give DD1 antibiotics at something like 10 days old, and I'm surprised I wasn't shaking trying to do it.

When they were that small, I held them like you would to feed, syringe aiming towards the inside of her cheek near the back, a little squirt at a time. A few ml feels huge when you're trying to get it down a baby, but better to take it slow than have it all come back out again. You can tickle under their chin or blow a bit of air in their face to encourage them to swallow (although DD2 got wise to both of these far too quickly).