Finding out baby has reflux at 6 months!!

[Emdoo]

Hi mums

I’m so upset right now, my baby girl has been struggling since she was born with back arching and being very unsettled all day everyday. She had colic from 3 weeks old and I attended numerous gp appointments and I was told colicky babies tend to arch their back and I basically just have to get on with things…

After taking her to a gp appointment 3 weeks ago and explaining her colic went around 4/4.5 months, that she also still arches her back very intense. They said it may be reflux, they gave gaviscon and carobel they haven’t worked. I am trying her on omeprazole tomorrow.

I’m reading so much on social media on other parents experiences on what they have gave their babies or other reasons what the issue could be.

I’ve read about Sandifer Syndrome, Hypertension in babies. Then medication such as famotadine and lansaprazole.

I honestly feel so helpless like if I take my lg to the hospital will they be able to check for anything as she gets so distressed when we go out and I don’t want to go just for them to give me nothing.

I really hope someone can help I honestly don’t know who I can speak to anymore and I’m constantly searching all kinds on Google or on groups😣

Thanks in advance xx

Oh @Emdoo that must he so hard! Reflux is such a horrible thing and it makes parenting them so hard; sleep, feeding, all the cornerstones of having a little baby just so much harder. The important thing is youve caught it now and there is so much help online and at GP if you arm yourself with the knowledge.

I remember it well, I took my son to A&E when he was 3 weeks old or so as he was just so miserable and the crying was off the charts and i knew it wasnt normal, thankfully they diagnosed reflux and gave him omeprazole after observing him all day.

One Dr said it might be cmpa but her superior didn't think so. 6 weeks later health visitor in new borough took one look at his mucisy nappies and had him on hydrolysed formula, so much better eventually. The formula isn't the best tasting so still tricky at feeds but he was comfortable at last and having normal poops.

I would say that watch out for gaviscon, it constipates them and is the first option on the GPS ladder to deal with reflux.

Then the omeprazole, make sure dose is for her weight not the teeny low starting dose. This takes the acidity from the reflux but doesnt treat the cause, takes the pain away though bless them. We weaned our son off it by 12 months and he's eating yoghurt now at 19 months, though failed the cheese test sadly so slowing down on introducing dairy.

Have they suggested a hydrolysed formula?

Also, does she have quite normal poos? I ask as that and the reflux were the only symptoms of cmpa in my son, he didn't have the usual rash, but his nappies had mucus in and he had so many bowel movements a day, poor kid.

@Imisscoffee2021 can I ask who helped you associate the mucus poo and frequency of poo with CMPA? We’re going through this but it all seems very subjective and I feel quite alone with it. GP being helpful but not as holistic as I’d hoped. Health visitor no help.

Sorry to jump on your thread OP, hopefully this answer might help you too!

I'd try the omeprazole for a week or so and see where you are (although for us, it made a big difference after just a couple of days). If carobel, gaviscon, and omeprazole all make no difference, then it seems like it's probably not reflux.

Does she get particularly distressed when out and about, or is it just that she's upset wherever she is? Any preference for being held or sat up over lying down?