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Original poster

Reflux baby - suddenly worse

44 replies

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 09:00

Hi all,

I posted a few days ago as my now 13 week old has suddenly started having very bad nights. Up until 12 weeks she was sleeping peacefully through the night, occasionally having one feed and going back down easily. Since 12 weeks old she has been waking frequently, screaming crying, and refusing to take milk until we can eventually calm her down. She then ends up with painful hiccups, and it takes ages to get her back down. We are barely getting any sleep and it's really affecting us as she is just not her self. During the day she is barely feeding and flinching and aggitated whenever she is eating.

After giving up on the GO who is useless, we went to a and e. They said it sounds like her reflux has gotten worse, and to give her two satchels of gaviscon rather than one. This has made no difference and I'm really worrying about how exhausted she looks and constantly upset / aggitated and hungry. She also seems to keep choking (obviously just mildly for a moment as otherwise I would be back down a and e). I am not sure if the related but she has also started grunting as though she's really upset or in pain.

None of the NHS services seem to be interested in helping me resolve this. I know she isn't herself at all. Has anyone experienced this with their reflux babies?

Thanks x

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 09:06

I just wanted to add that this change in her literally happened over night. She's extremely irritable and aggitated, I'm constantly consoling her. She really is a calm and content baby then comes over very aggitated and kicking her arms and legs around. I'm confident it's not colic.

OP posts:

cakeandteajustforme · 03/03/2017 10:25

I have a reflux baby (nearly 12 weeks) who hasn't had any more medication than gaviscon either yet. I'm sure someone with more experience of those meds will be along soon to help.

But what I'm trying before adding medication is cutting out dairy and soy from my diet as there's a strong correlation between cows milk protein allergy and reflux symptoms in babies. If bf-ing you could try this and if formula you could try to switch to a non dairy/soy based formula? I'm a week and a half into cutting out those foods and I think it is making a difference. It's happening to coincide with the 12 week wonder week though which is affecting his behaviour and sleep (more clingy etc). So I don't think I'll know for sure for a couple of weeks.

I got the book 'colic solved' by a paedeatrician gastroenterologist which also offers other tips like raising the head of the cot, keeping baby on the left side etc. To help reduce the incidence of stuff coming up the oesophagus.

Hope this helps and in the meantime

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 10:55

I'm formula feeding as she was difficult to bf- in hindsight it was probably because she has reflux. What formula mills are there? Does anyone know if it's worth trying more medication? I will try to see if lying her in her left makes any difference, we already raise her cot.

She's only drank 6oz since 8pm last night - it's like she is linking eating to pain now.

OP posts:

LapinR0se · 03/03/2017 10:56

Gaviscon will do nothing. You need something much stronger like Omeprazole. Can you get a referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist?

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 11:32

LapinR0se what does that medication do? How do I get a referral and how long do the referrals take? She's still not eaten any more, I really need to get this sorted!

OP posts:

Sassenach85 · 03/03/2017 11:38

We took my Dd to a&he as she was having episodes of not breathing due to reflux.

She was admitted for one night and assigned a paediatrician. She gave her omeprazole and things started to improve straight away.

My Dd is 3 now and I have lots of experience with shitty reflux! So if I can help ask away. Need to do nursery pick up now but if you want any info let me know

LapinR0se · 03/03/2017 11:51

Do you have private health insurance?

PonderLand · 03/03/2017 12:09

My son was prescribed ranitidine at 3 months, now 8 months and it's really helped him. Could you ask for a referral to a paediatrician if your gp can't/doesn't prescribe anything else.
My son also has cmpa and is on neocate formula. His symptoms of dairy allergy were failure to thrive (putting on 1/2oz every 3 weeks), severe eczema, prickly rash all over body, explosive green diarrhoea.
Dairy free milk needs to be prescribed, there is lactose free milk that you can buy but this will not help a baby who has a dairy allergy/intolerance.

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 12:10

How long were the periods of not breathing? She has been coughing and choking constantly over the past two weeks. This all escalated literally over night two weeks ago and I'm exhausted feel like crying to be honest! Is it worth taking her back to a and e? We have the GP again this afternoon but she's useless.

OP posts:

PonderLand · 03/03/2017 12:11

A&e isn't really the place unfortunately, unless you're concerned about her breathing? If you want medication and a proper plan you need to go back to the gp and get them to move their ass and give your baby the right treatment.

LapinR0se · 03/03/2017 12:11

When you see the GP you request an urgent referral to a paediatric gastroenterologist. If they say no, then go to A&E

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 12:11

We don't have private insurance unfortunately.

PonderLand that sounds like it was tough!! What is cpma? She's on aptamil porfutura is it worth changing it or should we try the rantindine first?

OP posts:

PonderLand · 03/03/2017 12:12

To add, if you want your baby seen today by a doctor ring your surgery and see if they can give you an emergency appointment. Due to the age they should make room for you.

LapinR0se · 03/03/2017 12:12

Please get professional advice on medication and formula, anything here will be speculation and we can't see your baby to make informed judgement

PonderLand · 03/03/2017 12:18

How long have you been using the new milk? Honestly, ring your doctors surgery and request an emergency appointment. As previous poster said, we can only speculate on our own experiences.

Sassenach85 · 03/03/2017 12:29

I think the best advice is to get your little girl a paediatrician. However you need to. If she's choking regularly then I'd be taking her to a&e - I should add at a children's hospital.

We were told a dummy helps to wash the acid away. Tried allllllllll sorts of milk and prescribed stuff but settled on aptamil bottled so it was ready to use right away.

Gaviscon was the Bain of my life. It clogged up the teat and she got frustrated even more. And then it also made her painfully constipated. Worst time of my life!

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 12:43

Thanks everyone. I'll try doctors this afternoon and then go back to a and e later too. She's barely eating even though she must be hungry!

OP posts:

FartnissEverbeans · 03/03/2017 12:43

My friend's son had silent reflux and had the same difficulties on the NHS. They eventually went private and were prescribed ranitidine.

My DS is on ranitidine too. It's good stuff with no side effects and generally seems to be a very mild medication. Go to your dr, tell them you think your baby has reflux, and tell them you want to try ranitidine.

Prop up the baby's cot with books at one end at about a fifteen degree angle.

Keep the baby upright for 20-30 mins after feeds.

Make sure baby is properly winded after about every two ounces.

I use Aptamil Comfort milk and find it helps.

I've read online that it peaks at about four months. My DS's reflux worsened at one point too.

Good luck

PonderLand · 03/03/2017 13:08

How much is she drinking? When did she last have some milk and how much did she keep down? Is she having regular wet nappies?
Dehydration can happen very quickly in babies so young, ring 111 if you can't get a gp appt as I'd be worried about her fluid intake. They will probably suggest a&e to be on the safe side due to her age. I hope you get listened to OP. It's a never ending battle to get the correct care and medication for them.

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 17:13

Just been GP - we start rentadine (however it's spelt) tonight. Apparently it takes a week to see results, we can then discuss changing her milk if that doesn't work. Has anyone had any experience of this medicine? I'm praying it works can't take much more!

OP posts:

LapinR0se · 03/03/2017 18:16

Yes it's called Zantac for adults and it's a really effective one.
Fingers crossed for you

Sassenach85 · 03/03/2017 18:25

Hi OP Dr likely to start with ranitidine as it's less of a "big deal" than the omeprazole.

Ranitidine is weight related and we were having to have DD's amount increased weekly. It also became ineffective quickly. Should add my Dd had severe silent reflux and GP is right to try ranitidine first. But if there is no different after a week or two then ask for the omeprazole.

We were told ranitidine was to be given 20 mins before a feed which was extremely stressful with a hungry baby. Hard to get out the house. Hard to get her to swallow.

We used a syringe and the nurse showed us to squirt it diagonally into her cheek so that she didn't choke
Hope some of that is useful

Original poster

user1479905737 · 03/03/2017 19:46

Thank you so much!

She hasn't fed since 3.30pm (it's now 7.45pm) and we can't even get the medicine in her as she's kicking off when we go near her mouth. She's gone to sleep we will have to stir her in a bit to try it. This has all escalated so quickly and she's only drank 13oz since last night - should have had 30oz.

OP posts:

Sassenach85 · 03/03/2017 20:15

Keep a really close eye on signs of dehydration

My understanding was that the mess needed to settle in the stomache before the milk

Try the cheek technique with syringe

Sassenach85 · 03/03/2017 20:15

Meds not mess!

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