LULU

[LuckySalem]

Hi Lulu -

I want some advice and I trust you alot.

This is gonna sound all jumbled so bear with me.

DD is 19 weeks old now and does all the things those weaning books say she should.

Sits unaided, doesn't push stuff out with her tongue, grabs the spoon to try to feed herself etc.

So I want to know should I start giving her some solids? She's always hungry (eats 9oz every 3hrs) but is a sicky baby (seems like reflux)

I've spoken to HV's and GP's about her being sick and the only answers I get are she's putting on weight she's fine but she's not fine - she's sick, she chokes on it and she's upset by it so she's not fine!

I asked them whether lining the stomach with some food would help (as it did with me when I had heartburn which I assume is kinda the same thing)but they just keep quoting guidelines which is all fine and good but please give me some other advice about her stomach.

I don't know what else to do and i'm exasperated (Sp) I did try her on babyrice a couple of weeks ago (as i'd read 17 weeks onwards wasn't too bad for puree) but she didn't like it and I found she was still pusing it out with her tongue so stopped. Now she's stopped doing that and is grabbing at food and shoving it into her mouth. (quick hands and alert eyes are needed - lol)

I am not Lulu but it sounds to me like she is doing well without solids for the time being. I think that milk is the easiest to digest and since it needs to be the main part of her diet for a good while yet perhaps you might need to return to the gp to ask about ways to help her with reflux?

Worth remembering that there are more calories in milk than baby rice/apple puree if shes hungry.

Thanks Slur - I'm more interested in the fact that she's so sicky.

I've been the GP's a few times now and they just keep saying the same thing over and over again. I've explained that she's choking etc but they're just not interested.

She is putting on weight and i'm not after the food to stop her having milk etc or to get her to sleep through as she does this anyway and i'm not that bothered at feeding her every 3 hrs.

I'm just so ...... dont even know the word about her being sick - she's obviously not happy. The HV's have seen how sick she is and even said oh, she's not happy, and she's really sick but still refuse to do anything!!

Sorry Slur - just read that back, hope it doesn't sound like i'm not interested in your view.

bumping as I think Lulu's around...

morning ! i don;t know a huge amount about sicky babies, but i do not that food might not be the answer. has she been diagnosed with reflux? is she sick affter every feed? there are meds that can help the milk to stay in the stomach and ease any pain .

if she seems satisfied after her milk feed and not screaming for more after she is sick, then milk is enough for now IMO

i would try and get some more help re what is making her sick. is she sick after every feed? is it a lot or just a mouthful

i am not an epxert at this !! but i would be pushing for more help from my doc if i was feeling worried.

Hi, sweetheart, of course I'll be kind!

I only get annoyed with people advocating something that could harm someone else's baby, not people that want help and advice

Personally, having just read your other thread (Please help with DD) I don't think weaning would help (Sorry!)

If something is making her sicky, that needs sorting out, definitely go back to the doctors with the reflux thing.

Tell them you think it's reflux, have done some research and do they think Gaviscon might help. Odds are if you go in and tell them what you think is wrong they are more likely to listen, plus a prescription for Gaviscon is simpler for them to do than continue seeing an irate mother not happy with the service (which is what you make sure they expect you to become if you don't get it sorted.)

My worries are that if it is reflux, possibly meds can fix it, and weaning could do more harm than good.

If it's not reflux but there is something wrong that needs medical attention and weaning does stop her being sick, it might not get noticed, and lastly if there is something wrong and you do wean an unready, immature gut then it could make things worse.

HTH.

Can I also recommend that you take her to see a cranial osteopath? My LO had the same issue and it turned out to be a tightness in her diaphragm from birth and she responded really well to treatment and stopped being sick.

Ok - i've had another apt to see the doc this morning (a different doc) and have told them I think it is reflux and what would help? I've explained that she's sick after every meal and is there something that can be prescribed.

Sorry girls but as I hadn't heard from you I asked about weaning as a way of making it better.

They're refusing to medicate her as she "is gaining a healthy amount of weight"

They have said to try a little amount of food and see if it changes it for the better but if not to stop straight away.

Now - I have come here BEFORE doing this as I have seen a few people be told by HV's or GP's to wean and then get slated for doing it so..... I haven't yet.

Lulu - In answer to your post - she goes through 5/6 9oz bottles a day. Sometimes she screams for more (afternoons mainly) and sometimes she just accepts that that's it.

VS - Your post - I told the GP that I was very unhappy and all I got told was well then get a second opinion. I explained I'd already seen another doc and got told well then you've had your second opinion so she's fine.

oh - Thankyou! - I'm not sure how to go about seeing a cranial osteopath, i'll look it up. Can I ask though? How expensive is it as we're abit short of funds at the mo.

whihc milk do you use?

and i would second the cranial osteopathy suggestion,IIRC labour and birth was difficult

is it possible to ask your GP for a prescription of gaviscon for a trial period and review your daughter again?

can you privately see a GP and /or paed

we use farleys - but on the advice of an MNer I've emailed aptimal for a sample to see if it helps her which they've agreed to so "big up" aptimal!!

I honestly can't afford to go private/cranial osteopath - we're struggling with bills at the mo so i'm having to rely on our GP's practise. I'm thinking of switching practises tho if I can.

I'm also going to see if my parents will pay for either CO or private GP.

HI I just wanted to say I had a baby like yours. She drank her milk very well but projectile vomited 3-4 times a day. I weaned her at 4 months as was recommended then and the food did seem to help to keep some of her milk down. Despite several visits to the Dr.s they weren't concerned as she was putting on weight really well. However, I was not happy and knew something wasn't right. Later she got referred to a consultant due to an umbilical hernia which was quite severe. After the op to remove it a day before her 2nd birthday she was never sick again...Drs didn't link the 2 at all but it did the trick so I can't help feeling there may have been pressure pushing on her abdomen from the hernia. Having had a seond child who only occasionally posseted it makes me quite cross to think how the Drs just tried to fob me off with oh she's just a sicky baby when it isn't normal to projectile vomit up to 4 times a day. Keep trying with h/v you may find a bit of food will help when you do start weaning as will gaviscon. I hope you get some help its hard work. Good luck.

ok, but getting anotehr opinion , even changing docs if you are not confident they are listening to you is a good idea

Thanks lulu and keeva.

I'm not sure what to do with weaning now as i've heard a couple of people say (Docs and parents) that weaning will help with the acid but I don't want to upset her stomach. She is definatly physically able but ....... oh I don't know.

Would it honestly hurt her if she tried some? BE HONEST and if you feel you need to be brutal. (although try to be nice too) i'm asking too much aren't I! lol

oh and just to confirm I have read the links on the starting solids thread and she seems to show all the signs so if i'm honest i'm leaning towards trying it to see if it helps seeing as i'm not getting much help from the docs - I feel as though I need to go out on my own.

Oh and this is a fairly minor (ish) problem now as since her eczema, goopy eye & cradle cap has cleared up she's back to her happier self again. Just gets upset when she's sick. I mean who wouldn't.

i cannot make the decision for you

if she is sitting, and able to get food to her mouth and no tongue thrust reflex then MAYBE she is physically ready for food. maybe

bearing in mind that you should avoid wheat, gluten, eggs, allergenic things like fruits and veg with seeds in it.. stick to apple, pear, sweet potato etc if you absolutlely must

not rusks or anything like that

i would be mre inclined to get a third opinion before giving food x

my ds was sick roughly once a day, large quantities (I estimate ~150 ml) but not projectile, from ~8 wks until 18 wks. She still put on loads of weight though (98th centile). Then it just stopped.

HVs & GPs said same to me - healthy weight gain so nothing wrong (my washing machine might have disagreed). I still suspect silent reflux, she was also colicky in months 2 & 3, but gp wasn't keen on gaviscon. I didn't dare solids/rice in case I aggravated her tummy, trying to wait the 6 months out (3 wks to go).

ok thanks lulu - i'll try and get another doc tomorrow (although I expect they won't let me have another one till at least next week! lol)

In the meantime, i'll keep her upright etc and wait for the aptimal sample to come and see if that makes a difference.

Re: food i'll leave it till another doc will help (if they will)

Where do you live? Cranial osteos cost according to region but there's the Children's Osteopathic Centre in London that's a charity and you pay what you can afford.

I personally think definitely not to weaning before 6 months - it's the only guarantee that you have the their gut is ready for it. If it's immature, there are still pockets in the lining in which food can get caught and then when they seal over, the old rotten food is trapped inside and can cause problems. It's a bit of an issue and weaning is not the answer to solving a medical problem.

I live North Wales (wrexham) so london too far. lol

ok well you could search for an osteo near you on the General Osteopathic Council Website and then phone them and ask them if they are cranial / treat babies?