Reflux help?

[KateK]

Hi ladies My 12 day old has been struggling, particularly at night time, since birth and I suspect reflux. The thing is she feeds well (breastfeeding) but she does only feed for 10 mins at a time. She arches, or more stretches her neck, a lot after feedings, struggles to get wind up and spits up and gets hiccups at some point after most feedings. In her crib she goes through a cycle of being fast asleep, stirring, kicking around and grunting (her little face really looks in pain) crying and then trying to settle again. It's like she's trying to sleep but can't and neither can I Does this sound like reflux? She looks in so much pain and i'm exhausted.. XX

 

[Browneyed Girl]

It could well be tongue tie. Take her to your local breastfeeding support group and get her assessed by an IBCLC, it's the only way to rule it out (I know from personal experience that midwives and GPs are not sufficiently trained to diagnose this) x

 

[kumber]

I thinknit could be reflux, but do get checked for tongue tie too. Get your lo down to the GP to start the process of gaviscon, ranitidine, etc. Good luck!

 

[YorksLass]

Sounds like my daughter for the first two or three months!
She just had lots of trouble getting wind out - I guess it's just to do with their digestive systems, which don't really develop properly until 6 months. I think some babes struggle more than others. I just did regular massage, toes to nose postures to get wind working, and my partner spent lots of time lifting her up and down in a vertical position and also 'tiger in a tree' hold on his arm. I also bfed her in a more upright position a lot, which seemed to help her too.
It was rough, but she got over it soon enough!

 

[KateK]

Thank you so much for all your responses, Browneyed Girl i've been fortunate enough to have been seen by 2 lovely feeding consultants who have confirmed a posterior tongue tie and general tongue shortness/restriction. Upper lip tie too which doesn't help matters.. Feeding has also been really painful the past week so all the symptoms seem to go hand in hand.. Great shout thank you. Hoping to look into options to rectify asap as she's so uncomfortable with wind and reflux and my nipples are going to drop off!

 

[Browneyed Girl]

Glad you've got a diagnosis, all the symptoms you describe are typical of tongue tie and should resolve once it's snipped. My lo took 1-2 weeks to start feeding normally and then he was like a different baby, he could take a normal amount in one go without all the crying and writhing about before and after feeds with no need for any reflux meds etc. It should reduce hiccups too! Hope you get it sorted soon, it's not a nice procedure but it's so worth it to see your lo enjoying their milk xxx

I should add as well I paid about £200 to see an IBCLC who diagnosed and snipped the same day, i only had to wait about 2 days for the appointment so worth considering if you can afford it and the NHS wait list seems too long xx