Reflux

[Browneyed Girl]

When my baby was 3 days old he spent a night in hospital after a couple of episodes where he seemed to be struggling to catch his breath. The doctor thought the most likely cause was silent reflux and prescribed infant Gaviscon. We used this for a few days and then phased it out as he didn't have any more episodes. At the time he didn't have any other symptoms. My boy is now 4 weeks and for the past 4 nights has been crying on and off from late afternoon to about midnight. He cries during and after feeds, he arches his back and stiffens his legs, he refuses to be winded, his cry goes a bit raspy, he'll bob on and off the boob like he can't make his mind up if he wants food and is basically a very unsettled boy who seems to be in discomfort. It seems like reflux to me so I've started the Gaviscon again last night, I can't say there's been much improvement as he's the same tonight. He's also on infacol as previous to this he was showing signs of wind. He is combi fed at the moment and has around 3 bottles of Hipp Organic a day.

Does this sound like reflux? Have you found anything that works? It's heartbreaking watching him cry his eyes out so any advice if you've been through it would be appreciated xx

 

[Rooster30]

Hmmm. Sounds very colicky to me? Colic hits late afternoon/evening time and my son would scream and arch his back a lot. He'd burp and trump like a trooper but the wind was horrid for him. The positive was that it all settled after 12 weeks of age ( but my goodness it was a long hard 12 weeks!).

My daughter has silent reflux and struggling to wean her off Gaviscon at the mo. Her symptoms are very wet burps, hiccups and sickyness and generally unsettled.

 

[Mummybexee]

Sounds colic to me - but could be silent reflux - it's hard To differentiate - I have a 17 month old still on reflux meds and have been through a hellish reflux journey. Any sick? Can you smell an almost vinegar smell on his breath? How's his sleeping on his back?

Has this started when you started Combi feeding? You may need to revisit gp - ensure your using anti colic bottles to reduce any wind.


The unsettled/arching of back/ fussy boob etc could be reflux - do you BF during morning and bottle
During evening?

 

[Browneyed Girl]

I thought it was colic at first hence the infacol which seemed to help for a few days. I've read since though that if it is reflux infacol can make it worse because of the orange flavouring so I'm wondering if this is a factor.

He has hiccups quite often, he's not sick much but he does often look like he's going to be sick after feeds but then isn't. I haven't noticed any smell on his breath. He coughs quite a bit and sometimes pulls his face as though he can taste something bad.

We've been combi feeding for a while so this isn't new - he has roughly 1 bottle in the morning, 1 in the afternoon and 1 at night. He's on Dr Browns and Mam bottles which are anti colic.

Today has been the worst so far - unsettled since 3.30 and still awake now at 12.50! I just want my contented boy back! xx

 

[Mummybexee]

Yes we used Browns.

The coughing is a key indicator to silent reflux. I'd re visit your gp hun and exaggerate the symptoms - inform them that the gaviscon isn't workin and that you feel after contacting a redlux charity for advixe you'd like to try something like renitidine or omeprazole to see if this calms the symptoms down

Don't let them give you the ' all babies are sick ' and the '' gaining weight so is ok' crap

There's a FB group called living with reflux - highly reccomend that one for advice from fellow refluxer mums x

 

[Cakey]

If you think infacol is making things worse then try gripe water instead. My little boy has reflux and we changed him to gripe and it helps him get wind up without triggering his reflux xxx

 

[Browneyed Girl]

Thanks ladies. I went to the doctors yesterday with him and he wanted to keep him on the Gaviscon for a couple more days to see if it works. We had a great 24 hours from Friday afternoon where he was settled and happy so I thought we'd cracked it. Saturday afternoon though he was sick 3 times after feeds which is unusual for him and lo and behold he's been unsettled ever since. Problem now seems to be trapped wind and he is definitely on the road to constipation - his poo is getting thicker and drier. He's constantly straining and I feel we've substituted one problem for another. Bought some gripe water last night which he's had about 3 times, can't really see any difference yet - having said that it's difficult to get it into him, I use a syringe but he spits most of it out. I also gave him some cooled boiled water but he didn't like it and only took half an ounce. My oh wants to stop the Gaviscon and try an anti-reflux formula as he doesn't want him on too much medication. We're back at the doctors tomorrow to review things, I'm a bit torn whether to continue with the Gaviscon or try the new formula. It's so frustrating, he's a completely different baby without these issues and I just feel so bad for him xx