Struggling with reflux

[Loubalouba]

Has anyone any advice on how to deal with reflux in a newborn ?
My little girl is 3.5 weeks old (she was born at 36 weeks and 2days) and at 3 weeks started going red in the face and making grunting noises. Sometimes it's like she is chocking on mucus - that's what it sounds like! She looks in so much discomfort during these attacks and has them constantly throughout the day and especially at night! She won't sleep unless she is snuggled next to me and sleeps much better on her side. If I don't do this I don't get any sleep at all. She started ranitidine a few days ago and no change yet. I wind her inbetween feeds, try to breast feed her upright, tilt her cot. It's awful to watch her and overnight I can't rest worrying about her chocking or listening to her noises. I am so tired, hubby helps as much as possible but goes back to work on Monday so he will need his sleep.

Is there anything else I could do to help her or help me get some sleep?

 

[JD.Deedee]

If the medicine isn't working see if you can be seen by a pediatrician unfortunely sometimes the quickest way to get them seen is to go through a&e but ask your health visitor for a quick referral first. Rule out milk protein allergy, tongue tie and lactose intolerance too as those things can cause reflux like symptoms.

 

[Eryinera]

I got a thing in my Emmaa diary freebie today talking about drops that can help it said new babies can have difficulty with lactose as they don't make the right enzyme yet and the drops are supposed to help? Of course speak to the gp first but it maybe something to look into?

 

[Eryinera]

http://allthecareyouneed.co.uk/prod..._AvR1hePwGAPSSITVdRUCgKP9KmSQYKjs8aAvQe8P8HAQ

Here's a link to some info about it. X

 

[millielaura]

Omeprazole!
She sounds exactly like Imogen. Gaviscon and ranitidine didn't work. The only thing that's made slight improvement is omeprazole . Also has cmpa been looked into xxx

 

[millielaura]

I would probably go diary free if you can even if no definite signs of cmpa and then at least it can be ruled out . Defo recommend omeprazole if that doesn't work or alongside. Keep taking back to doctors as much as you need. Reflux is awful!
Ooh also I recommend a swing for in the day if she doesn't have one already. Imogens is a ton more manageable now thank goodness but around Leoras age until 12 weeks all day everyday she would scream in pain. The swing was a lifesaver! Like I can't explain how much I owe it to that swing haha!! Either the motion helped her reflux or it rocked her to sleep so much she forgot the pain but she used to spend hours in there and be happy! Xx

 

[millielaura]

No advice on the choking episodes as they scare me but a movement monitor helps if she is in her cot. She sleeps on her side now if shes in with me with my arms around her so I can feel her movements etc. Xxx

 

[Eryinera]

Actually my son had reflux and had to be hospitalised due to it (he was a very sick baby (girls apparently don't throw up as much as boys when they suffer from it)) and he was on gaviscon and omeprozole too. Alongside infacol (we even had an infacol song we used to sing him lol) And that helped wonders

 

[millielaura]

Hope your girlie doesn't have reflux ery. I really hope any more children we have don't have it!! Nothing worse than seeing them in pain with it is there xxx

 

[Eryinera]

Nope I got told they were looking into it being hereditary. I had it snd so did my dad so rings true with us so far! Fortunately my son (and boys) don't seem to cry as much with it as he was being projectile sick lol. But girls cry more with it as it's more like heartburn poor mites

 

[Eryinera]

*posted on wrong thread*

 

[Kholl]

My son had severe reflux (spit up 10-15 times PER feed), and was colicky and miserable, it was hell. The only thing that helped was my giving up dairy and soy. The pediatrician said he would likely outgrow the dairy issues and sure enough by the time he was a year old I could eat dairy and nurse him no problem.

Good luck! I hope this resolves soon!

 

[kumber]

Ranitidine takes about 6-8 weeks to work properly, but I would go back to GP and get omeprezole. Be aware of how much they may up the dose as it also causes insomnia so you lose out either way. If that's the case, you'll want to move to lameprezole (sp?)

There are some fantastic reflux support and advice groups on Facebook, worth looking at them for tips and tricks

 

[Loubalouba]

Thank you so much everyone x she is still the same, it's weird she isn't being sick but just going so red in the face and then pulling a really uncomfortable face and moaning and grunting and shifting her head from side to side and then sounds really mucousy. It's hard to know if it's def reflux but it does happen straight after a feed and if I lie her flat it happens or if I change her position so I think it must be.

 

[Loubalouba]

I would probably go diary free if you can even if no definite signs of cmpa and then at least it can be ruled out . Defo recommend omeprazole if that doesn't work or alongside. Keep taking back to doctors as much as you need. Reflux is awful!
Ooh also I recommend a swing for in the day if she doesn't have one already. Imogens is a ton more manageable now thank goodness but around Leoras age until 12 weeks all day everyday she would scream in pain. The swing was a lifesaver! Like I can't explain how much I owe it to that swing haha!! Either the motion helped her reflux or it rocked her to sleep so much she forgot the pain but she used to spend hours in there and be happy! Xx

Thank u Hun x did Imogen vomit as well? Did she go red in the face? Leora is currently in the swing chair! and I am going to try to go dairy free too just to try it! Lucklily Leora doesn't really cry with it just moans and screws up her face.. will speak to HV on Thursday and ask if I should take her back to docs. How are u doing? Still trying for number 2 ? Xx

 

[millielaura]

She only vomits occasionally but more spitting up and choking on her milk or the milk burning and so spitting it out if that makes sense. She goes red in the face if constipated. She's very 'archy' in general after milk like arching back, slamming legs around, drawing legs up etc. It does sound like reflux.
Aw glad Leora likes the swing . Hope health visitor is helpful .
I'm good thank you.. I think I got some evaps on superdrug tests this cycle as they never got darker then af came..gutted lol..then I read how rubbish the new superdrugs are! I had a normal length cycle so hopefully that's a good sign xxx

 

[Elfs Mummy]

Have you got a sling you can use ? It may be worth keeping her upright for an hour after a feed. My daughter had awful reflux as did my son. My sons still projectile vomiting at 10 months but they're finally now seeing if he has a cmpa. The only way my daughter would settle was on me and some nights were so bad she would sleep in her bouncer whilst I stayed awake. I wOils ask for a referral to paediatrics as they will give you the best advise and also change the medication accordingly. My daughter grew out of her reflux when she started siting at 4 months (apparently reflux babies are often quicker as it's much more comfy for them). Your daughter is beautiful and I hope you get on top of the reflux soon xx

 

[russellmuscle]

I posted briefly in your PJ however we have had a very long road with this.

Carter was diagnosed at first with cmpa then went on to have non ige and ige dairy allergies although I think this had settled to a non ige now.

Reflux wise the ranitadine can take a few weeks to settle in but the dose is very sensitive and more often than not isn't correct or GP hasn't given out a "big" enough dose. We got told the .4 x 3 wasn't denting his reflux due to the allergy. After we switched to an amnio acid milk and upped the dose to max ranitadine with gaviscon in feeds we have no issue. Which is huge given in the early days I was so low he was miserable and sore. It also delayed tummy time beirfly but he now rolls sits and commando crawls and no refluxing episodes. Sometimes hiccups here or there but who can grumble.

We are actually a month free of ranitadine so don't lose hope. She will get over it and as will you but it is stressful.

Carter would take 2hr settling after a feed holding his breath crying arching punching himself thrashing scratching the lot. But we got there.

PS ask for a paeds referral, also IMO if you go on to PPI medication I'd suggest lansoprazole over omeprazole as there has been known to be sleep disturbances when infants use omeprazole.

Luckily we were fortunate I just persisted with ranitadine adequate bottle spacing and amounts. I wasn't comfortable him on a PPI. If your going the dairy free route, it can take 3-4 weeks to notice a marked difference in any skin or reflux symptoms. Think we were 3w in total on the neocate before change with the meds but if BF your milk proteins take two weeks as do little ones two weeks to leave system.

Things that helped us was a sling, the mamaroo (bouncer) white noise was the god send had to be up a bit loud so he could hear it and stop crying but not too loud.

Good luck xxxx