Breastfed baby with reflux

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Permalink Reply by Karen McConnell on February 19, 2009 at 9:57

Amanda

Sorry I'm in the Glasgow area so I don't know of a specialist. I'm presuming you've been to your GP but I would go back an insist that you get referred to a Paed that's what I had to do and it's a long hard struggle which we're still in the mist of. I really feel for you and you LO cause there is nothing worse than seeing your LO in pain and not being able to do anything. Have you tried a bath to calm him that always works a treat with my LO. Also they seem to like motion so if you've got one of those swingy chairs try that. My LO is on Nutramigem and Gaviscon we're waiting to see the Paed cause as far as I can understand Gavison is pretty much all your GO can give you??? If you really want ton get him on bottles then my advice would be to stick with it and eventually he'll take it. What I would say is some days my LO takes her bottled not too badly but then there are days when she only has 3 bottles a day. Sorry I've not been able to offer much help but I just wanted to reply to you as we've all been there and it's just nice to know you're not alone.

Hugs

Karen

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 27, 2009 at 13:34

Hi Karen,

thanks for your advice!!! I have been to see my GP and asked for the Nutramigem formula which i tried giving him today. My GP said not to mix gaviscon with this formula is this correct?? My son absolutly hated it of course and only drank 20mls, however he has been refusing the bottle and i didnt mix it with my breastmilk- so maybe next time i could try weaning him on it slowly. I tasted the milk and it was so horrible and feel guilty make him drink it!! What have you heard about cow and gate comfort?? I am thinking he will probably react to that as well if he does has a milk intolerance. I think i need to go back to my GP and ask for a referral to see a paedtrition and maybe a dietition for the whole weaning side of things, my friend said it can take up to 2 months to see one in our area.

Thanks once again for your advice.

Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Karen McConnell on February 27, 2009 at 19:57

Amanda

As far as I'm aware you CAN mix Gaviscon with this formula and we have been doing so for the last 2 months. Poppy absolutely hated it at first as well and would only take 2 bottles a day and was lucky to be getting 5oz but I promise that he will take it eventually and you really need to stick with it for at least 2 weeks to give it time to get into his system. My LO is now taking five 6oz bottles a day and going from 7pm until 5am through the night (although I think this is a combination of different things) new milk, new crib and maybe digestive system is maturing.. I'd defo ask for a referral because when it comes down to it it's you and your sons right you should be enjoying this time with him. If you need any more advice please ask.

Karen

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 28, 2009 at 14:05

HI Karen,

thanks once again for replying. This morning i mixed my breastmilk in with the nutramigen formula and he drank it fine (only about 100mls). He havent noticed any reaction yet, but we have only given him a small amount. I was wondering did your baby have constipation due to the formula and gaviscon?? What about using carobel as a thickening agent, because apparently it is not suppose to cause as much constipation. Due you know of any other formula's that taste better?? What about Neocate or cow and gate pepi??

Thanks

Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Karen McConnell on February 28, 2009 at 14:25

Amanda
Poppy had terrible constipation when she was on the Aptamil & Gaviscon but so far she's been fine on the Nutrimigen & Gaviscon. I haven't used Carobel would it be worth while asking for something off your GP for the constipation? My HV said that if the Nutrimigen & Gaviscon worked well then they would treat the constipation seperately. I think the diary free milks all taste pretty awful to tell you the truth and it's just a case of the LO's getting used to the taste. My 4 year old asked me the other day why Poppy smelled of potatoes due to the terrible stench of the milk!!!

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 28, 2009 at 20:54

OK thanks Poppy, hopefully the constipation doesnt become an issue. I have decided to go back to the GP and asked to be referred to see a pead to discuss harder medication and to check if the hypo formula is the right one for him. thanks for your help once again.

p.s yes i did notice he had a smell even after a small amount of that formula!!

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on March 31, 2009 at 10:17

Hi Amanda,
If you read mt thread it will tell you my story. I use 1oz of pure pear juice to sweeten the milk. Callum could only tolerate neocate as it has no milk protiens at all, just amino acids. Callum has a specialist dietician in london who said also a couple of drops of vannilla essence will help. Dr Shah at great Ormond street is great!!! We did see him privately to start with then managed to get local consultant to refers us via NHS once we took the diagnosis to the GP. I too breast fed but even the small amounts of milk protein going across the breast milk affected him. Hope this helps. Kelly

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Permalink Reply by Helen on February 25, 2009 at 20:35

Hi Amanda,
It really is so sad to come back on this website and read accounts that could have been written by me 3.5yrs ago.
The only thing I can do is tell you everything I have learned on our long reflux journey.
Firstly Gaviscon does not work with breastfed babies so it would be great if you could give it up. (I would not normally recommend quitting breast feeding!) The specialists are finally realising the link with reflux and cows milk protein allergy so if you can find a Paed who is aware of this he/she can sort out the milk. Southampton hosp have a big interest in this and they have some Paediatric Gasroenterologists. Push for a referral there. Reflux is a symtom of a problem NOT an illness itself. Like I said, usually the problem is cows milk protein allergy.
Try and wean as soon as you can as you may find heavier food stuffs help with the acid, plus a diet that doesn't revolve around milk will hopefuly give you all some much needed respite. Go & see your GP/ Paed and demand Ranitine, have your baby weighed before hand as Ranitidine doses are based on weight.
Do not suffer in silence, this should be a magical time for you,
very best wishes, Helen

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 27, 2009 at 13:49

Hi helen,

thanks for your helpful advice. I am still trying to work out whether my son has a problem with the cows milk, since he reacted with bad reflux to all the formulas (inc Enfamil AR!!) that i have previously given him. I was thinking about trying the cow and gate comfort, but will probably react to that too if he does have an intolerance. I did try the nutrumigem today, but he hated it so next time i will try with my breastmilk and see how it goes. My dr did suggest NOT to mix breastmilk and the nutrumigem and NOT to give gaviscon. She did not refer me to southampton either, so i will go back and ask for a referral. Next weekend i would like to start weaning him as he will be 5 and half months. Hopefully he will be alright witthe foods i give him, we will take it slowly.

What can you advise on ranitidine, i was only thinking of going down that path as a last resort. Over the past week i have been giving him more gaviscon and he seems a bit better. I have heard around 5-6 months babies reflux can get worse, maybe because they are more active???

thanks once again for your advice.

Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Anna on February 28, 2009 at 15:27

Hello everyone,
I am also new to little refluxes. My little boy is 15 weeks old and since birth he has been suffering with excessive vomiting following feeding, pain and wind. He was prescibed infant gaviscon quite early on but it didn't seem to make much difference....however, he is exclusively breastfed, so I find it interesting what you say Helen about gaviscon not working with breastfeeding. My little boy totally refuses a bottle, so wondered if you had any other suggestions as to treatment during breastfeeding? I have yet to convince the GP that he even has reflux but I believe he has all of the symptoms - vomiting +++ after feeding, pain with back arching, poor sleeping, although he is gaining weight. His symptoms did seem to settle for a few weeks, I don't understand why, but now seem to be back and worse than ever and i'm finding it a real struggle, especially seeing him so pained all of the time. I am going to go again this week to try and seek some more help and would be interested in any words of wisdom anyone can share. Thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 28, 2009 at 20:30

Hi Anna,

Sorry to hear you are going through such a bad time and we completly understand what you are going through.. the crying and vomiting during and after feeding is quite hard cope with and when the doctors say they are puting on weight and they will grow out of it..i could just scream if i hear that one more time!!! Around 6 weeks (after seeing about 3 different GP's) we requested to be referred to southampton hospital so our son could be checked over and they told us he had reflux. The gaviscon has been ok for our son, he has his good and bad days, howvever we have been considering going down the path of giving him medication such as renitine for the pain as it has seemed to be getting worse. As the gaviscon does not seem to be working for you, maybe you need to go back to your GP and request that a paed to look over your LO and discuss the options of medication to help with the pain if you are considering going down that track.

As for suggestions on the breastfeeding side of things that we found worked;
sleeping- baby wedge or something to raise the cot on an angle while sleeping; half swaddling.. basically dont lie them flat after feeding or while sleeping. I used to always put a pillow under my son if he was to go under his play gym.
feeding on an angle; bring up the wind by sitting them straight up and supporting their neck and back, the wind should come up on its own without the need to pat them on the back; keep your LO upright for about half an hour after feeding; change table on an angle; apparently a sling is suppose to be good (i have never used one).

thats all i can really think of for now, good luck

Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Thomas on February 28, 2009 at 21:02

Hi Anna,

This is where we bought our baby sleeping wedge from - babyreflux.co.uk

Amanda

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