Advice Please - AR formulas, reflux, vomiting issues, pediatrician

[River]

first port of call with a refluxer in my opinion should be a dairy free diet. Dairy intolerance seems to be the root of a lot of reflux - every person I know who has had a reflux baby who has gone 100% dairy free has seen the reflux stop. If something with dairy sneaks in accidentally (easy with breastfeeding), the reflux will return.

[black_rose]

Maybe try a lactose free formula, everyone was telling me DD was suffering reflux and to try the AR forumla and thickeners as DD was a vomitor and losing weight. She would bite me when breastfeeding so I ended up trying the S26 LF formula and she stopped vomiting and has thrived ever since. Looking back at photos of her when she was breastfeeding she looks very pale and sickly. Your breastmilk contains lactose regardless of what you eat so it could be the problem, DD improved on the regular S26 Gold formula but the vomiting only completeley stopped once she stopped breastfeeding and went onto the lactose free formula.

It could be that he knows that he doesn't feel well when having a feed so he doesn't want it? DD was like that too but she was eight months. the S26 LF formula is available at Coles, Safeway/Woolworths and chemists.

[Janie]

I would tend to agree with River. There is a link between reflux and dairy intolerance in babies. (Certainly is in our case).

LF formula may help, but it is not dairy free. So if it is the protein, rather than the lactose, that is a problem then LF formula probably won't help. IHTMS.

[mamasmurf]

My dd vomitted and had the runs all the time I breast fed.She was diagnosed as intolerent by the paed and with reflux by the gp. Now looking back I`m not convinced of the reflux diagnosis nevertheless I do have experience of using various formulas. apparently HA formulas are always used as a first line before any lactose free, goat or soy versions as the lactose is partially broken down which is supposed to be most appropriate for intolerence as opposed to the latter for allergy. I used the plain HA-AR formula as opposed to gold which wasn`t available at the time. I wondered if the gold variety might be quite rich if the problems hadn`t occurred with the organic brand.
Due to constipation, I changed the routine to just HA in the daytime and HAAR at night.My theory being that dd was more likely to throw up whilst laying down if it was reflux. At 7 months after weaning onto solid and one or two prolonged episodes of gut problems i started dd on gold follow on normal formula and fingers crossed it`s working so far. She has always been an erratic feeder ie) whole bottle one time half next and sometimes a quarter if really distracted and excitable. I try not to worry about this and so long as she is otherwise healthy it`s okay.
As far as reflux is concerned, the paeds in my area tend not to like to diagnose reflux and in turn do not treat it.Some gps however will treat with meds sometimes zantac sometimes PPI drugs like losec.My dd hated the meds and they were an absolute nightmare to give her. They appeared to work in the short term but the formula feed really seemed to make a huge difference and I eventually told the gp I was stopping the meds.
I felt really bad for ceasing breastfeeding but now I look back and think that I did what I had to do to keep my dd healthy.

[setof3]

I saw a pediatrician on Monday and my DD was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy. He is now on a prescription formula which is sooooo expensive, but at least his irritability and abdominal pains will go away gradually, should take about 2-3 weeks to be fully out of his system. I am happy this situation has been resolved and I can get him onto the right track.

[AnnaChas]

That's excellent - at least now you know what was going on and it can get better. I hate not knowing what is wrong!

Losec seems to be working well for us, so fingers crossed eating will only keep getting better!

[Jen_Aidan]

Am soooo glad that you now have some answer's - so hard when you don't know what is bothering them

After months of scratching my head and numerous Paed visits, my DS was also diagnosed with Milk Protein allergy and i now have him on Karicare Soy formula (Soy doesn't work for all babies) and a dairy free diet - also still use Brauer Stomach Calm at night before his night bottle . . fixed his vomiting and irritability within days

Hope everything continues to get better for you and bubs

[luna moth]

every person I know who has had a reflux baby who has gone 100% dairy free has seen the reflux stop.

While I 100% agree that this is a great idea, and I highly recommend giving it a go, it doesn't work for everyone. I know someone who went fully dairy free, and it hadn't helped after 4 weeks. She ended up using Losec.