Is This Reflux?

[MamaK]

Hello,

I find myself here coming for advice.

Initially we thought our daughter Seven had colic or severe wind issues. After trying a few different natural remedies as well as cutting out heaps of stuff from my diet, we noticed nothing had changed, in fact, she was getting worse.
This is what Seven does:
Will suddenly wake up and scream.
Constantly grunting and squirming.
Vomits - not that it bothers me but its bigger than your everyday baby spill.
Arches her back.
Sometimes fusses at the breast and pulls off then screams.
Sleeps better in her sling.
Has hiccups A LOT.
Burps and it sounds wet, like she is going to vomit.
Coughs.
Gags.
Sometimes splutters when feeding.
I can even sometimes hear the acid coming back up her throat.
She likes to feed when she feels pain, but it makes it worse.
She gets snuffly, like she has a cold almost, but she doesn't.

We are currently using mylanta before a feed and sometimes even in between, but, because she feeds so often, I really can't see using this as a long term thing. It only helps sometimes.

We are off to the Dr today and I am planning on asking for some Zantac. Do you think this will help my baby girl?
I thought all these symptoms were wind related, but after paying close attention over the past 4 days, I think its reflux - not severe of course - but bad enough for her to scream in agony and that is something I just cannot let my daughter experience if I can help it!

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[Arimeh]

Hey Kell,

Mehkelti does nearly exactly the same thing as Seven, except she doesn't spew - just dribbley spews... so my child nurse suspects she has silent reflux. Whatever she has, I'm sick of the screaming from her, and that she will only have a few minutes sleep before she has a tummy spasm (we see her do it) and then screams again.. she is so exhausted of a night time its hell getting her to settle. Actually its hell getting her to settle at any time!!

I'm going to the doc tomorrow to see what can be done to help, so no advice from me for you - but I'd like to know what the doc says about Seven....

Huge hugs cos i know what you are dealing with...

[MamaK]

I am so upset right now.
The Dr we saw was very thorough and she was lovely, but, she told me to stop using the Mylanta and prescribed Gaviscon for Seven for AFTER a breastfeed.
Gaviscon is a thickener and is supposed to stop the milk coming back up the oesophagus. We use this at work and I don't find it works at all, it might stop the vomiting, but the vomiting isn't the problem.
She also suggested giving Seven more frequent, smaller feeds. How the HELL do I give a baby who feeds 2hrly, more frequent feeds? And Seven is going to eat what she wants. I can't stop her feeding if she is still hungry!
I am just so upset right now to think that my little girl is going to have to continue screaming because of the pain.

I hope you get some answers at least tomorrow Arimeh.

[Arimeh]

Aw kell that SUCKS.

Any chance you can go to another doc for a second opinion?????? I don't know what the doc will say tomorrow about M - hoping he won't want me to change formula or anything - already changed it twice...

[thepixie]

cm4e - honey this sounds like no fun at all! I am going to suggest the opposite of what the doctor recommended. It sounds to me like she may be overfeeding. We had this problem briefly with DD and cutting her feeds down fixed it up almost straightaway. Mummy Tummy from the August baby buddies explained it best so see if this sounds like Seven:

We both have an abundant supply of milk, and guzzling babies so that when we were feeding them they would empty both sides, which is about 200-250 mls all up, in one sitting. Far too much for tiny babies. So what was happening was acid reflux, which stayed in their throats because neither are chucky babies, so this was burning their throats. And because there tummies were getting so full they would open up and let undigested milk in to their gut where it would ferment causing big wind pains and big poos every nappy change which burnt their bums and resulted in nappy rash.

Try feeding 3-4 hourly and one side only at each feed.... at least its something you can try straight away and you should be able to see within 24 hours or so whether it's helping. HTH and let us know how you get on.

[~Trish~]

Oh your poor bub . My DS2 had reflux too. I took him to a paediatric chiropractor before putting him on meds and after one consultation and following his advice, the reflux cleared up within 5 days. DS2 had a shoulder issue which was causing him pain, this would make him feed more frequently (BM offers pain relief), but it was too often so he was getting reflux. After his shoulder was adjusted (very gently) I fed him no earlier than 3 hourly - even if it meant I had to carry him around in a sling or go for a walk in the pram to help pass the time. As I said above, this fixed the reflux problem in under a week.

Sometimes reflux can be caused by other issues like something being out of alignment. I highly recommend finding a paediatric chiro because they of course specialise in babies.

HTH

[Arimeh]

Trish

Its funny that you say that - cos I took Miss M to the chiro yesterday, couldnt' handle the screaming anymore.

One of the vertebrae (sp?) in her neck is wayyy out he said, so he adjusted it, said it will take about 5 sessions to fix it properly, and that it was causing her belly problems because of the nerve that runs down from the neck into the tummy affects all of that area.

So hopefully (fingers crossed!!) he will be able to help Miss M.

Kell - maybe its an option for Seven as well?

I don't know if its done anything straight away - but I don't think she has screamed as much today (as i type of course she is screaming.. LOL)

[MamaK]

I will try anything as long as it relieves my girls pain.

Dr even suggested that I feed Seven too much because she has put on so much weight! That hurt. I only feed her when she is hungry!

Pixie ~ I WOULD cut down on her feeds, if only I could. Seven only ever takes 1 side, and she feeds 2hrly as it is! If I try to give her more frequent feeds shes going to be on the boob 24/7 and I can barely get anything done as it is!

Its stressful and poor DF comes home each afternoon to a crying baby and a very exhausted Mummy who can't even gather up the strength to put her arms around him!

Trish ~ I will do some research and see what I can dig up about Peadiatric Chiropracters. Unfortunately if Seven is hungry, wearing her or walking in the pram will NOT work. She will only scream harder.
I didn't want to ever have to put limits on my babies feeding, because that was the whole idea of 'demand breastfeeding'.

[~Trish~]

I didn't want to ever have to put limits on my babies feeding, because that was the whole idea of 'demand breastfeeding'.

I know what you mean, I'm not one for limiting a baby who wants to feed either. It was the only thing that worked for us, but it certainly may not be for you and I certainly wouldn't tell you to go ahead and try it without seeking professional advice first. I hope you find something that works for you both soon .

Mel - I hope the chiro sessions work for your DD, I have had such sucess with chiros for my boys. My DS1 had a dislocated right shoulder from birth, this wasn't picked up until he was 10 weeks old when I finally thought I'd try a chiro. I went from having a very unsettled baby who would only sleep in my arms to a happy little man who slept really well. Good luck

[MamaK]

Does anyone know a good Chiro in Adelaide?

[~Trish~]

I don't know any Adelaide chiros, but you could try contacting the Chiropractor's Association of Australia (chiropractors.asn.au) and asking if they could recommend one for you?

[MamaK]

Thanks I'll give that a go.

On the upside, I got some Zantac syrup and we started it at 6pm. She is to have a dose every 12hrs. Might take a few days to kick in but at least we have something to try now! I feel a little better that at least we are trying to do something.

[thepixie]

Kel honey just to clarify, I was suggesting you feed her less frequently - eg only every 3 hours, but I guess if this is what you feel

I didn't want to ever have to put limits on my babies feeding, because that was the whole idea of 'demand breastfeeding'.

maybe that won't work for you?

[MamaK]

Yeah I knew thats what you meant love. Thanks for clarifying though. Unfortunately I tried that with her and if she's hungry she screams. She won't take a dummy, so I've used my finger for her to suck on instead. That works for about 5 minutes. Pram doesn't settle her and the sling will work but if she's hungry, it won't work for long.
I guess all I can do is keep trying.

Thanks for all your advice everyone! I really do appreciate it.