how do I tell if this is reflux?

DD is nearly 6 weeks old and she's entirely breastfed. She's throwing up an awful lot at the moment. Some of it seems to be basically undigested milk, right after a feed, and that seems pretty innocuous. But some of it is vile-smelling (like vomit, I guess - that sharp, bile-ish smell). Sometimes she's not bothered by it, other times she's upset about it.

Just now she threw up heaps - to me it looked like it would have to be at least half of what had gone in, and she was really upset and needed to be held upright for a much longer time than usual. Usually she's yawning and ready to be put down 10 minutes after a feed, but this time she was crying and crying when I tried that. so I held her upright for maybe 30 minutes longer, hoping the problem would subside. As I type, maybe an hour later, she's asleep in her bassinet which is flat on the ground, and she seems to be fine.

I don't know whether this is normal or a mildish reflux and if the latter I don't know what to do about it. It's worrying me partly because I'm tired of the amount of washing it creates, and mainly because sometimes she seems just so uncomfortable with it. How do you tell the difference between normal baby spewing and something that needs to be discussed with a GP? Actually at the moment, a GP's office is the last place in Melbourne I want to take her - they are surely full of people with the flu coughing away!

We have her cot propped up to make a slight slope, which doesn't seem to make any difference at all, as far as I can tell, and we try to make sure she is thoroughly burped after each meal, though she doesn't always burp at all. Other than that I don't know what to do.

I'm really not sure if I'm worrying unnecessarily. Can you give me any advice?

Thanks!

oh hun... I know exactly how u feel. If you check my profile and all the threads i have started since Mia was born, u will see the pure stage of desperation i was at.

Yes, it could be reflux. If it is, you can try, Infant Gaviscon (which you get from the chemist). If that doesnt seem to do the trick, take her to the GP. They might put her on a reflux medication (Losec) which DOES NOT help with the vommiting but it makes it more comfortable for her when she does bring it up.

Theres really not much u can do apart from stick it out. Mia's is getting much better now that she is sitting and upright. SO it took till about 6 months old before it got better.

PM me if you want anymore information... through out my journey i feel like i know everything there is to know about reflux.

There is a way u can tell, if you place her on her back, they usually dont like this (like flat on her back). But that being said, Mia never cried when they tried this but she has never really slept on her back, she prefers her side or tummy.

i would be tempted to ring your mchn and discuss the problem with her and she maybe able to give you some help- she'll prob recommend the gaviscon as hollye did.

Well this is the first time I've been able to get online since I posted this question (so not like me to not be online for over 24 hours, but it's been a really busy couple of days).

Thanks both for your replies.

DD does sleep on her back with no particular trouble, afaict. Though sometimes she clearly doesn't want to be paid down in her back, which is part of what makes me wonder if its reflux. Sometimes when we put her down she gets upset and then we pick her up she calms down again. I expect that's normal for other reasons than reflux, though. When she goes to sleep it's always on her back.

I think I'll discuss it with my MCHN at our appointment next week.

Confusing things, babies.

The fact that she is happy sleeping flat is probably a sign that it's not reflux. The vomitting is very, very normal, and is only an issue if she is distressed as well. All babies have the periods of unsettledness and crying that you have experienced, it is more when they are like that most of the time that it's a sign of a potential problem. From all your posts it sounds like she is settled most of the time and sleeping well at night, so it doesn't sound like she has reflux.

As for the vomitting, it is probably not as much as it looks like. I know it sometimes seems as if nearly the whole feed has come up, but really it just looks like more than it is. I know the washing is a PITA - I had a silent chucker too - but it will pass in time. I carried cloth nappies around everywhere with me so most of it went on that but there were still numerous changes of clothes for both me and him and also the bed! There's not much you can do other than ride it out - and know that you are not alone.

You are doing a great job hun :hug:

Thanks MantaRay :) I'm glad to know it probably isn't an actual problem. Lots of washing I can handle for the time being. It was the idea that something might be wrong that we ought to be doing something about that was worrying me.

Don't know if this helps or not but my paed did say that if when holding your little one and you have your hand/arm around their back and you can feel a slight 'rattle' in their upper chest (between the shoulder blades) after a feed & you have them upright (whether they burp or not) - that it is worth having them assessed for reflux.

I could feel the 'rattle' in my little man & even sometimes hear it gurgling up and down his throat - also occassionally would see him thrusting his tongue forward, swallowing and grimancing after having burped him and put him down.

DS was a powerchucker and i hated all the washing too, so i know how frustrating it is to see how much washing i had acumulated at the end of the day :)

You are doing a great job, hang in there

DD has reflux and I basically followed my gut instinct that something was not right. All the nurses told me she was a happy chucker until the day i was at my GP's in tears and she had an episode in front of him. We did the raised cot until she started rolling, and she has been on both Losec and Zantac. Currently she is on Zantac and Hypoallergenic formula ... given she is 10 months she is showing no signs of growing out of it - whilst she doesnt vomit as much now she is crawling and cruising if we drop the medication the pain reappears and all hell breaks loose again ... if in doubt get it assessed but know that there are mums like us out there who have been or are going through it constantly .... with time it gets better ... or so I keep being told !!!