thread: Advice please - Reflux & formula

  1. #1
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    Jun 2010
    Springfield, QLD
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    Advice please - Reflux & formula

    Sooo... moved bub onto formula, Karicare, he's been on it full time for about a week now, however last three days been spilling ALOT more, hes on losec for his reflux, but is getting rather upset with the spilling and silent reflux... should I changed to a thicken formula or a different brand normal formula?

    Since he started the formula 24 / 7 he no longer sleeps through either

    He's also teething so dribbling HEAPS

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Country Victoria
    5,945

    He might have an upset tummy. Formula doesnt digest as quick as BM. Try feeding him smaller amounts more often. Chances are changing formulas wont make an ounce of difference and thickening it will just make the chuck thicker and harder to get up.

    Though that being said, you can get Karicare thickner to add to his Karicare formula (so u dont have to change formulas).. I know your pain.. so I know anything is worth a try. It does get better with time

  3. #3
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    Thanks for your advice Mumma Mia

    he's having 150mls up to 6 times a day! three hours between feeds... My other two reflux babies went on formula within 3 weeks of birth so didn't notice this kinda difference in them.

    I would have thought formula would have helped him sleep better but it seems to be worse...

    The reason i asked about a different brand is aren't there a couple of different bases / types? not sure if they'd make a difference

  4. #4
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    Apr 2010
    Brisbane, Australia
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    Danielle, My bub has silent reflux and I thicken her formula with the Karicare thickener (she's not on Karicare formula though) 150 mls x 6 seems like a lot, although I know every baby is different. My DD doesn't have that much and she's 7 months old. Could that be why he's spilling so much maybe?
    I hope you sort things out, I know how difficult it is to have a refluxy baby

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Country Victoria
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    There are lots of different formulas. I think I tried about 7 of them with DD to see if any helped her reflux and chucking. Nothing did..

    Formula seemed to make DD's reflux much worse than when she was BF. I too thought it would help. Try some thickner though. Why do you think he is waking overnight? Upest tummy, reflux or hungry?

    I would drop his bottles down to 100 mls to see if that helps. Yes, its a pain and you have to feed them more often.. but its worth the work.

  6. #6
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    He wakes up and downs the whole bottle wanting more but once I burp him and give him his dummy he settles down so I don't offer any more... I was wondering if it's an acid thing waking him up... but then it could be the teeth that are moving up and down... could be his age... could be basically anything lol so difficult

  7. #7
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    Apr 2010
    Brisbane, Australia
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    Katherine used to do that as well. The doc said that she was overfeeding and it was making things worse. She gulps down the bottle hoping it will sooth her tummy (just like we have a glass of milk to settle heartburn) but because she's taking too much it was making her worse. Not sure if thi is the case with your bub but thought I would share. I started giving her her dummy first when she woke and then offering the bottle once she was a bit more settled. I found she started taking less, just having what she needed.

  8. #8
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    Thanks ladies... I'm going to give AR a go and smaller feeds. I gave the guy at the chemist a run for his money with 101 questions, unfortunately I was umable to get any answers about the affects of Whey v's Casein in relation to reflux lol but decided on the novalac reflux and will do 50/50 bottles to slowly increase the thickness...

  9. #9
    2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.

    Feb 2010
    Gold Coast
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    I hope I can help. DS has silent reflux and has been FF since about week 3. I found thickened formula stays down for him. He never spills a drop, even during burping. I tried the novalac formula but he actually was worse on it. Spilling quite a bit and no longer gaining weight. So we went back to karicare AR. It's quite a bit thicker than the novalac, and he seems to enjoy it the most out of each type I've tried.

    He's also on zantac. Just this week we've started him on Farex, adding it to his bottles. I found starting a little bit of solids (just the farex) he's sleeping a lot better and has started to smile and laugh instead of the nonstop screaming. It's up to you if you want to try some solids in a couple of weeks (DS was 16 weeks) but I think it might give you both some relief. My GP was supportive of the choice to use farex as he's so close to 4mths anyway.

    Good luck and keep us posted