The Imperfect Community

[becky2005]

I'm beginning to think DS may have reflux issues.
After a few minutes of feeding he often cries, keeps crying while being burped when the bottle isn't in his mouth, then once the nipple is back in his mouth he will eat quietly for a minute or two and then start screaming again. He spits up often, and occasionally vomits. I was hoping that a lot of these issues were normal and related to his age and since they seemed to be getting better I didn't mention them at his 2 month check-up last week. But...ever since that check-up feedings have been a nightmare again!
Also, his middle-of-the-night feeding is usually wonderful! He drinks his bottle right down and goes right back to sleep. So I thought it couldn't be acid reflux since it's only a problem during the day.

I don't think he's being over-fed b/c I keep a log and he eats about 24-28 oz a day and is about 10.5 lbs. I use Dr. Brown's bottles and Good Start formula. I recently switched the nipples to level 2, even though Dr. Brown's recommends switching at 3 months and he's only about 9.5 weeks old. I thought he might not be getting the formula fast enough and that might be frustrating him. It hasn't made a difference in his screaming and fussing during feedings, but he does eat quicker which lessens the agony for me and DH

Anyone else go through this? He is about 9.5 weeks old today. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
I will call my pediatrician on Tuesday to make an appointment, but any advice and all support would be appreciated.
Today has been especially bad--DH and I both dread feeding him! Other than at daytime feedings, he's a really wonderful baby and his sweetness has kept us from leaving him in a basket at the fire station with a note

[kathyjm]

Becky none of my kids had this (so im not terribly familiar) but my nephew did (even as a 2 year old!). What you are describing sounds similar. Have you talked to your dr. about it??

[Jessica]

Graham had really bad reflux. The ped put him on prescription reflux medication (Zantac) and it didn't work that great for us. For some babies, it works great though, that's what other mother's have told me.

It's a little hazy to remember, but I seem to recall that giving him smaller meals, more frequently and burping him often - every 1/2 oz or so...oh, I know that I was given orders by the NICU to keep him upright for 30 minutes after feeding and use smithecone drops (Mylicon drops) --have you tried those in his bottle? Sometimes air bubbled get caught in their tummies and this can help. I went through a ton of it. The generic Target or Walmart versions work just fine.

Oh, wait! It's all coming back to me now. His reflux was so bad, I was finally given the okay to allow him to sleep on his tummy. This elevated a lot of pain for him and I switched formulas a few times. His reflux was actually worse when I was breastfeeding, but that might have been because he was younger when I was breastfeeding. They do eventually grow out of reflux.

Oddly enough, the Target brand formula (without the DHA) was the formula that worked best with my son's reflux. I have no clue why, but it did. Good Start is a great formula, but it has a lot of corn in it and sometimes that can actually aggravate reflux, but my older son who didn't have reflux did great on Good Start. I think Enfamil is really close to the Target brand.

Best of luck. I would call your ped immediately. This is something that needs to be watched closely. You don't want your little guy to start dreading eating times. You'll get through it though. All babies grow out of it at different rates, most of them by 4 months. Since my son was a preemie, he had it almost a year! Just burp him while walking the kitchen floor and don't worry too much. Kitchen floors can be clean. Just clean and say, "Oh, well, this too shall pass!"

[ThreeWashburns]

I have dealt with reflux with both of my children. My son had it very badly. He was given Zantac and a med called Bethanacol. The Bethanacol was to somehow strengthen the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus or something it's been a few years. Anyway my 3 month old has been on the Zantac only for almost 2 months already and doing fairly well.
Some of the things you can do for a reflux babies:
feed smaller amounts more often
add 1 tablespoon of rice cereal to 4 oz. of formula (may need size 2 nipples)
keep baby upright for at least 30 min. after feeding
gas relief drops
sleeping on their tummy
slightly raising the head of the mattress
wearing the diaper slightly looser or larger size (less pressure on the abdomen)
My doctor also put my little girl on lacto free formula. I tried the good start with her and it made her terribly constipated.
These ideas may get you through the long weekend before you can get in touch with your Dr. My son had to use Nutramigen formula which worked really well but I warn you this is very expensive long term but if you get desperate I recommend it.
Good luck to you I've been there and I know how terribly hard it is physically and emotionally when your little one is hurting.

[DietCokeHead]

Does feeding in an upright position help at all? One poster here had this little gadget that she loved and it enables you to feed in a more upright position than bottles do.

http://www.podee.com/main.html

I am sorry your little guy is having trouble!

[becky2005]

Thanks for all of the helpful suggestions everyone. I will be calling the pediatrician's office first thing tomorrow for an appt.

We already keep him at about a 45 degree angle during feedings and for about 15-30 minutes afterward.
And we've been putting him to sleep on his tummy since he was about 4 weeks old. Don't report us to those perfect parents though...I know, I know...back to sleep, tummy to play He just sleeps so much better that way, and he's been able to pick is head up and turn it from side-to-side really well since he was a few weeks old so I don't worry about him on his tummy.

I'm ready to try the cereal and ask about meds if necessary. And we actually have tried the Podee too! I didn't help with the fussiness and screaming but it's handy to have around.

Oh, and the diaper idea is a good one. I feel like DH really puts that diaper on TIGHT so I will ask him to loosen up a bit for awhile to see if it helps.

Thanks again everyone.

[becky2005]

Poor little guy does have reflux issues
The doctor wrote me a prescription for Zantac but told me to try 1/2 tsp of Maalox every 4 to 6 hours for a few days first to see if that helps.
And she said to try to keep him upright or semi-reclined as much as possible. Told me to elevate the head of his crib mattress (I think someone here gave me that suggestion too!) or even to let him sleep in his bouncy seat or swing if necessary.

Thanks again for the suggestions and support. I hope my peanut starts enjoying ALL of his feedings soon.

[Jessica]

[DietCokeHead]

Becky, did the dr recommend a certain formula or are they all the same for reflux? I hope the Maalox works for him!

[ThreeWashburns]

I'm sooo sorry for your little guy.
I know how hard it can be. I recently read an article about infant reflux and it said it seems to peak at 4 to 6 months. Hopefully at that point it will start to improve. My son who is now 4 1/2 had it pretty bad and was on meds for over a year. He would still vomit everytime he coughed or had any kind of sinus drainage until just recently. I guess he is finally passed it. Hopefully your little guy won't have it quite so bad. My 3 month old girl dosen't have it as bad as he did. She even sleeps through the night most nights something ds didn't do until about a year and half ago.
Good Luck!! Hope the Zantac does the trick.

[kathyjm]

I'm sorry he has it but it's good you got to the bottom of it!

This will pass, dont worry! My nephew is finally outgrowing it as well. Hope the zantac works out!

[becky2005]

You guys...thanks so much for the support and kind words.

The spit up and vomit has improved a lot thanks to keeping him upright and propping up the head of his crib, but he's still refluxing (is that a word?) during about 1/2 of his feedings. We are getting the Zantac script filled today and hopefully things will continue to improve.

Dietcokehead~ the doctor said his current formula should be fine--he's on Good Start. I asked her about possible allergic reactions and if I should switch formulas, but she said his symptoms were classic reflux and since he didn't have any pooping problems at all she didn't think allergies were an issue. I may still try out a different brand of formula though just to see if I can find something more tolerable.

Jessica~ my Target doesn't even sell their brand of formula w/o the lipids in it. I was going to check it out b/c I thought maybe he would tolerate it well and it might be cheaper than the GS, but no luck Thank you for the suggestion though. Maybe I will give Enfamil a try if things continue to be so hard for him.

Thanks again everyone...

[kathyjm]

I think you're wise to watch for allergies. *MOST* pediatricians are totally ignorant about FA's in babies so if you find zantac is not working or see little improvement, try switching to alimentum for a trial run. If you see any eczema or diaper rashes or even just 'colic', also be on top of that. Those are all signs of allergy as well.

I'm sure he does have reflux but just wanted you to know that sometimes dr.'s arent' the fnal say and sometimes mothers instinct is right on!

(my lil one was allergic to milk, corn, eggs, and peas and the pedi told us her intial eczema was a pacifier rash and her hives were viral...allergist proved the allergies!)

[Aussie Mum]

Hi there Becky 2005

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing the sypmtoms of your little one's reflux. My 6 week old has been suffering exactly the same symptoms (even down to taking the night feeds without a problem) but I've had trouble getting my doctor to investigate further and had resorted to using Smithecone drops out of desparation for some releif for him.
I was looking up Smithecone on the Internet and I came across your emails and couldn't believe how similar your story was.
Thank you so much! I am off to the doctor's to insist that he look into my bub's symptoms and that we get some treatment.
I hope that your little one is now feeling better and enjoying feed times again.

[ThreeWashburns]

Mommies with reflux babies!!!!!

http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/


Good Luck!!You are not alone. We can offer each other support.