Reflux and Breastfeeding

Hi all,

My DS is 6 weeks old and was just diagnosed with silent reflux. We are having a hard time, but we are on day 3 of Axid and hoping to see good results.

For those of you that are/were breastfeeding - what were some things you changed when your child had reflux? I feel like every time I feed the kid, it is only going to cause him pain :(. He is the type that wants to nurse ALL DAY so that the acid doesn't hurt as much

So, did you do anything different? IE: Positions? How long baby nursed on each side or all together? Frequency of feedings? Your diet?

Thanks so much.

Oh, and any tips on burping? I can't seem to get good burps out of him and I know that is part of the problem...

Reflux and Breastfeeding

One last question: DS has had a terrible stuffy nose with the reflux (it actually makes me more worried than the reflux!). I am wondering if it will go away with the meds. Anyone have that experience?

Thanks again.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

Bump

Reflux and Breastfeeding

I cant comment on reflux but if you're DS is 6 weeks, your ped will not give you medication. You should get a saline spray, and use a snot sucker. When DD was sick we used an electric one and it worked well and I just bought the Nose Freida from Amazon and we have yet to use it but I heard really good things about it. our ped told us to suck the snot out 3 times a day but we can use the saline as needed. Keep you DS at somewhat of an angle and I bought the vicks plug in (you cant use the rub on their bodies and I was not comfortable putting it on her back in fear I will have some on my hands and it will get in her eyes, mouth ect... I'm a nut job) and use a humidifier to keep the air moist.

Message edited 1/22/2013 9:56:42 AM.

Re: Reflux and Breastfeeding

My DS also had silent reflux and I breast fed for two months. We had him on Zantac and I was on a very restricted diet as well so the breast milk would be manageable. WE did everything we were directed to do but he was miserable. Always crying and uncomfortable, no matter what position he was in.

The gastro put him on Elecare prescription formula. It was the only thing that gave him relief. After a full year of this we became worried that we would always need to medicate our DS...I sought alternative treatment and attempted chiropractic care. What did we have to loose? Within two months he was not refluxing. I never really understood chiro. care and why it would help ailments but I am a believer now. I wish I had sought alternative treatment sooner.

I hope the axid works for you. It's an awful feeling when your LO is suffering.

Message edited 1/22/2013 10:27:01 AM.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

Thank you both for your responses! Tass, I just ordered the snot sucker from Amazon. Thanks for the suggestion. Michmouse: thank you for sharing your experience. It is really difficult when the baby cries so hard. All I think is that he is in so much pain and his little esophagus is getting hurt...I am hoping the Axid works, but I am not opposed to trying formula if it will help. I am glad it did for you.

Re: Reflux and Breastfeeding

Do you cradle your DS when you are feeding. I hear if you can get him in a more upright position it should help with the reflux

Check out this article on Kellymom

Re: Reflux and Breastfeeding

DS1 was a happy spitter. DS2 had reflux and started screaming during feedings by 5-6 weeks. Zantac helped though it took at least a week to really notice a difference. He'd pull off a lot during feedings so I had to burp him frequently. He has always been a pretty efficient eater (10 minutes per side). I didn't change my diet. I'd nurse him upright during feedings where he was particularly fussy. I just weaned him off of Zantac at 6 months. He still spits up, but it's less frequent, smaller amounts and he doesn't seem to be in pain. Good luck! It really sucks to see your child in pain.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

My DD had it. And she did the same thing you dc does, wanted to nurse all the time. I tried restricting my diet as well to try to make it better for her (cut all dairy out) didnt really help. We tried every medication under the sun with no relief. Ended up having to put her on Alimentum and Zantac I had a brand new baby! Not only did it reduce her reflux symptoms but I had an overall happier baby. Ive never looked back once! LOL

Have you tried changing diet at all? Does your dc have a milk intolerance? This can mimic all the signs of reflux and once you put on hypoallengic formula (alimentum, nutramigen or rx elecare) you will see a HUGE difference! That was the issue with my dd.

I tried chriropractic care with her as well because I didnt want her on medication, but it only made her worse. It didnt help at all and I felt I wasted a TON of money on it. I heard of people it helped like the above poster but I found my dd to be extremely cranky and spit up more after her visits. Maybe this helps in extreme reflux cases but I believe my dd didnt have an extreme case just milk intolerance so its possible thats why chiropractor didnt help.
I wasted a LONG LONG time trying everything but changing the formula and I wish I would have done it sooner I would have saved my poor DD the pain of what she went through for about 4 months! And I would have saved hundreds of dollars as well.

Best of luck.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

ooo PS get the baby vac. It attachs to your vaccum to suck out the boogies. THAT blows that snot sucker thing out of the water. Especially if you want the congestion to go way. DD had that too! VERY bad. used to scare us as well.

Again her issue was a milk intolerance. Do some research you will see it mimics all the signs of reflux and if your baby does have a mild case of reflux a milk intolerance can exacerbate it making the symptoms MUCH worse.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

Thanks Brooke and BlessedMomma. Just hearing your stories makes me feel better.

We had a GREAT day yesterday. New, happy baby as many of you have described. However...at the start of both night feedings he projectile vomited all over me (this is a new thing as we are really dealing with silent reflux. .????). This morning was rough too, we actually gave him the Mylicon drops (did nothing). After we gave him his dose of Axid, he burped and then an hour later passed a bunch of gas. Now he is content in the swing. I really feel like every time he has a bowel movement he feels so much better.

But bc we had a great day, then bad, I am really going to look at my diet. Dairy will have to go for a few weeks and I'll see how it works.

Reflux and Breastfeeding

FM anytime as well.

Also wanted to add I would go through that as well. She would be doing good for a few days even a week and then she would be a total mess again. She would have explosive diarrhea and gas that smelled so bad it could clear a room, just abnormally smelly. She would have a day of just being cranky and uncomfortable. Constantly drinking BUT throwing up after every single bottle. At least once a week we had to give her 2-3 bottles of Pedialyte to clean out her system. Just not normal and not healthy for her.
At that point I changed her formula and everything changed for her and me! LOL

I would definately suggest checking your diet. When I was having dairy she would cry the gas would be so bad. Tried Mylicon and did nothing. Also citrus causes gas in babies and if the dairy reduction doesnt help then you have to also cut out wheat. OR if it becomes too much, then try formula.

Best of luck!