Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

DS2 is 6 weeks old and EBF. About a week ago, he was diagnosed with reflux and put on generic Zantac 3x per day. For the first several days, he seemed better. He was back to nursing longer and although he still spit up a lot, he seemed more comfortable.

The last few days, he started screaming/crying again during feedings. He'll nurse for 8-10 minutes on the first side, usually without any issues. Before the reflux started, he was nursing for at least 15 minutes on the first side. Once he pulls away, I burp him. Sometimes he burps and he almost always spits up at least a few times. Then, he roots again. I put him on the second side where he generally gets fussy. He'll nurse very briefly and then start screaming/crying and pull off. I burp him as he continues to spit up more. He cries again and starts to root. We go through a cycle of nursing for a short time, crying and pulling off, burping and spitting up and then crying to eat more. By the end of the feeding, the burp cloth is usually soaked from the spit up. Feedings are taking much longer and DS seems uncomfortable again. This happens with most feedings, especially the ones during late afternoon and evening.

Is this normal? Do I need to speak to the pediatrician about medications other than Zantac?

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

My DS2 is entirely FF, but has/had the same issues. It did get better w/ time (around 4 months or so). We took him to a GI dr. who said reflux is at its worst months 3-4. We upped the medicine and didn't see a change, so, for him, I think time was the answer. He still takes lots of little meals even at almost 5 months, instead of taking an entire bottle at once. He spits up, but not the extent that it was before (I can relate--we would all be soaked, and it came out of his nose!). Hang in there!

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

It took a good 5 days on Zantac for us to see a difference. If it doesnt' get better have the ped change the perscription.. All meds don't work for all babies!!
good luck

Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

Zantac doesn't work for all babies, he might need prevacid. GL!

Message edited 8/22/2012 12:21:27 PM.

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

zantac and axid are in the same class. Ask for axid next.

If that doesn't work, you might have to go up a step to prevacid or prilosec.

But no.. the medicine should stop him from being in pain so if it's been a week on the zantac and it doesn't seem to help, i'd try something else.

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

My DS was the same way and they diagnosed him with reflux. We decided against medicine and to burp him a lot, keep him elevated etc. Turns out that the signs of a milk allergy are very similar. We found out at 9 weeks he didn't have reflux at all (once we got the milk allergy cleared up). If your DC isn't getting better, bring a diaper to the Ped and ask them to check it. It took 2 times to the Ped with 2 different diapers before he was found to be allergic. Good Luck, I hope the medicine works!

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

Could be a milk allergy. My DS was diagnosed with reflux at 3 weeks old. Zantac and Prevacid weren't working. The symptoms of a milk allergy are very similar to reflux. If I were you I would have him tested at a GI for milk intollerance. He may need to be switched to a non-dairy formula or if your BFing, you may need to change your diet.

Re: Reflux Moms: Crying/Screaming during and after feedings?

DD has silent reflux along with a milk protein allergy. She has been on Axid since 5-6 weeks (currently 10 weeks), and has been on Nutramigen for a little over a week. She is still screaming during some bottles, and it can take an hour to feed her 4 oz (she eats about every 4 hours). Our next step is to switch to Prevacid. Good luck!