Possetting 3.5month old

[Alou78]

Hi - I'm new to the boards and have already found so much useful advice to help me with my 3.5 month old.

My DD has reflux (which is being treated with an antacid). She can posset a fair amount after some of her feeds. The formula she is currently on is quite thin in consistency. Has anyone found that a thicker formula helps to reduce the amount their child possets if they have the same problem as my DD. My Health Visitor is so unhelpful and I don't really know who else to turn to for advice!

Thanks in advance

[Lolly]

Thickening definitly helps! What formula is she on now? If it's a normal cows milk based formula you could consider changing to a reflux formula. My two are both refluxers and had a combination of ranitadine and Enfamil AR. Reflux formulas are either thicker in the bottle or (like the one we used) thicken in the stomach, they are available on prescription or can be bought from a pharmacy. SMA do one called staydown. We had great success with the formula, my two did well on it and DD still has one bottle a day at bedtime.

If she is on a hypoallergenic or soy formla there are thickeners available - again on prescription or you can buy them in a pharmacy (may need to be ordered in and the formulas will), carobel is one that's available in the UK. These you add to the bottle to make a consistency that suits your LO. With the formulas and thickeners you will need a fster flow teat.

Many reflux babies in the UK (I'm assuming you are UK!) start with infant gaviscon which is a stomach stabiliser which also works as a feed thickener.

What medication is she on now, how heavy is she and what dose is she on?

HTH!

Laura

[Alou78]

Thank you so much for your reply Laura. It is good to get advice from someone who has obviously been through a similar experience with regard to reflux.

DD is nearly 15 weeks but it took us at least 10 weeks to get to the bottom of the reflux. I was told it was just gas/colic. Even now my health visitor has dismissed it as 'only being reflux' and 'most babies get it'. That's quite hard to accept when your LO is screaming at you during and after her feeds.

DD is on now ranitadine (3x1ml daily). Initially she was put on Gaviscon but it caused her to be constipated which added to her discomfort. She was then switched to ranitadine which seems to be helping. Milkwise, she was put on Aptamil Comfort at week 3 due to colic and eczema. When we started Gavison, she was switched to Cow and Gate Pepti Junior instead which is much thinner than Aptamil Comfort and that is when the possetting got worse.

After reading your message, I contacted my health visitor yesterday re: possetting and she has told me to put her back onto Aptamil Comfort and stick with the ranitadine. Fingers crossed the possetting will reduce.

Alison