Baby gaining less than average weight.

[buttonbaby]

Hi laura,
Just reading through the section on reflux in “the babywhisperer solves all your problems” and while he doesn’t present many of the symptoms there are something I could relate to in addition to the things you mentioned (feed drop all ofa  sudden, cough)…when he is really upset (does happen every day),  we need to hold him upright, also it says the more tense a baby is, the more likely ti is a spasm will occur which pushes acid up, kept saying to my parents that he feeds better when relaxed..the cluster and dreamfeed when he is sleepy (completely asleep on dream feed) are his best feeds and the ones where he might take a little more!


Also he answers yes to 3 of the questions which point to a higher chance of reflux…premature (only 10 days but test suggested 5 week), low birth weight, and jaundiced.
It may not be the case he has reflux but definitely worth asking and explaining all his symptoms…..thansk for all you knowledge!

[buttonbaby]

Hi there,
Lolly thank you so much for your insight on reflux, went back to GP today due to cough and even less feeds…Doc sent me straight to hospital, DS had gained 4 oz but tis not due to increased intake..prob due to the hig calorie formula, the doc think he has silent reflux and they said the first step is to put infant gaviscon in his bottle and he is back in Tuesday to review feeds and weight, feel relieved that they are now looking for reasons for his drop in feeds and treating them.
Thanks to you all for your advice and support 

[Lolly]

I'm glad they are looking into it further - not glad it's reflux but at least that is managable! I have been dealing with reflux for over 4 years now, and it does get better.

Both my kids had infant gaviscon and it's generally the first step. Some babies are ok on it but they usually have mild reflux, for most it's not enough. Infant gaviscon isn't like the adult stuff, it doesn't reduce or control the acid at all it seperates in the stomach to form a "raft" to stop the stomach contents being refluxed up. The main thing to be aware of with infant gaviscon is that it turns poo to play doh and most babies get constipated on it so you may need to give a bit of extra cooled boiled water between feeds. You will need faster teats and it may be tricky to get it to dissolve properly in the ready mixed formula.

Laura

[buttonbaby]

Oh thanks lolly..didnt know any of that! DS is on teat 2 on the DR Brown bottles...think the next one up would be too fast?

[Lolly]

You'll have to try and see - it really depends on how thick the formula is to start and how thick the gaviscon makes it.

Laura

[buttonbaby]

Laura..thansk for answering all my q's, ahve another...since adding gaviscon, DS seems to be drinkning really slowly, for much longer than he idid but when I check, very little is gone...I presume then he does need a faster teat?

[Lolly]

Yes! Also watch out because the gaviscon actually clumps and blocks the teats. Dr Brown's do a Y cut teat for thickened liquids so that actually may be what you need. I would get a pack of the no 3 and a pack of Y cut and see what works best.

Laura

[buttonbaby]

Thanks so so much!

[buttonbaby]

Hi again,
No major progress today but he only started on the gaviscon y/day. The y/cut was still slow but the level 3 was better..still a bit slow!
I have been googling signs of silent relux and there were so many he had apart fromt eh ones I spok of (drop in intake, persistent cough,)

•   gagging
•   gulping with a painful look on the face (I ad often commented on this but thought it was wind)
•   DP has mentioned his breath
•    sudden burst of painful crying
•   back arching during or after feeding
•   excessive fussiness, crying
•   I didn’t think he had very frequent hiccups but DP does.

Also read this as a symptom: Occasionally infants can be seen to hold their head to one side in an unusual position to ease their discomfort (called Sandifer’s Syndrome)….I ahd asked the phn and doc about DS doing that.

And Sometimes you may hear the baby reflux, or see them swallow repeatedly, and see no evidence of it….have seen ds look like his si swallowing something when not drinking!

Also its weird I forgot but we noticed from day 1 we had elevated his mattress as noticed he slept better like that.

I hope we have solved the prob and if gaviscon doesn’t work that the next step will…but at least as I said I am happy theya re now looking for possible casues of his drop in food intake!

[buttonbaby]

Ds just took 4 oz!!!!!!!

[Lolly]

Yeah! Well done! Let's hope it continues!!

Laura

[buttonbaby]

I know it may be a one off but its the first time in over a week he ahs taken more! Def getting a lil easier but he is still gagging on bottle usually soon into it and up to now was still only taking the oz..maybe 2 sometimes which in itself was pregress!!

[buttonbaby]

*Progress!

[buttonbaby]

Well think that was a one off for today anyway…at the next feed he took a tiny amount and kept gagging and then got really upset and seemed very uncomfortable and in apain for ages, then when he calmed ages later he took an 0z and again seemed very much uncomfortable and in pain…poor lil thing!
Laura…I know Gaviscon didn’t work for your two but know you did use it initially, what was your experience with it? I feel Ds is slightly better with it but very slightly.

[Lolly]

It did help a bit, but both my two needed more really. The thing with the gaviscon is it causes constipation and constipation makes reflux worse . With DS we had him on the gaviscon for a few months and I should have got something else sorted sooner but he was the first and we just didn't really realise. DD was only on it for a couple of weeks, I got her onto the reflux formula that DS had been on and got her into the pead a lot quicker. She wouldn't have had gaviscon at all, but my Dr would only prescribe that, they wouldn't even give us the formula without the pead's say so.

Some babies manage well on just gaviscon, it depends on how bad they are really.

Laura