Hey Sara,
Did you take probiotics whilst breastfeeding or pregnant?
ok so the probiotic you have sounds great.
Probiotics do create some extra acid in the gut for the most sensitive babies, they do need to be started slower than recommended. These are babies that are very sensitive however.
It is not essential to give them on an empty stomach, even though it is optimal. I give all mine with meals and that has been ok'd by my naturopath and biomedical GP.
I have received alot of advice about probiotics and one circumstance that I have been given that indicates a baby should be taken off probiotics is if the practicioner suspects and overgrowth of the good bacteria - it is usually bifidobacteria as it colonises quite easily. But this is usually for mothers who have taken probiotics long term whilst pregnant and breastfeeding or else have an overgrowth of this themselves. My Kai has been on probiotics for around 12 months and he still has undergrowths of all the good species
(he had comprehensive digestive stool analysis done). I would say that for babies on reflux meds probiotics is a must because the lack of stomach acid means that the bad bacteria has more opportunity to enter and thrive in the gut without challenge. The stomach acid is the first line of defence against the bad guys.
I have been consulting a lady who is very specialised in the area of microbiology and the gut - and her niche is working with children who are only tolerating a handful of foods at 3,4 and 5 years old and also on reflux meds.
She gets their gut bacteria analysed and puts them through a course of treatment and diet to balance it all out and she gets these kids off meds 9 times out of 10. She was telling me that most reflux kids have massive overgrowths of bacteria in their lower bowel. She believes is it is consequence of no stomach acid. So really, you can't loose with being on probiotics.
Now if hubby has IBS then I would say his gut bactera is probably out of whack and his gut needs some work - these conditions are inherited by our children too. For me IBS is a symptom of a bacterial imbalance in the gut - perhaps even leaky gut or damaged gut lining.
If you look at the reflux as a symptom of a gut that is out of whack, then we are in a position to potentially heal the source of the issue. Of course with reflux there is an anatomical issue too. But if you are looking at a baby that suffers excees wind, bloating, abdominal pain, unsettledness, irritability, loose and profuse stools, or constipation, poosible food intolerances,we can assume there is more going on than just anatomical reflux issues. The gassiness gets created because food ferments and putrefies instead of getting digested properly. Bad bacteria produces alot of noxious gases as it multiplies and this creates a back pressure in the lower bowel - which in turn worsens the reflux.
Is he on wheat and dairy? I would take a long hard look at that... and try to cut out to see if it helps. That alone won't heal the gut, but will give it a break until it comes good.
I have found so many answers for Kai in pursuing doctors that treat the gut and are wholistic. There are people that can give advice on what to do about that in NZ I am pretty sure.... I might know where to find out, as there are some NZ people within my support network of people pursuing biomedical treatments.
Now don't get me started about immunisations. I have taken the decision that because Kai is immuno compromised - his gut is in need of some major healing, that he will not cope with the toxicity from further immunisations at this stage. So we are holding off until he is 2 and when his immune system is more developed and hopefully when his gut is starting to come good. If you want someone to listen to your concerns about this starting since immunisations, then it will need to be a wholistic Dr.
