Giving cooked boiled water to help constipation due to Gaviscon???

[cuckoochick]

So G was struggling with constipation from gaviscon. We stopped it and have had 2 horrific days so have had to start it up again. HV advised giving 1-2oz of cooled boiled water in between feeds. I thought this was a no-no when BFing.

Any thoughts on this? I'm going out of my mind from exhaustion and not knowing what to do.

Thanks

[*Ali*]

Yeah I know the recs are not to give water before 6mo when EBF but maybe it is different if they are struggling? Have you spoken to your GP?

What dose of gaviscon are you giving and how often? What about mixing that with water before the BF?

[creations]

I think gavi is mixed with a little water when bfing anyway isn't it?

I would recommend asking your GP for an immediate referral to a ped to get better reflux meds. IMO Gavi just isn't good enough and if it is causing constipation problems you can't continue long term with it (we used it as a short term measure whilst we waited for the ped appointment and it did help a little but not like proper reflux meds) so I'd push for the referral sooner rather than later.

[*Ali*]

We mixed it with an ounce of breast milk and gave in a bottle before the actual feed. It did help us with Colby but the reflux was very mild and he grew out of it and stopped spitting up by 3mo.

[creations]

Ah, right, yes.

[*Ali*]

But yeah I know it doesn't help many LOs with more serious reflux.

We had success using the minimum dose and skipping it for the night feeds.

[cuckoochick]

We've been giving it in water at the beginning of a feed but that's only 15ml via a syringe. We've not introduced a bottle yet so have that to contend with as she won't take a dummy either.

We're struggling today as after such a difficult night and the heat she's so tired she just keeps falling asleep and is taking the tiniest feeds and so is never filling properly and is then back on the breast again constantly.

[cuckoochick]

Meant to add thanks for your input. We are going to give the gaviscon another try because we stopped it but will try it again alongside giving some water.

[creations]

Maybe you can mix it in more water but continue to give via syringe?  I've done DS's steroids that way, in a little ramekin then keep syringing until it's all gone.
Have you tried doing half the gavi after the feed too?  It might help in providing a top layer to prevent milk coming up and could possibly mean a smaller dose could be used to keep off the constipation? Just a thought.

[cuckoochick]

Thanks hun. To be honest we've found it most easy to get her to accept it at the beginning but we could try it. Mid-feed was a disaster as per the instructions!

[Fiver]

Oh yuck, Gaviscon is truly horrid.  With the increased heat we've had recently she's going to feed a lot more at the moment.  Yes, that can be hard to keep on top of sometimes, but will do wonders for your supply!  Personally I'd be inclined to give more breastmilk rather than adding in water as that's just empty bulk to go into her tummy rather than the nutrition of the milk.

[cuckoochick]

Thanks Amanda,

I feel so lost off as to her cues. She's rooting and fussing for the breast constantly but I can't overfeed her right? Sometimes it's clearly for a quick drink, others comfort but I guess I'm worrying that today she just doesn't seem to be taking a proper feed, but just on off all the time. The heat doesn't help as she's dozing off (it's so warm I want to doze off when she's snuggled against me).

We were doing so well with her naps and feeds in the day but now I just feel lost and am over-analysing everything and to be honest driving myself mad. The hv came and asked me if I was enjoying BFing and sadly my answer was no. I just want to fast-forward these next few months to when things will be easier. How horrible is that though? I feel like a pretty rotten mum and wife right now. Been so snappy and moody with DH and C has seen me shed far too many tears the last few weeks.

[Fiver]

Big hugs.  It's so hard to gauge cues sometimes.  Theoretically, if she's full, she won't take the breast, but rooting can be tired and windy as well.

Add to that that there are so many growth spurts in the early days and the increased heat, you could easily drive yourself bonkers analysing it.  Go with your gut and trust yourself and your little peanut.

And I'm sure there are plenty of us around that would say exactly the same thing about the early days

[*Ali*]

Hugs Nicola. You can do it hun.

[cuckoochick]

Exactly. I feel like I'm spiralling into PPD though. I keep fantasising that formula feeding would solve all my problems because I'm feeling so so trapped and neglectful of C because G is so fussy and unsettled. She's been fussing on and off the breast for over an hour now. I haven't said goodnight to my big girl and I'm just

I don't want to feel like this and I want my baby to be content.