Reflux Woes

sarahmarie2

I'm new to this board and hoping it's the right place for this question.

DS is 3 and a half weeks old. I was unfamiliar with attachment parenting to begin, but we have been bed sharing and as a result of researching that I've come across more information about AP and feel like it's pretty much in tune with how I've been and plan on parenting.

We just found out that the reason DS is so miserable is because he's got GERD. I'm so sad for my baby being in discomfort and I'm hoping the medicine kicks in soon. My fear is that he's going to trust me less because I can't immediately solve this problem. When he's crying I do what I can to soothe him, but it's pretty constant. I know it will get better, but have any mamas gone through this? Was your bond with your baby strained? Did they still feel comforted by you when the reflux mess was under control?

Thanks, all.

Emerald27

Your baby knows how much you love him, and your snuggles are such a great comfort, even if they can't stop the pain from his reflux.

Even if he's crying, skin to skin contact and snuggling him close will help him through it, and he'll know you're always there, even though there are some things that mommy cannot fix.

Another great way to comfort, soothe and bond with baby is to take a warm bath together.

If you keep him close, even and especially when his discomfort is at his worst, he will bond closely with you and trust you completely! I think issues of trust and detachment arise more often when parents say; "He cries no matter what I do. It doesn't matter if I'm holding him or not, so I just let him cry in his crib." It does make a difference: colicy babies who are held despite their crying have lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels than colicy babies whose parents have given up and leave them alone to cry.

ncbelle

Are you breastfeeding?  If so, have you ruled out overactive letdown and dairy/soy intolerance?  Both are pretty common (more common than true reflux) and mimic the symptoms of reflux - just something to consider

If you are doing what you can to comfort your baby, your baby will know!  It's not going to affect your bond.

sarahmarie2

Thank you, @emerald27!

@Ncbelle, I am breastfeeding. I hadn't considered a dairy allergy until today. I'm going to cut out dairy and see if it helps, but when I called the pedi to ask about it she said it's a lot less likely and that we should wait and see how the medicine works.

ncbelle

I'm definitely a believer in modern medicine , but many docs are quick to jump to meds for reflux without ruling out other likely causes.  If you read the medical literature, there's actually not great support for the use of reflux meds in young babies - oversimplifying here but studies tend to suggest that few babies have true reflux (all babies have some due to immature digestive systems) and that frequently the meds do little if anything.  

I've known many babies - my own included - who had a huge change when mama changed her diet or corrected an oversupply.  If those things have been addressed and baby is clearly experiencing pain and/or weight gain issues, than obviously it may be time to consider meds.  

Good luck!

Oh and if you do cut dairy, you have to make sure you cut ALL of it (including hidden) and give it at least 2 weeks - 3-4 is better - before deciding if it is making a difference.

Emerald27

To reiterate what @ncbelle is saying, oftentimes there's an underlying cause behind infant reflux, such as a sensitivity to a food in mama's diet (most commonly dairy, gluten, or corn).

The point ncbelle is trying to make is: why just treat the symptoms when you can eliminate the cause?

Medication may make his symptoms less severe (or get rid of them), but it won't change the fact that his body at this point is naturally sensitive to or has trouble processing certain foods.

Just something to keep in mind. Not trying to contradict your doctor. If you would like some tips on how to eliminate/reintroduce things from your diet to test and see if that is what causes baby's reflux, send me a PM.

TiffanyBerry

DD had reflux.  I'm fairly certain it's from my oversupply, though I didn't realize this until long after she was off meds.

Even if you can't stop the pain, he will know he is being comforted, and that WILL help.  If you break your leg, hugging your husband isn't going to make the leg feel any different, but it will make YOU feel better, and that's what your presence is all about for your LO. 

=Lee=B

I just want to chime in, as others have said, cut all dairy and wait to see.  It took over 4 weeks for my daughter to show improvements but after that they were drastic improvements.  It was discouraging those first many weeks were the changes were minor to none and I was deprived of all my usual favorite foods but then once the built up dairy cleared our systems she was so much better.

Also, it seems huge and daunting at first but you quickly get used to being dairy free and it isn't hard to eat at all.

 

=Lee=B

I agree with the last poster.  Reflux is over diagnosed...some docs just hand out the meds at the first mention of symptoms by parents.  But, some babies need it.  My doctor was a slow to diagnose...check out other possibilities first kind of doctor (which I appreciate).  We first tackled the milk intolerance...which my daughter also has.  After the milk was taken care of she still had reflux that was interfering with her quality of life and feedings.  We did give zantac from about 2-7months.  She outgrew the dose every 2-3 weeks and her symptoms would return and she would resume her screaming in pain and projectile vomiting out the mouth and nose and all the classic symptoms. Each new dose would ease the symptoms. 

The main thing is trying to tackle the cause of reflux...trying to deal with it med free...then using the meds as a last resort.  A good doctor will also try to have you wean the baby off the meds after 6 months and if the baby fails the weaning then will try again every few months.

I have a friend whose baby "has reflux" and was quickly put on the same meds yet his dose was changed once over the course of 6 months (Zantac doesn't work this way as it's weight based).  I don't believe he needed the meds as he never showed the symptoms aside from spitting up.  But he was formula fed and was given 36 ounces a day when the norm for his age was like 20-30ounces.  He was given more and more formula at each feed because he was throwing it up after each feed.  To me that was a huge failure on the doctors part.  A baby naturally throws up when overfed and any doctor should be wise enough to have a mom try smaller feeds more often before meds.

Needless to say...as many wise mom's here have said look at your let down, a milk intolerance and other causes but some babies do indeed have reflux.  Don't feel bad if you need to use the meds.  It was hard for me/my husband to give the meds at first.  But we did try everything natural before the meds and babe was really in pain and was losing weight and refusing to feed.  It was affecting her quality of life.  On the meds she return to her laid back, easy going smiley self.  Off the meds she was in pain and was no longer herself.

Also...if meds are needed don't be afraid to insist on trying a different type of med if your baby reacts to one.  When the specialist switched us from zantac to Prevacid at about 5months of age my daughter stopped smiling, became a zombie that didn't respond to us anymore.  I took her off it on day 3 and refused to try it again.  I insisted she go back on Zantac despite it having to be readjusted every couple weeks as she gained weight.  The doctor listened and was fine with it but he did note that most mom's want the prevacid instead of Zantac since prevacid is easier and doesn't require so many doctor visits for adjustments.  There are numerous other medications out there that can be used if your baby doesn't respond well...some doctors need prodding since they tend to go with the zantac or prevacid since they are most common.  Do some research and watch how your baby responds both symptom wise and just behavior wise. 

My daughter failed the weaning at 6months but at about 7.5 months I tried again and she was fine to go down to one dose a day for awhile then no more doses.  My daughter was 5 weeks premature so as far as I can tell her little body just needed more time to mature the meds helped her quality of life until her body was mature enough to function without the meds.  She failed (miserably) when I last tried some dairy.  I believe we are a long ways off from clearing that intolerance but I still hold out hope that by age 2 she will have outgrown it :-)

My daughter is and always has been a cuddly, touchy feely baby.  Even when she was at her worst symptom wise body contact was a blessing for her.  As others have said your baby will feel your love despite the pain they may be in...just keep on loving, hugging, kissing and holding your babe!

sarahmarie2

Thank you, everyone! I'm going to try cutting out dairy and I'm going to return to our LC to see if an overactive letdown could be the cause.

As for the meds, we were prescribed famitodine. I've filled the prescription, but I'm thinking we'll hold off on trying it until we try the alternatives.

I'm also feeling much better about my bond with LO. I'm clearly still overly emotional, and it's just so hard to see him in pain. Thank you so much for your reassurance!

Emerald27

@sarahmarie2 Here's some info on overactive/forceful letdown, so you can see if you think this might be a challenge you're encountering:

https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/fast-letdown/

sarahmarie2

Thanks @emerald27 -- I also PM'd you like you had suggested earlier.

Emerald27

@sarahmarie2 back atcha!