If your baby had reflux please tell me about it

smurfetteinred

What were his/ her symptoms? How did your doctor decide that's what it was and what did you end up doing (if anything) about it.

I've changed my opinion from the other night about what's up with Ariel and I'm starting to suspect that it's reflux. I feel like this is a different baby from a few days ago. She's unhappy like 75% of the time that she's been awake today and she just looks so miserable that it's making me want to cry. She doesn't arch her back or neck but a lot of other symptoms that I've read online seem to be her. She's been nursing today but she's definitely not eating as much as she was a couple of days ago. And I plan to call her pedi in the morning. 

Brosis

The "Baby 411" book has a lot of good info on reflux, along with a symptom checklist.  Typical symptoms incl:  spitting up, refusing feedings when hungry, difficulty gaining weight, crying during or after feedings, hiccups, etc.  According to the authors, reflux is usually diagnosed by symptoms, so your Pedi should have a good idea whether baby is suffering from this based on your report.  The good news is that there are plenty of treatments available such as medications or special positioning after mealtimes to reduce pressure on the tummy.  GL!

brianna611

If you want, I'll get you in touch with my sister.  Her one year old had awful reflux for.ever.  She should be an expert on it.  Maybe that will help?  Let me know and I'll get you her email, I'm sure she'd be happy to talk to you about it.

jennterrell

• inconsolable crying for up to 2 hrs at a time (i was able to link the worst episodes to foods i'd eaten)
• general fussiness
• not sleeping for long periods
• wanting to nurse a few minutes after finishing a nursing session, but then pulling on/off
• wanting to nurse intermittenly for extended periods
• improvement in symptoms with positional changes (better when held vertical or at an incline for extended periods)
• crying shortly after a nursing session
• sour smell (not sweet milk smell)
  

After a few weeks of dealing with escalating symptoms, we made an appt, thinking they would tell us he just had colic and was a fussy baby. But the Doc asked us a lot of questions about behaviors, and diagnosed based on that. He prescribed an Rx and within 1-2 weeks we saw gradual to major improvement. We kept up with the meds until about 7 mos and weaned him off. We didn't notice any big change for the worse, so we have just kept him off, but I do think that it still flares up once in a blue moon.

hamilton.ja

Bruce had nearly every symptom in the book and still we had to wait months for an appointment with a pediatrician to diagnose because my GP refused to prescribe anything other than some crap medication that made his symptoms worse... ok enough of that rant.

Cluster feeding, arching back/pulling away during feeds, spitting up more than 1 oz. at at ime, spitting up more than 2 hours after a feeding, spitting up bile, crying/fussing constantly, poor sleep habits, constant hiccups, constant burping, sour breath, audible back up in the throat.... 

He was on ranitidine (zantac) 3 times a day, he finally had a good dose when we had him on the highest allowable dose per his weight. When he gained a kilo we had to readjust his dose. He was on that from appr. 3 months to 15 months. Recently he's gone back on a medication for reflux, Prevacid solutabs, once a day. We're thinking at his 2 year appointment we'll request a consult with a ped. GI if the dr. doesn't suggest it, though I think he will considering we've already discussed it. 

 Some other things that really helped Bruce were getting a cot wedge to elevate him when he was sleeping. We also had a smaller one for his changing pad and buggy. Literally, he could not be flat on his back EVER. We also used his bouncy seat a lot, but made it so it couldn't bounce, and had a bean bag with an attachment that allowed you to strap an infant on to it - that was great, too. Keeping him upright for about 45 minutes after a feed was always good, he fussed less but didn't necessarily spit up less. Good luck!