reflux moms (esp if you had a MSPI baby too)

eclaires

Did you ever thicken feeds?  We did not with Jackson, but Scarlett, even though medicated and rather unbothered by her spit up, is really struggling to keep bottles down.  It's not projectile (so I don't think it's pyloric stenosis), but I'm wondering if we should try thickening her bottles..

My question is whether we should try cereal in the bottle w/ y-cut nipples or if we should use something like simply thick since she definitely has a milk protein issue.

thanks, y'all.

DaiLyght

DS1 had reflux and we struggled for a couple of months. Once we switched to a thickened formula (with rice starch) it made a big difference. He still refluxed, but it was much less and he was holding down a lot more. IMO it's a good choice for reflux babies.

eclaires

Dai - I would try Enfamil AR with her, but right now she is on Similac Alimentum (hypoallergenic), so I guess we need to add something to the hypo formula.  I'm trying to google to find out if trying rice cereal in the bottle w/ her Alimentum will aggravate her MSPI.  Although, I'm not 100% sure she's soy sensitive - we went straight to hypoallergenic from regular formula.

We tried to thicken w/ Jackson but it was pre-being medicated and hypo formula and it just aggravated his allergy issues.  Then once we medicated and went to hypoallergenic formula his spit up was still frequent but not quite as bad.  Scarlett even sleeps elevated or on her tummy and she still spits up tons after that.  I'm just wondering if we thicken it it will help her because her sleep is pretty sh*tastic right now, which in turn makes her miserable and tired.

JenniC1135

We thickened Alex's and it made NO difference, except that his spit up was chunkier.  Adam was EBF - no way to thicken that.

 Could you try smaller, more frequent feeds?  Maybe it's just too much for her belly to hold at whatever ounces she's getting - cut it by 1 or 2 and see if it still happens.

DaiLyght

Yep, I don't have any experience with milk allergy thing, so that's why I didn't get too much into specifics. For us, it was just a matter of switching formula. In the research I did, the good thing about it being in the formula was that it didn't require the Y-cut nipples (although we did have to move up a size anyway). I know that some people do add regular rice cereal to thicken, but it's harder to dissolve and again, needs the Y-cut. We tried the medication route for him too and it didn't work at all. For us, the best thing was Dr Brown's bottles and the AR formula. That was in addition to all the other things we were already doing: frequent burping, holding him upright (on our shoulder) for at least 30 minutes after every feeding, not sleeping/playing on his tummy (he would scream). I considered it a good day when I didn't have to change my clothes more than twice.

The funny thing is that we were so used to all that, when DS2 came along and did the "normal" baby spit-ups, DH and I would just laugh. It was a HUGE difference from the child who would launch twice the volume he just consumed.

It sucks and it's hard, you obviously know already, but it gets better, I promise. If I recall, I read that about 3 months old is the "peak" for reflux. Depending on the severity of it, is how fast they get better from there. I don't remember exactly, but I think for DS1 he stopped puking daily by the time he was about.....10-12 months maybe??

docmay25

My dd didn't have a milk allergy, so I don't have experience with that.  But she was a puker.  As soon as she drank the bottle, it would all come up. We never found a reason for it, but changed her formula 4 times.  My BIl who is a pedi. suggested the Enfamil AR and that was the one that worked.  It was the only one that she could keep down. 

My ds was a puker too and changing to soy formula worked for him.  It is so hard.  I had to feed dd very slowly.  We would feed an ounce , then burp and do this for every ounce until she finished.  Couldn't move her for the first half hour after eating.  Anything little thing woudl make her throw up.

eclaires

It looks like if we use a thickening gel (simply thick) we could avoid y-cut nipples... maybe we'll try that.  I do think trying to thicken her feeds might make a difference.  Worth a shot at least.

We already do smaller feedings, frequent burpings, keeping her elevated, but it seems like no matter what she barfs her face off when we put her down - even if it's 1hr + after eating.  

If I didn't already know that we couldn't have more kids, I'd be on the stopping at 2 bandwagon - I can't handle another reflux baby!    I swear I have PTSD.

joy143dh

DS was on Nutramigen, thickened with rice cereal, in Dr Browns.  We didn't use the Ycut, just the highest number worked fine.  He was also on a liquid baby prilosec (I forget the name).  All of those combined, his reflux got better with time.  Then again, it may have not been all of those things - it may have just gotten better over time. 

mamarazzi

We didn't thicken feeds with either of the boys.  Once medicated, they were "happy spitters" and were gaining weight as they should, so we didn't worry about it.

Sorry you're still having issues.    Poor S!

luvjon

I tried it, but it didn't help.  He just choked on the liquid and it still flowed too quick.  I tried the Y nipple and just widening the nipple. 

StarryNight39

We had to thicken Drew's with cereal. Even on the Neocate and Prevacid he was still having a hard time. If she has a milk issue just make sure you do not use Gerber Rice Cereal, it has milk in it. We learned the hard way with Drew. BeechNut & Earth's Best are both safe and milk free