Daughter has "spells" with reflux

Re: Daughter has "spells" with reflux

• JuliaJAG

  April 2012

  I hope you'll get some good replies, because we're going through this too, except that my son has these spells even with BM (defrosted/previously frozen). He's only taking a teaspoon of formula per day so far as fortifier (mixed in with BM). I'm worried about if/when he has to switch to formula (my supply has tanked and I'm desperately trying to relactate before I run out of frozen). My son is in HORRIFIC pain every night after feedings and I know this level of sheer pain can't be normal.

  In your case, since she didn't do this while on BM, I would get donor milk if at all possible. I remember your mentioning supply issues but don't remember details... would it be feasible to try to re-lactate and bring back enough of a supply to feed her or at least partially feed her with BM? I personally wouldn't switch to soy except as a very last resort, but if the Enfamil is the only preemie formula you've tried, I would talk to her ped about possibly trying a different one to see if it's any better.  

  Julia ~ six miscarriages ~ our sweet miracle baby, Jack, due 5/3/12, was born at 29w1d on February 17, 2012, weighing 2 pounds 8 ounces

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• snoangel79 member

  April 2012

  I wish I could Relactate but my supply was pretty bad to begin with and if I pump now I get 10ml each breast. I was trying to pump for my daughter's hernia surgery this Thur. I put them to breast sometimes to quiet them down while bottle is heating (they probably get enough to tide them over). Also right now I'm treating a horrid case of thrush in my breasts and both my kids mouths. I had to throw out that little supply I had for her surgery because it was contaminated >:

  Twins born at 34w2d, Allison, 3lb,4oz-Ethan, 4lb7oz, both 16 1/2 inches. Out of Difficulties Grow Miracles

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• adrielegorburu member

  April 2012

  milk comming up into her nose and arching and crying are all signs of reflux - its so commom with preemies. I'd talk to your doctor about it. It sounds like classic reflux to me! DD has suffered from bad reflux since the NICU and there are a lot of things you can do to help out. Feed sitting or semi sitting, keep baby sitting or semi sitting for 20 or so minutes after the feed, incline sleeping areas, add rice cereal to the bottles (with pedi ok of course), and if nothing else works medications can really help.  I really didnt want to medicate DD because she came home from the NICU without any major medications but once the reflux got so bad that I finally agreed to medicate - She was a completely different baby and I had no idea how much she was suffering until then. I felt terrible I didnt medicate her sooner. GL

  

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• paige0328 member

  April 2012

  I also think that these sound like reflux symptoms. DD started on Zantac, but it didn't cut it... stopped working after a couple of weeks. We are on Prevacid solutabs now, and it's so much better. She'll still spit up (and come out of her nose), but she doesn't scream and cry in pain. I'd ask about the possibility of switching meds, or increasing the Zantac (which is sensitive to weight gain).

  Hope you can figure it out, good luck! 

  

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• rednelson member

  April 2012

  My son had this for quite some time.  He would wake up in the middle of the night and I would hear him gag, then start screaming and then quiet.  By the time I would get to him he was usually kind of foamy at the mouth, milk coming out his nose and gasping for air-super scary! It started after we came home from the NICU.  He gets two bottles of formula per day and the rest breast milk.  I would happen after either, usually an hour or two after feeding.  I was pretty opposed to starting him on any prescription med (although if had gotten bad enough I know I would have eventually).  Instead, i have him upright for 30 minutes after feeding, pace his feedings so he doesn't just pound the bottle when he has formula, his bed is at an incline and I try pretty much every position possible until we get a good burp out. I would always keep a bulb syringe handy to suction out both his nose and mouth when it would happen, and he always would start breathing again (don't think he ever actually stoped breathing, just more of a gasping).  The nurse practitioner at our pulmonologist office recommended we try Biogaia (otc at walgreens) which seems to have helped.  Either that, or he has outgrown it (now that he's 6.5 mo actual 4 mo adjusted). I don't think its anything that an apnea monitor would help with, since you say you're always awake for it. I'm sorry you're having to deal with this, it can be very frightening. 

  

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• mcarter127 member

  April 2012

  I could have written this post a little over 2 yrs ago! My DS started having symptoms as soon as we came home from the NICU & his symptoms increased a ton as he started eating more. He just could not handle any kind of volume in his tummy! He was on FBM when it started & was switched to different formulas a bunch of times. He definitely had severe reflux & it was exacerbated by a milk allergy as well. 

  Definitely talk to your pedi. DS had some acid reflux but his main issue was handling volume & the meds won't do anything for that. DS would actually completely stop breathing & turn blue & we'd have to stimulate him to get him breathing again. At around 4 mos old (actual) these episodes became so frequent & severe that we were put into the hospital. He had to have an NG tube for quite a while & we came home with an apnea monitor as well. As he got closer to a year things got better & they also figured out his milk allergy & got him on appropriate formula. 

  I would not switch formulas without talking to your pedi.

  Does she have any other symptoms of an allergy/intolerance? Formula does take longer to move through their system than BM, so it might be worth trying VERY small, frequent feedings & see if the episodes decrease.

  Good luck, I know how scary it is! DS slept on my chest forever! 

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