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question for moms regarding reflux
So after a very long and difficult week, we determined on Friday that it seems that Kevin has some acid reflux. The doctor does not think its extremely bad because he is gaining weight wonderfully and he doesn't seem to be in pain when he spits up. She is open to putting him on zantec but we wanted to try a few things out first before going that route.
However, it seems that the majority of the reflux issues happen after we give him a bottle of breastmilk. I am pumping rather than nursing, but we are also supplementing 1 or 2 bottles at night with formula b/c I am not producing enough to solely give him breast milk. We do not have the issues with reflux at night when we give him formula, which I really don't understand.
We did do an experiment today and gave him all formula today and although he did seem to be better, he spit up a little bit more than on the breastmilk. At this point, I don't really know what to do. I have no clue what I could be eating that could be making his reflux even worse. I feel like everything I would need to cut out is basically everything I eat and honestly I don't eat very much b/c I don't feel like I have the time or the energy.
WWYD? Should I try new bottles and see if that helps, try changing my diet or just switch to formula?
Re: question for moms regarding reflux
A had reflux...so I'm your girl.
I don't know much about breastmilk vs. formula when it comes to reflux issues becasue A was strictly formula fed. I feel like since breastmilk is best, you should do everything you can to keep him on it and only switch over to 100% formula if the reflux isn't improving and bothering him too much.
Have you seen a Pediatric GI yet? If you haven't, that should be your next step. I found that he has a lot more tips and advice for us then her Pedi did. I don't think it has a whole lot to do with your diet either. Also, wasn't he premature? This may get better in the upcoming weeks too as his digestive system matures a bit. You may not have long-term reflux issues.
What we did with A: After switching her formula several times, we settled on Similac Alimetum. Her reflux seemed better once we switched her to this formula and that, coupled with prevacid and rice cereal in her bottles she was fine.
Lisa---yes Kevin was premature by almost 4 weeks so hopefully it will get better with time. Its just painful for me to see him in pain and I am trying to do whatever I can think of to make him feel better.
Holler-when you cut out dairy what did you cut out exactly? Was it just milk and cheese or was it other things made with those ingredients as well?
Also, is there any specific bottle you ladies feel helps reduce any gas/acid reflux?
I cut out milk, cheese, ice cream etc. I still have chocolate, butter and small stuff like that. But I was drinking a TON of milk. I had gestational diabetes and was just so happy to be able to drink it after giving birth but now I can't.
I use the Dr. Brown's bottles with her. It slows down the flow a lot and I love how it vents the air.
I feel so bad when it is bothering her, especially when she shoots it out her nose. It must burn like hell.
M has reflux. She went on the generic of Zantac. It worked like a charm. She is formula fed so i can't help with the breast feeding part but i think the dairy suggestions are good because the pedi said not to give M dairy products until we wean her off the zantac (she is also on Nutramigen for a milk protein allergy).
We tried to wean her off at 4 months and it was HORRIBLE. She hated it and was a baby I had never seen before. We put her right back on it and it was amazig the difference. At her 6 month the pedi suggested weaning her off again and we have been doing it in our own way...small amounts less every week. Seems to be working.
No caffeine still (maybe I will have it once every two weeks if that). I still eat stuff with sauce and have citrus. I still avoid the gassy veggies (broccoli, cucumber, onions, garlic etc).
This. My nephew had reflux and they switched him to alimentum and he was fine after that.
You can try cutting different things out for a few days and see what effect it has. But more even than what you're eating, I wonder if it has something to do with the fact that the formula is thicker than the breast milk. I don't know for sure but it seems to me like it would be. The thinner liquid would more easily slide back up into the esophagus and cause reflux symptoms. Maybe you can try some rice cereal in the bottle to thicken it- ask your pedi for the right ratio of cereal to milk.
K had very mild reflux for the first 8 weeks or so. Never on any meds, didn't seem to be in pain, just spitting up a lot and clearing her throat a lot at night. She is EBF and I never changed anything that I was eating- but also am conservative with the foods that can be problematic. We gave her a few sips of water with rice cereal after her feedings and it seemed to help her a lot. I think her digestive system just needed to mature a little because for about the last month she hasn't seemed to have any issues at all.