Does this sound like silent reflux?

[cosmic]

Hello all. I'm sorry this is such a long post, but I'm really wanting some advice and figure it's better to give you all the information. You'll do well if you read it all. :)

As some of you know, my six week old baby has been having some feeding iss-ewes and I am trying to slowly eliminate all the possible causes. Today the GP prescribed Zantac for her, but I am very reluctant to give it to her, especially since I came home from the doc, put her on the breast and she had a lovely, contented feed with no fussing or crying at all.

I'm keen to know what others experience of silent reflux are, and if you have used Zantac.

Here's what's going on with my little cherub:

* Fussy getting onto the breast (sometimes fast let-down, sometimes just fussy.. perhaps not hungry?)
* Usually starts off a feed very tentatively.. nuzzling and licking my nipple, sometimes taking up to 5 minutes to get on. Other times the nuzzling and licking turns into crying and she doesn't even try to latch on. When this happens I know I'm in trouble because she gets herself frustrated and worked up. Then when she does try to latch on, she will take a couple of sucks and pull away crying.
* Then the whinging/crying escalates to screaming the more I attempt to feed her. She kicks her legs and full-on screams.
* Usually only feeds for 5 minutes at a time and has done since she was a week old. Then she unlatches and whinges about getting back on.
* Can be very wriggly and squirmy on the breast...usually toward the end of a feed.
* When she's being fussy she jumps on and off the breast. Acts hungry, but at the same time, acts as if doesn't want it.
* Has hiccups ALL the time. After every feed pretty much
* Has gained weight very slowly - though she is very healthy and happy in all other respects
* Sometimes during the day, she will cry in her sleep. I carry her in a hugabub and she will suddenly burst into tears, then it stops as soon as it started.

I know it doesn't sound bad, but essentially MOST feeds involve some level of whinging or crying (and occasionally screaming to the point of having to give up trying).

The reasons I think it might NOT be silent reflux are:

* It tends to be the same feed that will be more problematic and I'm wondering if maybe she just isn't hungry at that time. Is there a pattern with reflux babies or is it random or is it every feed? (for me, it is the "midday" feed that she cries the most).
* She sleeps like an angel either in her cot or in our bed all night and midnight feeds are fine
* Sleeps well in a hugabub all day, but if put in a rocker she will happily doze off on her own - no crying, but will only have short sleeps (typical baby).
* She very rarely cries, except when feeding.

So on the whole, she is a happy contented baby but feeding can be really ****. I'm probably making this sound less of a problem than it is because she just had a "good" feed and is now sleeping soundly. If I'd written this at about 1pm today I would have been at my wits end because it took ages to get her on the boob at lunch time.

Please tell me if any of this sounds like silent reflux.

And if so.. can you tell me if you had any side effects from Zantac? I just tasted it and its foul so that's one reason I don't want to give it to her, apart from the fact that it might not be necessary.

[Caitlin's Mum]

DS had reflux but was bottle fed. He pretty much fussed most feeds so I knew something was definitely up. We used Zantac for about 5 months and didn't have any side effects, it really helped.

DS was better during the night as well, not sure if they're just worn out from the day that they sleep better. I had the most trouble during the day and early evening. If you don't want to use the Zantac, you could try using infant Gaviscon. I'm not sure how this would work with breastfeeding though.

DS grew out of it by 6 months so there is light at the end of the tunnel.:)

[draught]

C
I don't know anything about reflux, silent or other, but another thought that occurred to me is cow's milk protein allergy - send MammaMia a PM as she knows a lot more about it and can put you onto some articles - and if it is this then you have the benefit of being able to treat it by changing your diet, not adding drugs to your baby.

I hope you find answers. If it is your diet in some way a friend of mine said the advice she was given was that when her baby was unsettled she should look back 12 hours to see what it was that she had eaten that could be the effect - so if A is having a good day today, repeat your diet from yesterday and see if the effect continues!

Sorry I can't be more help - would love to have some good answers for you!

[nemosmum]

Yep I agree with Theresa,

O had reflux AND he was allergic to the animal protein in the dairy I was consuming whilst bfing.

Its was very similar to what you described, he was very unsettled and cried alot BUT had his good days.

Did you go see a natropath/oestopath? Just curious:)

Are there allrgies in your family?eczema? maybe eliminate dairy from your diet and see if this helps, its worth a try:thumbsup:

:hugs: To you both, this is not fun I know Ive been there. Hang in though as it doesnt last forever and your bound to find a solution if you search hard enough!

sxx

[tickle]

Hi C:wave:
I think you've tried all the dietary changes around, haven't you? If you haven't I absolutely agree with the dairy.
With Oliver he just screamed constantly, especially after feeds and spewed A LOT. Zantac worked wonders with him and he grew out of it by about 8 months (thank goodness).
Amelia is a different story. She sleeps like a dream at night (sometimes right through) but was extremely unsettled through the day. Fussed continuously at the breast and did the pulling back and screaching thing. She also screamed when she spewed. She would never sleep during the day and if she did drop off she would wake up screaming after about 5 minutes. I eliminated numerous things from my diet and it made no difference. So I went to the dr who said the try Gaviscon first as it is not as 'safest' thing you can give to them. He also gave me a script for the Zantac 'just incase'. After we left the dr she seemed to be better for about 2 weeks (without medication), so I was very happy. But about 2 weeks ago she seemed to be even worse (don't ask me why). We started her on the gaviscon and had no change. Now after a week on the Zantac she has vastly improved. She is no longer fussing as much and will actually sleep during the day!:smiliedance:
I feel really terrible giving her the Zantac, she absolutely hates it. But I am just glad to have a happy baby 99% of the time rather than 50. Maybe you could try the Gaviscon first, it doesn't taste quite as bad as Zantac. The dr also said that Zantac is extremely safe but just tastes horrible.
Good luck with it. I will email you, promise.:o

[Milliner]

My DS had Zantac it didn't seem to do much no side affect but nothing changed. He seemed to get over it in his own time!!

[skyejax]

my daughter had silent reflux and we used zantac. she would basically b whiny all day and would let out these short squeels and would only cat nap unless inclined in pram or swing even then she would fidget about in her sleep. she also wasnt gaining as much weight as she should hav been. she also seemed to struggle and fight when being fed. as a result my clinic sister told me to go see a peadiatrician cause she suspected silent reflux. when i did he checked her over thouroughly and when he listened to her digestrive sounds he said yep definately silent reflux and gave me the tabs. she was on them from 8weeks till 6mths and it was great. of course its not a miricle cure she still had some grumbly times but all in all she was happier for it and she SLEPT!!!!!:smiliedance:

[kirrie]

my experience is that my ds is great in the mornings and no problems with feeding and gradually through the day gets more whiny until night feed he is screaming whilst trying to latch on. eventually he would latch on but be very tentative as if he was scared of the pain.:banghead:
so on zantac all the feeds are calm and he just sucks away :smiliedance:

[Tisme]

At the moment Declan is on a high dose of Acimax (Zantac alternative) He hated getting it at first to the point that at 4 weeks after a week of getting it he would start screaming as soon as I got out the medicine syringe.

Now at 4.5 mths he coos at me as I walk in with it and opens up wide. Yes it tastes horrible but he knows what is good for him.

I was told (don't shoot me it's only hearsay) that SILENT reflux is when the child's stomache releases the acid into the oesophagus (sp?) and the back of the nose/mouth causing extreme pain and discomfort, and REFLUX is that the stomach releases the acid causing an upchuck reflex. Therefore it's called silent because except for a HORRIBLE acidic smell off the breath their is now Outward sign anything is wrong other than a MISERABLE baby.

When considering the medication over non-medication I had to work out what the meds actually does. I suffer from severe heartburn myself and could imagine the pain but still was erring on the side of cautious. The meds reduce the acidity of the stomache juices NOT stop them from rising .... that was my biggest misconception. To keep the fluid down you need a feed thickner, and unless there is something I don't know about I don't think you can thicken breast milk DURING a feed (:confused: ) and possibly Mylanta.

If in doubt try the infant gaviscon satchets ..... (if you want I can drop you in a few to try ....I have heaps) or if you want to try diet first .... then I agree with the others try getting rid of milk (you should notice an improvement within 24 hrs) or try eliminating Soy (Just found out the increasing incidence of soy in society) from your diet .... it is tricky but as I said within 24 hours you will notice a difference if they are the problem.

Good luck and give me a call if you need someone to blow up at through frustration!!! :D