unsure?? and confused???

[shinebrite]

Hi Lucy is 13wks old. She is a formula fed baby because of medication I use not allowing me to breast feed.

she has been teething on and off for the last 2 and half wks and since then has been VERY chucky before this it was every so often but now it is becoming out of hand. I saw my usual doctor last monday because of a cough and she thought it was becasue Lucy was trying to get somethin out of her throat and also she had been chucking up feeds so she told me to use 1ml mylanta before or after a feed. So I have been doing that and it doesnt seem to help.

SO I rang the comuntiy nurses and they sugested I take her to the doctors. So took her to the doctors again today concerned and very stressed because I was worried if she was chucking up so much of the feed was she putting on weight. She is she has put on 200g in the past 2wks which is good but the doctor (different lady) said she will grow out of it and you dont want to have to tests cause they can b aweful etc. She sugested a few things like feeding more regulary instead of 4hrly which she has progressed to gradually so back to square one with that I think.

A friend said thickners can help what should I do? its stressing me out to no end. She cries during feeds when she gets burped and sometimes when shes awake but she is a very happy baby, not much bothers her... she sleeps well has a BAD dribble rask from the chucking and hands in the mouth type thing.... Im really out of sorts here...

Please can I have ur opinion on the matter....ANYONE!!!!!!

thanku

[RISA]

Hi,
Thankyou for contacting our organisation, and congratulations on the birth of your daughter. It sounds like you have been having a hard time of it lately, and wow, teething at such an early age!!! The fact that she has been worse with teething isn’t surprising, as that can often flare reflux, but what makes you think she is teething? Can you see the lumpy gums, or is it because her hands are in her mouth all the time? (mouths in hands can sometimes mean sore throats too, from reflux)

It is good to hear that she continues to put on weight despite all the vomiting. That may give you some peace of mind at least, though it can still be really difficult. It’s good too, that she is happy and content most of the time. The cough you mentioned can be part of the reflux picture as well- there can be lots of other signs of reflux, not just vomiting, so it is good that your doctor considered reflux.

You are doing the right thing by taking her to the doctors, and by talking to the child health nurses. It is really important to follow your instincts, as a mother’s instincts are usually spot on!! One of the big problems with reflux unfortunately, is that there is no one correct answer. All babies are different and what works for one may not work for another (which means trial and error)- it also means confusion. It’s common for reflux parents to feel inadequate, and totally unsure of themselves. I felt as though I was such a failure, and this parenting caper was just a bit too hard. I didn’t have a clue what to do to make things better, and just thought it was me, and all the things I was doing wrong! I was so confused!!

If you are comfortable with the idea of using thickeners, then they may be worth trying, as they can sometimes be very successful with babies who vomit. If you aren’t sure about that idea, then perhaps speak with your doctor or child health nurse again and see what they think. It doesn’t always help reflux babies, but it may be worth trying. (you can add thickeners to the formula, or you can buy commercially prepared thickened formulas)

You may already be trying these other things, but if you hold her upright to feed her, and keep her upright for at least ½ following a feed, that can make a difference as well. Burp her frequently throughout the feed (but not if it unduly distresses her), and keep her nappies and any clothing around her waist fairly loose.

Change her nappy before a feed rather than after, and roll her from side to side when you do change her, rather than lifting her legs (as the legs higher than the tummy can cause reflux).

If you are still concerned about it, please go back to your doctor. They may be able to offer other treatments as well (suggest other medication, or even suggest a different formula), but it does sound like you are doing a great job,

Hope that helps

Glenda

[shinebrite]

Wow that was very reasuring! Lucy is teething because she has lumpy bumps but i think she has her fingers in her mouth because of the reflux as well!

I will definatly try the things u hav sugestedd as they seem like a good idea! thank you so much!

xoxo