reflux

[heaven]

hi everyone,
i am still breastfeeding every 2-2,1/2 hrs or less day and night and baby boy is 10 weeks, just found out that he is snacking and possibly has reflux and thus snacking is making him worse.
what is reflux? how can i help him? SHould i try anything?
maybe that is why he has not slept well since birth and me too!!!
I am so tired:confused: , i thought he was just hungry but now possibly he was using sucking as a pain comforter.

[Rell]

Hi and congratulations on the birth of you little boy.
Firstly 2 - 2 1/2 hourly feeds at 10weeks is still quite normal (especially BF babies).
Reflux is when the milk (or food) passes from the stomach back up the oesophagus. Often the milk will then come out the mouth but in some cases (silent reflux) it won't.

You are spot on with thinking he could be sucking because it eases the pain. Some reflux babies like to suck a dummy as the saliva helpd to nutralize the acid in their stomachs. Are you open to the idea of a dummy? I know it did help both my kids settle better

Is your little boy in a lot of pain? If he is you should go see your Dr or Pead as their are medications that will help reduce the acid and threrfore the pain.

other things you can do to help are

Feed as upright as posible.
Keep him upright for at least 20min after a feed (I would use a rocker)
Change his nappy before a feed instead of after
Prop up one end of his cot/bassenette so that his head is slightly elevated.

I know how hard it can be having a baby with reflux, hopefully you can get it undre control and the two of you can get some much needed sleep.

Best wishes

[heaven]

i went to a settling chool and the nurse noticed he had slient reflux and that is possibily why he cannot sleep long, now at night he can only manage at most 2,1/2 hrs, is this normal at 10 weeks??? other babies are sleeping through and i am frustrated that he still is yet to.
He still quite restless in the evenings eg cries 1-2 hrs before sleep and so he ends up sleeping at 10 or 11pm!!!, then wakes 2,/12 hrs later!!

thanks for the reflux advice

[Rell]

you poor thing sounds like you are doing it tough:hugs:
10weeks is early to be sleeping through the night, my DD started sleeping through about a month after she was put on medication for reflux and DS he didn't sleep through until 9mths:eek:
By the sounds of it he is in a bit of pain so I would deffinatly go and see your Dr to discuss the posibility of medication.
If you have any questions just ask, both my kids had reflux until they walked so i understand your pain and frustration.

[heaven]

hi,
i am going to Gp in a few days, so keep you posted
thanks:)