Question For Mums With Zantac Experience

[LoveMyBaby]

Hi :wave:

How long after starting your baby on Zantac did you notice it working? Was it immediate? Two days? Two weeks? Longer???
I have started my 14 week old on it today (1ml 3 times a day) and was wondering how long it may take to see some improvement. Poor thing is really suffering with it. :crying:
Would love to hear about your experience with it- good or bad. Thanks.

[MissieK]

My little one was on it from 3 months with silent reflux, and it started working very quickly - within a day or two from memory.

Melissa

[LoveMyBaby]

WOW! I hope its the same for my boy.
Anyone else?

[melbryan]

My Ds2 was on Zantac for about 3 mths, It worked pretty well straight away but was really effective in about 2 weeks. He regressed and gave him it a couple of times and then no more.
We only had 1 ml a day but ealry on that wasn't enough, as he was rally acidy and spewing like anything, it has really quietened down now. I tried S26 AR he vomitted heaps now he is on Karicare AR ( alot thicker) he doesn't vomit nearly as much now. He is teething which I think makes reflux worse.

[StrawberryTheMilkshake]

Hi

My baby ended up being on Pepti junior after trying EVERYTHING else.

It was cheaper on a script through our peadeatrician but in the end when she came off it she went onto Nan HA AR Step 2 and then cows milk and was fine.

[blueangel]

My DS started on 1ml of Zantac 3 times a day when he was 5 weeks old for silent reflux. It seemed to work within 2/3 days - made a huge difference.
I am having a few probs with him now as he is 3 months ( 3 days younger than your one I noticed) and I think his dose needs to be increased because it really doesn't seem to be working.
I find it sooooo hard to give it to him as he is now an expert at spitting it out. Sometimes I express some Breast milk and mix it with the Zantac. Let us know how you go.

[LoveMyBaby]

Thankyou for your replies ladies. Its only been a day and DS seems a little better already. :fingerscrossed:
Blueangel - I was reading the information leaflet that comes with the Zantac and it says
"do not mix Zantac syrup with anything (not even water) before taking." :idea: Could it be that your DS has been worse since you have been mixing it with breastmilk? Maybe its being diluted or something? Im just guessing.:confused:
Let me know how he goes. My boy also has silent reflux. Its a horrible, horrible thing.:crying:

[blueangel]

Maybe it is ..... the Doc did suggest this though so I am not sure. I am going to go and see the Doc again soon as the amount of Zantac given is based on weight. DS was only 4kg when prescribed, he is now 6.5kg (a chubba chub). How much Zantac were you prescibed? Have you noticed it working yet?

[LoveMyBaby]

:wave: He is on 1ml 3 times a day and he is 6kg. Well, I think its working because he has been alot calmer. Seems to be feeding a liitle better too, he is normally crying and pulling on and off the breast a million times, kicking legs, arching back, etc....
I am really hoping this works :fingerscrossed:
He is never really happy in groups of people or alot of noise too. Ifeel bad because everytime the family see him, he gets grumpy and Im sure they just think hes always like that. I would love it if they could see his beautiful nature that I see when he is not in pain.
Let me know how your boy goes.

[blueangel]

AAhhhhhh feeding.... what a huge difference the Zantac makes here. My DS was a real fussy feeder, same sort of thing, pulling off, arching back etc etc. I nearly gave up BF cause it was soooo hard - I felt like a real failure. The Zantac was like a miracle cure for feeding. :thumbsup: The only times we have probs with feeding now is if I have missed a dose or 2 of Zantac when we have been busy or out.
How does your ds sleep at night? Mine still wakes every 1-3 hours.:rolleyes:

[ziggie]

Hi :wave:
Mitch was on 6ml Zantac, 3 times daily- but my paed put him on the effervescent tabs, dissolved in 25ml of coiled boiled water, because he said it would be more effective.
It worked really, really well after the first day or so, but then after 2 months, the paed put him up to 8ml 3 times daily.
He's off it completely now. He still spews HEAPS!!!!! But is a happy spewer, so no more tears :smiliedance: . Hope you have the same success :fingerscrossed:

[LoveMyBaby]

nights - I cant complain too much about. He goes around 4-5 hours between feeds. Daytime is the problem. Every 1 1/2 to 2 hours.Every week I think "THATS IT!" no more breastfeeding, but I keep persisting because I feel so guilty thinking it.
Its hard to go out too, because I cant breastfeed in public, he cries and carries on and exposes me too much. I cant breastfeed discreetly. :thumbsdown:
Did you have this problem?

[Crazy Monkey]

My DS was on Zantac for about 11 months all up (he's now 19 months)... From memory it took a couple of days to see the improvement in him at the start and then everytime I needed to increase the dosage...

Just wanted to let you all know that it does get better and they don't need to be on it forever... DS was just over 1 when I started weaning him off the zantac...

:hugs: to all the bubs and mums out there suffering with reflux...

Edited to add: for those having trouble getting their bubs to take it, have you tried using a different device to give it to them... DS always rathered it in a suringe (sp?) than the dropper... Just a thought

[LoveMyBaby]

Did anyone notice that tummy time got better once the Zantac kicked in?
DS hates tummy time (its the damn silent reflux) and as a result, his head control still isnt as great as it probably should be. I would LOVE it if tummy time got better.

[tickle]

Zantac can take a little while to kick in, so don't completely dismiss it if you don't get immediate results. I too had the problem of them fighting me when they were feeding. Keep going, it will improve! My DS improved greatly after being on Zantac for about a week. I didn't have any improvement with my DD at all, so we put her on Losec. It took nearly two weeks on that to see a change and after that things were much easier. She's now 8 months and is off it completely.

Don't stress about the tummy time. My two never really had any at all, I just propped them up on my lap, which gave them a chance to gain some head control. My DD sits very well and is now starting to crawl from a sitting position.

You may have already posted there, but there's also the Reflux Expert Section (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=281), where you can post any questions you have. I hope it gets better for you soon.

[Astonsmum]

my dd was on zantac .5 mls 5 times per day and now my ds is also on the same amount. My Dr gave me a tip to give it to them. Squeeze their cheecks so that they open their mouth and hold it like that whilst you put the dose in their mouth until the swallow, works every time.

[blueangel]

Give it time as the BF should improve. My DS is still a bit fussy but no where near what he was like in the early days, I can now BF him in public fairly discreetly.
DS still hates tummy time, my other DS did too, but he learnt to crawl and walk just fine. Try using one of those big exercise balls and roll them around on it on their tummy, it is really good for head control and balance.

[kiwibird27]

It's an acid inhibitor so 24-48 hours for it to start working

[blueangel]

:wave: How is it going Love My Baby? Is the Zantac working yet? I hope things are improving for you and your DS. Love to know if it is helping with BF.

[babyluv3]

Zantac didnt help my dd, took her to the chiropractor and yipee!! no more reflux:smiliedance: no more bfeeding problems. No more screaming non sleeping baby!! Life is great!!:D

I would write more about it, but Ive posted on almost every thread and Im sure Im going to get kicked of here for going on and on about the benefits of the chiro :laughing:

I didnt do tummy time for any of my bubs till they were over 4 mths, just sitting on your lap or being held, even sitting in a pram/carseat, they are using their neck muscles looking around. Some health proffesionals get a little too fanatical about things, in my opinion!

[LoveMyBaby]

Hi again :wave:

Sorry I havent checked in earlier, we were on holidays and got back last nite.
Thankyou everyone for your comments and advice.... its nice to hear from real mums and not just doctors IYKWIM.
Well, the Zantac was really good for about 3-4 days and then things went a little downhill again and now they are a fair bit better again.
Ive found that it works well if you are very strict with giving the dose at the exact right time... even an hour late can affect him.

Blueangel - thankyou for checking back in with me. Yes, the breastfeeding is alot better, although now DS is feeding SO much more often and dosent sleep much. We are breastfeeding every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day and he has decided that he wants an extra feed at night besides the two he already has.It is exhausting :sleeping: and Im beginning to wonder if my breastmilk is enough. He is now 16 weeks and maybe solids are around the corner????? My mum thinks I should give him a bottle or two a day as he seems so hungry.

Its so confusing!!! :banghead: How is your son's silent reflux?

Babyluv3 - chiro's scare the life out of me.What do they actually do to your DD? I really dont think I could bring myself to take DS. (yes, I know I sound like an uneducated chicken) but all I can imagine is bones cracking. :laughing:

[blueangel]

I'm glad things have improved for you and DS. My DS went thru a stage of feeding every 2hours.... it drove me nuts so I know how you feel. I ended up just stretching him out to 3 - 4 hours over a couple of feeds and he then took to this new routine. I think he got in the habit of snacking all the time. They also say they go thru a huge growth spurt at 3 months. My DS went thru this for a week over Xmas, he was feeding every hour :eek: i was feeling a little sleep deprived!! He is now going 4-5hours. :D But they are all different and change so quickly.

I am taking DS to the chiro tomorrrow so :fingerscrossed: this helps. You can feel his back cracking every time you pick him up so I think it is really needed. It will hopefully help with the reflux and also his wind pains.

[tickle]

Glad to hear things are a little better. It's great to hear you are also still breastfeeding. My DD was just the same, eating constantly. It can really take it out of you, but it is really normal. If you baby is still putting on weight and has plenty of wet nappies, they are getting enough. Feeding regularly just means they want that bit more, which you are obviously providing. I never gave additional bottles, she was (and still is) a chubber. Good on you for your efforts.
I asked around about chiros for reflux but didn't get a positive response. Some people rave about it and have had great success but most I've talked to haven't. I might be an uneducated chicken also but I for the life of me can't understand how a chiro who works with bones can aid in a valve problem?:confused: Hopefully babyluv can help you out there.

[LoveMyBaby]

Blueangel - please let us know how you go at the chiro.
Tickle - bubs is putting on weight, but its slow going and he's not what I would say 'a chubba' but he looks healthy. 6.4kgs and 63cm tall.
Im going to health clinic soon so will talk to someone then. thanx for the responses.:thumbsup:

[babyluv3]

Hi all :wave:

The chiropractor realigns the joints, so that the nerves can send the messages from the brain to all the areas in the body, without interference. Theres no bone cracking, the popping noise you hear, is the joints (like when you crack your knuckles).

Having said this tho, there is no joint popping when they treat babies. Our chiro uses gentle pressure with a little tool over the top of his fingers (he places his finger where the joint is out of place, then uses this little pen shaped tool on his finger, does that make sense?) It is very gentle, no pain for bubs.

The first time we took zoe, her neck was so bad that when he gently turned it to her left, she screamed. She did not have full function of her neck. He then did that thing with the tool that I described, and he gently turned her neck again, and not a whimper. It was amazing!! The whole time throughout the appointment, she remained on my lap, its very gentle.

It is very important tho, if you do decide to take bubs to a chiro, that they are qualified to treat bubs and make sure that they do the gentle way (apologies, there is a name for this method but I dont know what it is). I was very lucky because I had recommendations from 3 people who had taken their bubs to ours, one was a pharmacist, and since we have been going, another handful of mums from my daughter's school have also told me they had taken their kids when they were bubs.

LoveMyBaby, zoe is 17wks, and has been having a huge growth spurt for the last 2 wks, feeding and poohing pretty much non stop from the moment she wakes (around 9-11am) to the moment she goes to sleep at night (anywhere from 12am-3am, I have a night owl!!). She's not a day sleeper, never has been, although I havent given up hope!

She has just been a feeding machine. As a result, she has gone from 0000 clothes (not the grosuits, they are smaller) to almost growing out of her 000 size clothes in the last 3 wks! I can't believe how much she's grown.

The clinic nurse (when I took her at 8 wks) was like, shes not putting on enough weight! And I said, I have small babies (she is my third) and they only put on weight gently, they have all been the same. Weeing, poohing, happy, healthy, so she's just a slow grower, its genetic!! She wanted me to return, but naughty me:D I didnt!! I wasnt worried because she wasnt fitting into their 'schedule', crikeys, they r all different! They did that to me with my first, had me at the clinic every week, so I wasnt going to get sucked into that again! My mil is of the opinion some people have inferier bmilk, grrr, how stupid is that??

My sil started giving her bub formula suplements when he was 3 mths cause she had the same reaction, that the clinic nurse said he wasnt putting on enough. There was nothing wrong with him. I told her, its genetic, dont stress about it, you'd know if something was wrong. But being her first, she did what the clinic said. Makes me mad, that mums are given such a hard time, grrr!! We know if our bub's ok or if there's something wrong, they shouldnt be telling mums what to do, it makes me soo angry :mad:

Ok, I must take a huge breath and calm down now!!:)

blueangel I hope your trip to the chiro works out well. Let us know how it goes. Be mindful that there may not be any change straight away or that you may need to go a few times (the chiro will tell you all that anyway).

Here's a couple of links that I have found that might be helpful in explaining chiropratic for bubs

www.colichelp.com/colicandchiropractic.html (http://www.colichelp.com/colicandchiropractic.html)

http://www.actionhealth.com.au/Subluxation.htm

I was very nervous before taking bub, having had chiro treatment myself, so its very normal to feel anxious. I cry every time my bubs have had needles, because it hurts them so much. But its important for their health. The chiro isnt painful. You could always ring a chiro and ask for referals from patients that have taken their bubs there, so you know for sure that they are competent in treating babies! Just a suggestion.

Oh and I must add, how addictive are the forums on this site, Im getting NO housework done as a result, lol!! At least its keeping me away from ebay, Im saving so much $$$, lol!!

[babyluv3]

Oh I must add, re: the chiro helping with the reflux, when the joints are in alignment, the nerves are working properly, so they can send the message from the brain to the valve (not sure of the name) so that it can open/close effectively.

Does that make sense? The nerves run along the spine, so thats why they are affected if the spine is out.

I do hope I havent just confused everyone more!!

:)

[mumofone]

Hi

We had our 2nd baby on the 31st of Oct. The first three weeks were a dream but then it went rapidly downhill. To cut a long story short, my dughter was diagnosed with severe reflux. We were doing the gaviscon and zantac thing but at week 8 she started getting worse again.
I did soem researchand apparently Zantac can be really hard on small babies stomachs. She was really jhard to settle etc.
So we stopped the zantac and she started to sleep better and over the past 2 weeks she has improved. So the insomnia some one mentioned would make sense. over the Christmas week, we went through breast refusal, so I was expressing every feed but no we are gradually going to the full formula feeding.

I can suggest a mixture called RHUGER drops from a pharmacy called BALMAC PHARMACY in Dunedin NZ. They will send to Australia. It is awesome and now she is great an absolute pleasure. It helps with Colic pain, griping, diffirculty winding, slow feeding babies, spilling and reflux as well as constipation on weaning.

I can also suggest a really good routine, we have Tizzie Halls save our sleep book and we are following her routine for a 10 week old, and that could be helping too, the first few days were hard changing from 2 - 3 hourly feeds to 4, but now I get up to 5 hour stretches of sleep at night

Parent hood 2nd time around is improving thank goodness, it was really hard with a reflux baby !!

Hope this helps, PM if you want any info re the RHUGER DROPS, I think they are awesome.