do you breast feed or formula feed your reflux baby [Archive]

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bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 10:35

just curious to know what works for everyone

breast feed
expressed breast milk (thickened or not )
or formula feed (thickened or not )

and would be helpful if any bubs have allergies - what else have you tried that has worked??/

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 11:58

we use neocate whichis a dairy and soy protein free formular and we tube feed it to her we dont thicken as that causes more issues with ehr bowels which intern flares her reflux BIG TIME

bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 12:10

how insensitive of me - i didn't include tube feeding:banghead: sorry about that

tickle

22-05-2007, 12:15

My two were both soley breastfed. I talked about what would be best with doctors and all told me that breastmilk is digested more quickly and is generally better if you can.
I think it really depends on your bub. My DD still spews up solids and she's nearly 13 months.

BOL: I added tube feeding to the poll, did you want an option for tube feeding formula and another for breastmilk too?

bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 13:10

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 13:47

how insensitive of me - i didn't include tube feeding:banghead: sorry about that

thats fine no need to I selected formular casue thats what she has no need to be sorry :)

22-05-2007, 13:51

Breastfed (on the boob here).

EskimoMumma

22-05-2007, 13:52

DD1 and DD2 were/are on thickened formula. DD1 was on S26 AR, DD2 is on Karicare HA-AR.

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 13:53

haha - thanks tickle .... that would be great ..

i am just so curious to know what works.... my bubs has cows milk allergy and really bad reflux and we have resorted to formula feeding and breast feeding about two times a day ( i really didn't want to give up breast feeding you see) but when i breast feed her now she gets really upset ... she won't finish the feed she just starts with gulping and really spewie with the acid smell ... she doesn't bring anything up - but you can smell the acid ... i just hate seeing her in that much pain ...

have you tried giving her the gaucol thiickener in a syringe before in the middle and after a breast feed i have no personal experience with it but i do know mums that find it helps well, also with bubs having bad cows milk alergy i was talking to a mum last time at the hospital and her bub also had it and she was having major issues with it and the GI told her that she dodnt only have to cut out dairy products but also stuff that contain milk protein such as biscuits, chip, some breads, crackers ect she found that most things that she checked the lable on actulay had some milk protein in then, just thought i would let you know as i said i have no experience with BF and i dont pretend to just thought i would pass it on

bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 14:11

thanks mm - yeah i was told about the other items - i just wonder whether it is that now - as i have been off them and bubs is still realy bad on the boobies... she really loves the boobie feeds she laughs when i go to feed her... but she is just in pain after the feed.. do you know where i go to get that stuff?? the gloucal thickener ??? i would love to know more about it ...

oscars mum - how does your bubs go with the reflux after feeds??

also - when do you ask to see a gi specialist??? her peadiatrician is great - but know i feel as though i have to keep guessing what to do with her...

22-05-2007, 14:16

oscars mum - how does your bubs go with the reflux after feeds??

Her reflux is terrible but she has just changed to Losec now from Zantac. We go back to the Dr on Friday to see how her weight is going otherwise they are looking at giving as well as the Losec thickener like Mikenzees Mum was describing with the breastmilk.

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 14:18

ops i speltit wrong its called guarcol and its food and beverage thickener and you get it from the chemist sometimes they have to order it in, the ladies i know thay use it mix it up 100mls of water to 1/4 of a teaspoon of guarcol and then give 5mls before during and after a BF it lasts ages, its actulay the thickener they recomend and the childrens hostpital in perth

As far as asking for referal to a pead GI i would say as bub is still uncomfertable with the reflux that would be good grounds for the pead t refer you on, that way the gi can asses the meds she is onto make sure it is the corect ones for her particular case and corect dosage ect and then do the appropriate testing if needed

bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 20:02

i just got back from the gps as the pead couldn't see us this week- busy !!! wtf... so he told us to go to the gp and then take it from there - well take it from there what !!! he is a great dr but we have done absoluelty every thing that he has suggested and the pead for that matter but my poor bubs is in soo much pain ... i really want to breast feed her to give her the goodness and all - but i just don't understand why it causes her so much greif and i have been off dairy and all.....

so today she wouldn't settle so i tried to breast feed her as she also wouldn't take the bottle ... she has had about 200 mls all day .... and i am starting to get worried.... the gp said she looks good ---- she lost 500 grams for gods sake last week...she has only gained weight coz the pead put her on the 1.25 times the strength of formula .... and now she wont take much and she is also refusing the breast completely now - i try to express but there is not enough to give her for a feed,

i also don't understand why sometimes she has a great day and then we have about 2 or 3 bad days -- i mean i don't know much about this stuff but i know it is not right for her to be in soo much pain...

sorry to vent - this wasn't the purpose of the poll.... i was just so dissappointed with the dr visit as he than suggested to see the pead tomorrow - so i told him the receptionist said there is not way i could see him this week....

dh and i are tempted to take her to the emergency / outpatients room at the childrens - but then we have paid allthis money to the pead - and we feel why should we have to if we are paying to see a specialist.....

Rell

22-05-2007, 20:15

DD was on thickned formula feeds
DS was on Formula as he refused to drink it thickned

mumx3littlies

22-05-2007, 20:19

Our DD had reflux and was BF for 8 weeks then we put her onto thickened formula (Karicare) which helped a lot. She still spilled several times a day (milk + solids) but it was a great improvement:thumbsup:

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 20:33

you poor thing i so know what you are going through and it is so hard

Have you tired mylanta or gastrogel before and after feeds it soothes the thoat and can help with the burning

also maybe try syringe feeding her bits at a time if she seen as sh isnt feeding, wil she feed whilst sleeping i know some mums that have has succes with that

how long has she been on losec for because i know a lot of bubs whom it has taken arounf 14 days to fully take aftect

are yougiving her the losec all at once or splitting the dose into 2 lots 12 hours apart sometimes that helps

are you giving the tablets or the compound if it is the tablets do you know not to cruch them rather just disovle it, also be sure she gets all the pellets in the disolved mixture as that it the active ingredient

did you stop the zantac cold turkey as soon as you started the losec if so maybe check with the dr if you can keep her on zantac in the mean time so sheis atleast on some meds they may need to work ut the dose as it is weight senstive and she may have grown since she was perscribed it

also if you are already ising mylanta or gastrogel do you know not ti give it 1 hour either side of zantac or losec as it can make them loose there afectiveness

also are you giving the meds on an empty tummy 1/2 hour before feeds as that is generaly the optimal time to give them

Also with the breast feeds could she also be intoelerant to soy protein as well as milk i cant remeber if you was cutting out both or not sorry

I hope you dont mind all the questions, its just becaseu i know what your going through and want to try and help if i can

if you are concerned take her to the ER as sometimes that is the best way t get admitted to hosptial while they figure it all out

unfortunatly with some reflux babies its not a quick fix and may take time, patients and a lot of tears along the way if you need to talk you know i am here

bossoflatch

22-05-2007, 22:01

you poor thing i so know what you are going through and it is so hard

Have you tired mylanta or gastrogel before and after feeds it soothes the thoat and can help with the burning - we use mylanta frequently throughout the day - often it doesn't work enough .. never heard of gastrogel..

also maybe try syringe feeding her bits at a time if she seen as sh isnt feeding, wil she feed whilst sleeping i know some mums that have has succes with that - i haven't tried syringe feeding - but i have been feeding her when she sleeps - she gets a fair bit this way already

how long has she been on losec for because i know a lot of bubs whom it has taken arounf 14 days to fully take aftect - she has been on losec for about 2 months . - we was originally on the tablets - dissolved in warm water - pead suggested the compound so we have just started it - so she has gone straight from the tablet form to the compound..

are yougiving her the losec all at once or splitting the dose into 2 lots 12 hours apart sometimes that helps
- we have been giving it two her twice a day . morn and night

are you giving the tablets or the compound if it is the tablets do you know not to cruch them rather just disovle it, also be sure she gets all the pellets in the disolved mixture as that it the active ingredient

did you stop the zantac cold turkey as soon as you started the losec if so maybe check with the dr if you can keep her on zantac in the mean time so sheis atleast on some meds they may need to work ut the dose as it is weight senstive and she may have grown since she was perscribed it - she was on zantac but nowon losec for the last 2 months

also if you are already ising mylanta or gastrogel do you know not ti give it 1 hour either side of zantac or losec as it can make them loose there afectiveness
we ususally give her the mylanta after the feeds... i will start to give it to her before though thanks:thumbsup:

also are you giving the meds on an empty tummy 1/2 hour before feeds as that is generaly the optimal time to give them - she has the meds - first thing in the morning and before the last feed at night...

Also with the breast feeds could she also be intoelerant to soy protein as well as milk i cant remeber if you was cutting out both or not sorry
i have been off the soy and the dairy -

I hope you dont mind all the questions, its just becaseu i know what your going through and want to try and help if i can

if you are concerned take her to the ER as sometimes that is the best way t get admitted to hosptial while they figure it all out

unfortunatly with some reflux babies its not a quick fix and may take time, patients and a lot of tears along the way if you need to talk you know i am here

mm- thanks heaps for the feed back - she has gone to sleep for a while now ... she wont sleep long .... she has woken startled several times already .... dh is rocking her now... i just can' t feel guilty that there is something i am doing wrong - as i said - someday sshe is great - other days and even some time during the day - she is really bad..so much pain...

the gp is going to speak to the pead tomorrow - is there any thing i shouldbe asking him - any tests i should push to do ??

Nowhere

22-05-2007, 22:39

I thought you may already know all thoose things, sounds like you are doing everthing

dont feel guilty that she is in pain its nothing you are doing some babies just have servere reflux, nothing works for my DD either she is 14 months old

As for questions to ask the pead just tell him exactly what is happening and ask him any thing that you feel even if it is only small ask as many questions as you can

as for tests there are a few tests that they can do the first one is usulay a barium swallow or upper GI this test is used to dugnose reflux but not always very accurate as it only goes for 15 minuts but it is great for determaning weather or not it is the anatomy causing the reflux
the best test is an empedence study this goes for 24 hours it is a probe that goes in like a NG tube and it mesures the amount of acid and none acid reflux this is the best test for reflux and realy accurate
aanother one is gastric emptying study this takes an hour and they xray the tummy emptying and refluxing ect the whole time and then re xray after 3 hour to work out how long it takes to empty the tummy, as a delay in gastric emptying can make reflux alot worse
the last most invasive test is an endoscopy which is done under general anesetic they look down the throat and osophagus tummy pyloris and duodenum and do biopsies to check for dammage from the reflux and also any alergies

♥Heaven Sent♥

22-05-2007, 23:43

Ds has reflux but not that bad,if i eat dairy it gets worse so i cut dairy out,and he is heaps better.

Dd was a really bad reflux baby and i had to bottle feed her in the end.

indigoin0z

23-05-2007, 04:24

still breastfeeding @ 11wks..

on zantac, & currently going to chiro.. not sure if that is working for the reflux as such?

zantac does seem to be easing the pain slightly? [much to my disgust.. i hate giving him the stuff]
but he still spills alot...

good luck..:fingerscrossed: . as these mums have said.. i know how awful & sooooo tiring it is:sleeping:

bossoflatch

23-05-2007, 06:08

you never hear too much about kids having it -
had a bad night / morning - she napped until about 10 pm and then it all started again,,,, she wont settle unless she is on the breast - and the breast makes her worse....

she has been up since 2.30 and wont settle at all .. she is gulping and in pain with the reflux... i am going to try to get answers today ..

all along the pead thought it was my milk supply - duh!!! i am just so mad that i haven't been breast feeding her every feed - and she is stilll bad - if not worse... :gloomy:

Nowhere

23-05-2007, 09:46

poor darling I realy hope you get some answers soon, if yu cant get into the pead and she is really bad i would just take her to the ER at first they may say the normal oh shes just got a bit of reflux :banghead: make sure you tel them how bad sheis and what you have already tried hopefuly then they will get the pead GI involved ASAP

Its true you dont here of alot of kids getting reflux so bad but there is a a fair few out there, the hard thing with reflux is there is so many people that think reflux is just where kids spit up a bit of milk and that its not that bad, unfortunatly thats not alway the case and alot of peope dont understand that even some drs

there is a web site that i go on a alot its caled
www.infantrefluxdisease.com (http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com) and it is really helpfull there is so much info on there about reflux and medication and there are loads of mums on there with really bad refluxers and they realy do understand what your dealing with

Lovemy2

24-05-2007, 15:15

Hi,
I just joined Bubhub so I could share with you!!
I have recently been going through the exact experience as you. My daughter showed feeding problems from birth - the breast feedong got harder and harder from day 1. She would scream..first it was a few feeds a day then all the feeds. It hurt to see her in so much pain and it hurt to see I was causing it.
I visited the Lactation consulted, G.P and the emergency department. They admitted us into hospital and tested for infections. Then I finally started going to a Paed doctor when she was about 4 weeks old. She got me to supplement a few feeds with infasoy (incase lactose intolerant) - when she had infasoy she didn't scream during only a little after. Anway it ha been a long process infasoy, protein free formula, mylanta, zantac, Losec and anti-reflux formula. She is now 3 1/2 months - I had to stop breast feeding at 6 weeks (horrid but it was for her). The Losec combined with Novalac Anti-reflux formula has given me a pleasant child. Sure she isn't perfect - she does get some minor discomfort but it is so minor compared to before. My doctor thinks the amount of Losec that she needs is more than what they can precribe (because it hasn't been tested) so that's why she still has some discomfort. She wants me to start her on solids at 4 months aswell. Their is relief...and if you have to give up breastfeeding - you just have to remember it's for medical reasons - create a healthy child! I hope I've helped.

bossoflatch

24-05-2007, 17:05

thanks mm - you are a great help and thanks for the suggestions again..:hugs:

lovemy2 - :wave: welcome to bub hub - and thanks for sharing your story with us ...your bubs must be similar in age to mine - she is just on 4 months...

i know what you mean about thelosec -her dr said he won't increase unitl they do the test and he doesn't think she is that bad - as when he has seen her lately she has been chatting to him (obviously we have bad days and after waiting to see them - they are lucky enough to see them on good days... as rare as they are ...) so he has sent us to a day stay clinic at keperra and see what she thinks after spending a day with her . she will then report back to him with her thoughts and recommendations (i think that is how it works..)

having said this - she has been great today ... i am going to start a diary to show the drs what she is like - maybe if i do that - they know that i am serious and that she is not 'normal ' reflux baby....

bossoflatch

01-06-2007, 14:04

Aprilsmum

01-06-2007, 19:48

My DS is breastfed, because he has a milk protein allergy. It is cheeper for me to stay away from dairy than to get one of the prescribed formulas eg: neocate. We tried Karicare sensicare and karicare soy and because they still contain the milk protein, he reacts badly to them.

He is also on Losec for his reflux. He is 4mths old and on solids, which has made him so much more comfortable.

I really sympathise with all of you "reflux mums". It is so heartbreaking and stressful coping with a reflux baby. I hope you all find some relief soon. :hugs:

Aprilsmum

01-06-2007, 19:50

You could try this website.

www.reflux.org.au

Nowhere

02-06-2007, 00:32

i will check it out for you see if i can get it unbanned im sure it wont be issue probly a mistake