Help with Reflux problem...

Hi, When you added the cereal to the formula did you enlarge the nipple opening enough? Did you mix it thoroughly? The nipple may be getting clogged and causing him to need to suck too hard thereby tiring him out before he eats enough. Have you tried feeding him in his car seat and just letting him sit afterwards (instead of holding him)? Maybe any type of motion is causing the vomitting. Sorry, I'm trying to remember what I did with my son but he is almost 21 now :eek: Our fs takes Zantac for his reflux and it seems to work well for him. Maybe the dr. could try that? Good luck. Our 2 y/o is diagnosed failure to thrive, I do know how scarey it is to watch them wither away before your eyes. His is from severe milk/food allergies and not reflux. Michelle

Hi, my daughter also took Zantac for her reflux. She's so much better now, but she used to projectile vomit when she was a baby. She has a g-tube, so I'm not sure if all these suggestions would help or not. It's actually much easier to do some of them because of the tube. She was also in danger because of her weight. She came here when she was 11 months old and she only weighed 10 lbs. Keeping her from vomiting due to reflux was vital to her health! She's a chubby little five year old now. She's only 30 lbs, but she's not very tall and the end result is chubby legs, lol. We did what Michelle said, we fed her in a car seat and then left her alone for 1/2 an hour. We gave her 1/2 feedings more often instead of full feedings less often. We put a pillow under her crib mattress to elevate her head above her feet. We had the advantage of being able to vent air and stomach acid out her g-tube which solved the burping dilemma. We kept all movements down to a minimum and made them as smoothly as possible. We never did get to rock her in a rocking chair :(. That's all I can think of at the moment, I know there was more though. If I can think of any of it I'll post it. Sorry I can't be more help.

All the above advice was great. We had a 6 week old that had reflux from the day I got him till he went to his new home at about 6 months. It did improve with time...and with the different advice that others have given and what you are already doing. We tried several formulas...then Nutramigen...our fs didn't like the taste of it and we certianly didn't like the smell of it...especially when it is vomited all over you...by the bottlefull. We ended up switching him back to Enfamil Lactofree which he seemed to handle well. The bottle that worked best for me were Dr.Browns...and Playtex(the kind with the bags). It helped to prevent him swallowing to much air during the feeding. Make sure you have a real slow flow nipple...you may need to even buy some premie sized nipples. The slower they can eat as long as it isn't a struggle for them the better. Eat less more often. Thickening the formula only worked part of the time for us. We couldn't drive with our son for at least an hour after he ate....that way if he did vomit it up it...he had already absorbed most of the nutrients from it anyways. We tried propping him up....not too much or he spit up more. Our son always spitup in his car seat...because it made him sit up to straight and put pressure on his tummy. Sometimes we would put a blanket, underneath him...to help fill in the gap and let him recline more. Have they done a feeding study yet? They were about to do that for our fs...right before he left. To make sure there wasn't a medical problem other than reflux causing the problem. The good news is most of the time...they will outgrow it..or at least the doctor will be able to get him on the medicines that will help him. Our fs tired Zantac for about 2 weeks but he had no improvment with it so they had me stop it. Our little guy was also on the verge of failure to thrive...and i worried about him all day everyday. Actually when he left to go to another foster home to be with his brothers i was actually relieved, feeling like a burden had been lifted from my shoulders. I felt like no matter what i did for him he wasn't keeping the food down and wasn't gaining weight. I've done respite care for that family several times now and our little guy stilll looks on the skinny and small side but....absolutley no more problems with vomiting. I think he's about 16 months now. They were also so worried about his development becuase of the failure to thrive...but to this date he still doesn't need developmental services....(the comprehensive exam (which I wasn't able to attend)from the first month we got him stated he needed several services and that he was severely delayed. I fought for him...saying he wasn't that delayed that they had tested him at a time he was sick...and tired and that is why he didn't perform well for them. They wanted him to go to a specialized daycare....which I was completely opposed to...I argued with everyone that I wanted him to stay home with me and that I would bring him to all the therapy appointments he needed. That was a big mess...I basicly said...if they want him in that program than they can go down and register him...and get it all started. They never did..and he has never needed it...so i'm glad I stood up for him...so he could bond with his caregiver(fostermom) and not multiple caregivers all day long. Plus it was easier for me at DR.s appointment because I logged everything down...what he ate how much how often..and how much vomit he had...and what time. if he were at the school during most of the day...all i would have been able to do was guess and they wouldn't have been able to determine what was causing him to spit-up/vomit...and at when. sorry to get off on so many tangents.....it's just bringing back old memories.

My dfd also had severe reflux when she was an infant and ended up with a nasal gastric feeding tube for about 5 months so the food would go directly to her in intestines and pass her stomach. After she was taken off the feeding tube we would mix her formula (Augementon, spelling) with a jar of baby food...we used the Avent bottles with the variable flow nipple. At 6 months she would still only drink 4 oz. at a time but she was getting enough with the baby food. She was also put on Reglin and Prilosec which really helped.

I finally got the Prevacid last night and hope that it will help as well. You guys have great suggestions and I will be trying all of them. :D I'm going to really try and get him fattened up before next week for the weigh in, he has done much better in the last day or so and hope it continues. Again, thanks for everything. You guys are the greatest! SashaSue

Addy has had reflux since day one - she hasn't lost weight but remains on the small side (20th percentile for height and weight). She tried zantac and showed no improvement - she is on the prevacid now for about a month and is mch better. Her pediatric gastroenterologist told me to give it to her 15 minutes before eating. I have found that she can't tolerate it without some formula mixed in so I try to give it with as little formula as possible. I also tried the rice cereal in the formula and she didn't tolerate that AT ALL - made her really sick - spit up tons. A 2 month old tummy is awefully delicate for something as heavy as cereal. I also found that keeping her head elevated after feeding didn't seem to make a whole lot of difference - not sure why. I just try to keep her as calm as possible after she eats. Not sure if this was mentioned but are you using the ready to feed Nutramigen - Addy tolerates that better than the powder or the concentrate. I have found it pretty cheap by the case at Babies-r-us. Addy is almost 4 months old now - she is definitely better but still has trouble. Hang in there. PM me if you need a reflux buddy :D Take Care, Martha

Martha, Thanks for the info! Initially the pediatrician gave me some ready to feed formula but couldn't find it in the stores at a cheap enough price. I'm waiting to go to WIC so hopefully they will approve the ready formula. I will look at Babies R Us for it in the meantime. I can't believe how expensive that stuff is! He seems to tolerate the cereal after I cut back on the amount I put in the formula. The doctor told me 1 tsp. for every ounce of formula but he didn't seem to like it so I cut that in half. So far, so good. He did spit up a little this morning but at least it wasn't like Mount St. Helens! I'm trying to keep him calm too after the feeding and that does seem to help as well. Thanks again for your help and I will probably PM you from time to time. SashaSue

Reena had Reflux for months when she was an infant...... did Zantac (no hoops to jump through there) and I got trained in infant massage................

Reena had Reflux for months when she was an infant...... did Zantac (no hoops to jump through there) and I got trained in infant massage for her digestive system................ As for food - SMALL 2-4 oz bottles in an upright position - small sips then rub middle of back and massage stomach (you must be trained on this in order for it to work - small circles in DOWN COUNTERCLOCK wise motion). ADDED: Nutramigen is great - Are you seeing a nutritionist and feeding therpist?

ChgoFAMom, Thanks for the advice. He is now on Prevacid which has definitely helped with the reflux but I'd like to know more about the massage you were talking about. And no he hasn't been to a nutritionist. He has gained almost 2 pounds in the month that I have had him. He started out at 7.5 lbs. lost a few ounces before weighing in at the doctor's office at 8.5 lbs. and just yesterday he was 9.4 lbs. so there is progress... Thanks again for the info... SashaSue

The weight gain is wonderful news - ultimately, that's the best indicator or whether or not the baby is getting enough to eat!!!! Addy saw the gastroenterologist last week and is doing well too. She is now 12.5 lbs at 4 months old - not bad considering she came into the world weighing 5 lb 12 oz. She has to go back in a month. Keep us posted. Martha

Martha, The baby will be 3 months old next Friday and the doctor says he should gain 1 oz. per day...he was born weighing only 4 lbs. 11 oz. and was only 2 weeks early...originally the mother said he was 4 weeks premature but that turned out to not be true. He was just small, not that early... Now if he would just sleep more than 3 hours at a time I'd be happy... :eek: Sasha