Post by hillarywhitney on Sept 9, 2014 15:38:11 GMT -5
Background: A few weeks ago DS started to have a hard time eating. He'd eat for about 10 mins and then pull off and cry. I'd burp him and try to get him to latch again. Sometimes he'd latch for a few seconds, but then he'd start crying again/arching his back. He usually calmed down some once I sat him upright. Initially I thought it was gas. So we used gas drops. But that didn't seem to help. Then, I posted here wondering if he had a sensitivity/allergy to something I was eating. But after doing some more reading, I started to think it was reflux.
Took him to the pediatrician and he was diagnosed with reflux. The pediatrician put him on Zantac (.63ml). That seemed to help some. We also started giving him gas drops before he ate. Eventually it didn't seem to be helping at all, so the pediatrician upped his dose to .8ml. We had a wonderful few days where DS didn't have any issues with his reflux. But then he started to have a hard time again. Pediatrician upped his dose to 1ml (this was on Thursday) and told us to call in a few days if that didn't help. It didn't seem to help at all. I called and left a message for the pediatrician. Should hear back today. I'm thinking DS will be prescribed Prilosec. And I'm hoping it kicks in sooner than later, and helps.
I'm so tired and overwhelmed. It breaks my heart to see DS struggle to eat. He seems to do ok maybe half the time. But then the other half I'm lucky if he can nurse for 10 mins. And then he cries/screams/arches his back etc. I will get him calmed down and he will make rooting motions with his mouth. So I'll try to feed him again, and then the cycle starts again. Usually he ends up falling asleep. And he'll wake up shortly after and then I can get him to nurse. Sometimes I'll offer a bottle of pumped milk. But that's hit or miss too.
He doesn't spit up much. Once in awhile. We got some Dr. Brown bottles hoping that might help. And he takes those ok. Today he was only able to drink about an ounce before he got really upset.
I don't know what to do anymore. I mean, I know I have to wait to hear from the pediatrician and just keep trying. But, I feel so beat down. I'm afraid to take him anywhere. Because if I have to feed him in public, I worry I won't be able to calm him down quickly enough. I actually haven't taken him in public myself yet. Unless you count my parents house. Otherwise DH or my mom have been with me when we go out to the store/to run errands etc. I was hoping to finally push myself to take him somewhere alone, and now I'm even more anxious to try.
Yesterday was so rough. I cried when he cried. And then DH took over and I laid in bed and cried and then slept a little.
Breastfeeding was difficult for me for the first 2 weeks, and then I got DS to latch. I was so hopeful. And now we are dealing with the reflux and I feel discouraged again. It's so hard to have him scream at my breast. I know it's not my fault. But I just feel so bad.
The times he is able to eat without being in pain, I feel so hopeful and happy. I just wish he could nurse pain free all the time.
And with saying that I had oversupply, having too much milk wasn't really my issue, it was having the forceful letdown that was too overwhelming for him, and he would pull off and cry. I started completely pumping, and then block nursing. It helped some, but it is still a struggle sometimes.
I'm so sorry you're having trouble. It's so hard sometimes. These are the days I would repeat my mantra of "you will not have to relive this day again. He will never be x months and x days again, he will grow and this problem will be in the past" over and over and over until I calmed down.
And with saying that I had oversupply, having too much milk wasn't really my issue, it was having the forceful letdown that was too overwhelming for him, and he would pull off and cry. I started completely pumping, and then block nursing. It helped some, but it is still a struggle sometimes.
I'm so sorry you're having trouble. It's so hard sometimes. These are the days I would repeat my mantra of "you will not have to relive this day again. He will never be x months and x days again, he will grow and this problem will be in the past" over and over and over until I calmed down.
Thank you. And I feel sad that sometimes I'm just wishing the day away. I already feel like time is going so fast, and I don't want to wish any of it away.
I'm not sure about the oversupply/forceful letdown. I will check out the link.
I'm using a nipple shield, so would the forceful letdown still be an issue?
I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. DD had the really pukey type of reflux but the rest of your post is so, so familiar to me. We saw good results once DD got started on Prevacid so fingers crossed that the Prilosec works for you guys!
The leaving the house will be easier/less daunting soon.
As far as the crying, DD sometimes had trouble with the laying back to nurse/latch. I had some success with laying back myself (like just scooting down in the chair and leaning back) and letting her lay tummy to tummy to me and latch like that. Once she latched and got go going, I could sit up and lay her sideways.
I'm so sorry. We dealt with the same thing and it was heartbreaking. DS is on Prevacid and it has helped him a lot, I really hope it does the same thing for your LO.
Also, not to hijack this post, but we also started using the Gerber Soothe probiotic (walgreens) and it really seemed to make a difference with gas/tummy issues.
I'm so sorry you are dealing with this. DD had the really pukey type of reflux but the rest of your post is so, so familiar to me. We saw good results once DD got started on Prevacid so fingers crossed that the Prilosec works for you guys!
The leaving the house will be easier/less daunting soon.
As far as the crying, DD sometimes had trouble with the laying back to nurse/latch. I had some success with laying back myself (like just scooting down in the chair and leaning back) and letting her lay tummy to tummy to me and latch like that. Once she latched and got go going, I could sit up and lay her sideways.
Thanks. I so hope the new medication works.
I tried nursing the way you described awhile ago. But stopped when the rx seemed to be helping. I'm going to try it again.
You can love your baby and not love the hard days.
I never have used a nipple shield, so I'm not sure about that, sorry.
This made me cry. In a good way. I think I really needed to hear this. When he's screaming and crying I will keep kissing his head and tell him I love him.
I'm so sorry. We dealt with the same thing and it was heartbreaking. DS is on Prevacid and it has helped him a lot, I really hope it does the same thing for your LO.
Also, not to hijack this post, but we also started using the Gerber Soothe probiotic (walgreens) and it really seemed to make a difference with gas/tummy issues.
I'm so sorry. We dealt with the same thing and it was heartbreaking. DS is on Prevacid and it has helped him a lot, I really hope it does the same thing for your LO.
Prevacid really helped my son, too. It took a few days to kick in, but it was great.
The biggest difference I saw was when I gave up dairy, though. He puked a LOT, then much less with prevacid, then almost not at all with prevacid + no milk. Then one day, he ran out of Prevacid and the pharmacy gave us a hard time about refilling it so we had to go the weekend without and he never threw up. He hasn't been back on it since, so I just thought I would mention it.
I'm so sorry you guys are struggling. Big, huge internet stranger hugs to you.
DS doesn't spit up much. But I am thinking I need to try cutting out dairy to see if it helps with the other symptoms.
I'm so sorry. We dealt with the same thing and it was heartbreaking. DS is on Prevacid and it has helped him a lot, I really hope it does the same thing for your LO.
I think I remember the dr. saying he'd try Prilosec next, but maybe it was Prevacid. I can't remember.
Prilosec is a common one, too, so he might have said Prilosec.
I can't remember exactly when we saw results. I feel like it was pretty soon we saw a difference and noticed a real difference within a few days. After a week or two, she was still have 4 hours or so of extreme crying form pain before it was time for her dosage so we added in a second dose each day, 12 hours apart.
Post by disappointedkittens on Sept 9, 2014 16:33:28 GMT -5
Hugs to you. We had similar issues and just got ds onto prevacid and it made a world of difference. He was already 6 months and I wish I had gotten him on it earlier. I had forceful letdown as well and feeding tummy to tummy temporarily helped, and as he got older he learned to deal with the flow better himself. I also thought dairy may be an issue fir us but a nurse recommended biogaia probiotics and they made all the difference. Good luck!
I'm so sorry. My DS had reflux too, and while we were lucky that he responded well to Zantac, I identified so, so much with your post. I was so jealous of my friends that had "easy" babies they could leave the house with without worrying about the feeding/crying cycle. I don't know if it helps or not, but when we found the right medicine and dosage for my kid he became the most laid-back, easygoing, adaptable baby ever and I took him EVERYWHERE! I definitely made up for the lost weeks. Big, big hugs. I'm hoping the doctor calls soon and your next prescription works quickly and effectively.
Both my kids had terrible reflux. I used to cry at feedings all the time. ((((Hugs)))) Zantac did not work for us either. Prevacid did. We didn't try Prilosec. Hopefully that does the trick. We bottle fed and adding a bit of baby cereal (oatmeal or mixed grain) to the bottle helped too.
DS had silent reflux. We didn't have much luck with meds until we did Prevacid.
I had oversupply and a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance that made it worse. I did block feeding, stopped pumping, and put cabbage leaves in my bra.
How did you find out that you had a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance?
He had green foamy poop that was not related to a food allergy (I went dairy and soy free for his second month of life and there was no change in reflux or colic.) when I would pump, I would get 5-6 ounces of super watery milk right away.
Also, do you wear him? It helped a ton with the gas and reflux.
I have an Ergo and Baby K'Tan. So far haven't used them (I know, it's ridiculous). We've tried a few times, but couldn't quite figure it out (the K'Tan) and DS was too small for the Ergo. I tried the rolled up blanket trick, but couldn't get it to work. I told DH we need to try again tonight.
I've been holding DS a lot. Because I want to, and because I figure it will help. But it would be nice to have my hands free sometimes.
How did you find out that you had a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance?
He had green foamy poop that was not related to a food allergy (I went dairy and soy free for his second month of life and there was no change in reflux or colic.) when I would pump, I would get 5-6 ounces of super watery milk right away.
Thanks for the information. DS had green poop yesterday. But it wasn't foamy. I'm going to keep an eye on it. And I'm not sure how to tell if my milk is watery. I realize that probably sounds stupid. But, it's hard to tell since it's a liquid. When it's in the fridge the fat separates. Is that a sign it's ok? Was it more clear than white?
He had green foamy poop that was not related to a food allergy (I went dairy and soy free for his second month of life and there was no change in reflux or colic.) when I would pump, I would get 5-6 ounces of super watery milk right away.
Thanks for the information. DS had green poop yesterday. But it wasn't foamy. I'm going to keep an eye on it. And I'm not sure how to tell if my milk is watery. I realize that probably sounds stupid. But, it's hard to tell since it's a liquid. When it's in the fridge the fat separates. Is that a sign it's ok? Was it more clear than white?
When mine separated it hardly had any of the "cream" on top.
Also, do you wear him? It helped a ton with the gas and reflux.
I have an Ergo and Baby K'Tan. So far haven't used them (I know, it's ridiculous). We've tried a few times, but couldn't quite figure it out (the K'Tan) and DS was too small for the Ergo. I tried the rolled up blanket trick, but couldn't get it to work. I told DH we need to try again tonight.
I've been holding DS a lot. Because I want to, and because I figure it will help. But it would be nice to have my hands free sometimes.
It really helped me get out of the house. DD didn't love it as much at home but I could put her in that in the grocery store or Target and buy myself almost an HOUR of time to shop. It was great. She wouldn't sleep in it but she was quiet and would just look around.
I have an Ergo and Baby K'Tan. So far haven't used them (I know, it's ridiculous). We've tried a few times, but couldn't quite figure it out (the K'Tan) and DS was too small for the Ergo. I tried the rolled up blanket trick, but couldn't get it to work. I told DH we need to try again tonight.
I've been holding DS a lot. Because I want to, and because I figure it will help. But it would be nice to have my hands free sometimes.
It really helped me get out of the house. DD didn't love it as much at home but I could put her in that in the grocery store or Target and buy myself almost an HOUR of time to shop. It was great. She wouldn't sleep in it but she was quiet and would just look around.
It really will make things just a little easier, because you can do stuff that you need to get done, and it gets things moving up and down instead of just sitting there. I would feed D and then DH would wear him to do the dishes or clean or work, and it really helped D to kind of process everything (and it would allow us to get some stuff done).