Baby reflux - how to spot?

Question

My 12 week Daughter has had a fairly colourful life so far in regards to her health but her latest issue seems to be reflux. We have both Gaviscon Infant which goes in the bottle (and constipates her) and Zantac liquid which tastes like l*****g a rusty nail. Basically, I know it's reflux but I wondered what other babies symptoms were?

She has always gnawed at her hand and sucked her fingers, she has always dribbled a lot too but aside from the usual reflux symptoms of spit up, gurgling and hiccups she seems to have started to chew her tongue. So much so in fact that yesterday on her play mat I was convinced that she had something in her mouth but nope, it was just her chewing. Is this another sign of reflux?

She is on Neocate by the way for cows milk protein allergy and colitis.

Any advice?

Answer 1

Well good luck to you.  Reflux can be a very stressful problem to deal with.  My daugher was born with it and spent 4 weeks in the hospital from complications.  She refused to eat and ended up being sent home with a feeding tube in her nose.  For her it turned out to be allergy induced in some ways.  Once I got her away from high dust and mold areas she had an easier time.  But before that she'd projectile vomit all her feedings 4-6 times a day.  And I couldn't leave her by herself because she'd spit up a little bit and choke on it.  I think the sucking your fingers is a symptom of GERD but it is also a symptom of a baby being hungry.  My baby got constipated from the medicine and the type of formula and the cereal they wanted her to have in her bottles and they told me to give her prune juice during the day to help with the constipation.  I don't know who you're seeing for this problem but a Pediatric GI doctor could be of some help as they specialize in this type of problem.  My older daughter is showing signs of a milk protein allergy now so we are dealing with that as well.  One thing they told us was to keep her upright.  We put a wedge under her crib mattress and kept her in a swing or a sling or a bouncer or something angled all day long.  

Answer 2

My son had it too. He would just spit up and cry alot after eating. We thought it was the formula at first so we switched. Eventually the doctor told us what it was and we got him on medication.

Answer 3

My bub cried when I leaned him back, wouldn't sleep, drank tiny amounts of his bottle or off me but wanted to feed constantly so was obviously hungry. Arched his back and screamed.

Try Zoton sachets. Its a pink powder that tastes like strawberry quick. The doctor said we could put it in his bottles but he doesn't drink enough so we put it in his cereal of a morning. He loves it. Eats more cereal when the medicine is in it. We tried Zantac as well but he refused to take it. Spat it everywhere.

And yep the chewing can be the reflux. Bad taste in their mouth.

Good Luck