There seem to be an awful lot of babies with reflux on here at the moment so I thought it would be a good idea to add reflux to the information pages on here. Would make for a good resource I think.

What would you all like included?

Can you all tell me what treatment your baby is on or how you're managing it?

Thanks!

Excellent idea!

P is having Gaviscon in formula twice a day and it seems to take the edge off. Have also tried Aptamil Anti Reflux milk which seems to help a little and definitely stops the choking episodes.

It would be good to have people's top tips on dealing with GPs perhaps so you can go along and make them realise you know what you are talking about!

How about top tips on helping symptoms like i put P in my Connecta when she is bad as she likes to be upright and i can get on with things. I also prop one end of her bed up. Also dont let her get too hungry as crying makes it 100 times worse.

Something to bear in mind- I read a high number of reflux cases are caused by an underlying cause, in our case cows milk protein allergy. So after tryin to treat the reflux unsuccessfully we got to the root and it disappeared completely with no drugs.

Oh and be your baby's voice! You know them, yes babies cry but you know if they're in pain and you DON'T have to put up with it. A gp is just that, a *general* practitioner. Push for a specialist, or go to hospital to see a paediatrician

Keep upright for 20 minutes after a feed.

Tilt the cot mattress.

Wind regularly.

Get help and don't be fobbed off by your GP! Some gp's don't take reflux seriously as they say babies grow out of it by a year old. This isn't helpful!

Can be linked to allergies and eczema (like N has). In which case you should be seen by the appropriate people (dietician, paediatrician, allergist, dermatologist).

I look after a lot of babies who have reflux. Left untreated it can lead to respiratory problems and the acid can affect the airway so although there are children that grow out of it, some don't. I have a 17 month old who is still on omeprazole. It's important these children have the correct treatment.

Excellent suggestions ladies, keep them coming.

I am constantly amazed how ignorant so many GPs still are

Great idea, and really helpful info so far.

I had been meaning to post a q&a thread so we could pool knowledge but makes sense to ask mine here if ok!

What to you do about nappy off time? Sam loves having his bum out and a good kick and play but always ends up being sick, even when it's ages after a feed. Do I just need to accept I have to make this time shorter for now? Which is a shame. I've put a blanket under the mat to prop up a little but it doesn't seem to affect things.

Tips wise I've found leisurely feeds really help him, though not always practical I know, especially for those with two. If we have upright time during feeds and little breaks in between he rarely brings it back up. I'm also trying to remember every cry doesn't mean hunger or thirst. His reflux together with the heat and 6 wk gs meant I was non stop feeding recently and looking back I think some of his sickness was being too full. He chucked back all his milk recently as I'd fed him straight after a 2 hour nap assuming he must be starving, but actually he hasn't shown signs and I was just going on recent gs history.

Ps Sam is on gaviscon and we've recentl been told to up to 2 sachets per use. I'm not sure it will cut it with his silent symptoms but the Gp, like others didn't seem fussed. He asked if S was content in between feeds for the most, which he is, though I had told him I see the reflux waking him up and he often splutters and gags in his sleep. I am not sure what the next step would be for him if I go back after this next lot of gaviscon?

I have to admit I don't do nappy off time really! Could you use a pillow under his blanket?

Do you find the gaviscon is doing anything? I think it's a lot harder if you're a first time mum to persuade the gp to give you anything harder than that but if it's not working you need to spell it out that you aren't happy with it and want something stronger.

With my Sammy we controlled it but never completely with the drugs though but you need to at least try everything before accepting that's as good as he's going to get.

LLL- incidentally my GP said both his sons had it and no one would take them seriously. At 18 months having never really slept he cracked and treated him himself! Do it's not just mere mortals who struggle to get the correct treatment it seems! Makes him very sympathetic thankfully

No top tips but just wanted to relate to lamby. I too was told to up the gaviscon to two sachets yesterday by my gp. He said it takes a while to build up in their systems. I'm not convinced of that to be honest.. He also said that he wouldn't prescribe anything harder but he would refer me to a pead if gaviscon didn't work.  I'm going back on Monday. It is easing little ones pain but from the 3 am feed the grunting is ridiculous and every night I'm having to have him sleep on me to keep him upright so that we both get a bit more sleep. Although as you all know you don't sleep properly like this hey...

Bexy I did this with number one. I was in a permanent  state of sleep deprivation. At least your gp will refer you I suppose

Yes he didn't want to take responsibility for prescribing anything else but I guess at least I'd be referred..

My tin of enfanmil has just arrived! I think we are going to give it a go tomorrow!

I just picked up the rest of my prescription for 10 tins! He only has one bottle a day usually!

I do hope it works for us but more so I hope the gp prescribes x

Aurora has non silent reflux and luckily I am registered with a GP practice that has a community paediatrician as one of the GPs. We never tried Gaviscon as HV referred us directly to the right GP. Started off with ranitidine at 0.8ml and now up to 1.3ml 3 times a day and domperidone 2ml 4 times a day, tried reducing the domperidone to 1.5ml as it was making her very windy but then started vomitting more again. This protocol we are going to stay on until 6 months when it changes due to changes in babies metabolism of drugs at this age - not sure what this will be will find out in 6 weeks.

I am now so used to being puked on i call it my perfume of "au du lait", we are still exclusively breastfeeding and changing my diet does not seem to help her, GP has said that it was worth thinking about starting weaning early (Aurora is 19 weeks) as it can help keep it down by maturing the digestive system still in two minds about it so not started yet.

In the beginning she could not tolerate tummy time at all on the flat so i propped her up over a cushion similar to a breastfeeding cushion, used to fold towels to put under the changing mat to put it on and incline.

With nappy free time I just assume that she is going to wee on what i put her on so if she is sick on it i try not to worry. I find it more embarrassing that whichever friends house, cafe, play areas we visit she has to christen with milky juice.

workinghard

I just picked up the rest of my prescription for 10 tins! He only has one bottle a day usually!

I've just ordered another 8 tins of Neocate, that and all the eczema stuff we're a walking pharmacy!

Back to the doctors again for us tomorrow I think. H is still on gaviscon which I think is helping a little but today he is in pain again for some reason. He is also constipated.. Did anyone else find gaviscon worked at first and then stopped working?

Gaviscon bunged big S up terribly so he was only on it for 2 days. Good luck tomorrow

I think that's the problem here.. Not sure if the constipation or reflux is causing most pain!

Bexy - good luck tomorrow, hope you get referred quickly if the gp won't prescribe.

I am still undecided about gaviscon, we'd had a good couple of days on increased amounts and I was feeling hopeful. He was still a bit sick but not lots, was sleeping much better and less spluttering during the night - though still some. However today he has brought up so much milk with winding, and has been sick several times too, not sure he's kept down that much milk though doesn't appear to be hungry so I guess must still be fairly full.

WH - I think you're right that its tougher approaching the gp as a novice first timer - I'm going to him for advice, and the only help he is offering is more gaviscon ATM. Though its great he's not losing weight I know, it seems he's not really interested in trying anything else because of it. Is little S fine now he's on the one special formula a day? Can't scroll back to see name! Or like with your Sammy, is it a matter of just managing it until they outgrow it?

What are the other drugs and what do they do? Sorry can't remember names mentioned - are they both formulas or something else? Does any drug relieve the silent symptoms?

Thanks for the changing mat tips, will try propping up more. LG -  I'm not so bothered about him being sick on his clothes, more if him having nappy off time is causing sickness I would avoid if he was mainly upright. But it seems a shame to not do something that always brings smiles! Aurora's reflux sounds difficult to manage and sorry she is still suffering at 19 weeks, how do you feel about weaning earlier?