Our teeny tiny bundle of joy Elliott entered the world in what I can only describe as a wonderful birth. So after four weeks of bonding and our world being turned upside down (in a good way) our hearts nearly broke when we thought we’d lost him.
Elliott was being sick A LOT during his feeds and for quite a while after. I had no idea if this was normal as I had nothing else to compare it to, or friends to ask for that matter as I was the first in our group to have a baby. He also cried A LOT, but I put this down to trapped wind and colic. I spoke to my health visitor about his symptoms and was assured he was fine and they quite frankly made me feel like I was being a neurotic first time mother. So I doubted myself and trusted their judgement; they are after all the experts.
One evening we were going about our usual routine of bath, bottle and bed when Elliott choked on his own vomit. I remember screaming for Rob who was in the bath, whilst I was changing Elliott into his bed clothes as I couldn’t seem to get him to catch his breath or bring his vomit back up. Rob calmly took him off me and tried to help him too, but he just seemed to be going more blue. (Before I continue as I don’t want to alarm anybody, this was an isolated incident and after we were better informed of how to cope with Elliott’s condition it never happened again.) I shot down the stairs to ring an ambulance, whilst Rob saved our little boys life, giving him CPR & resuscitating him. He claims to this day he is no hero and not sure what he actually did helped, but I have to disagree and he will always be a hero in my eyes.
When the ambulance arrived I was a sobbing mess and insisted Elliott was checked out properly in hospital. They monitored him throughout the night and he was later diagnosed with reflux and prescribed infant gaviscon.
Lifestyle Changes
When we returned home from the hospital we were armed with medication and advise to ease Elliott’s reflux pain. We went around each and every room raising mattresses, changing mats and any other flat surface Elliott would lie on.
His bouncy chair, bath and car seat soon became our best friends, placing them under his activity play mat and using them for daytime naps. His preferred place of sleep was in my arms and to be honest I was quite happy for him to be there.
We also kept Elliott upright for a significant time after each feed, allowing enough time for the milk to pass into his stomach and settle before putting him back down again. Our daily routine seemed to take significantly longer, but again we were more than happy to do this so long as he was safe.
All these changes didn’t stop Elliott spitting up, but it did improve things. We also noticed a massive improvement when we weaned him and he began eating solids. All in all I’d say he suffered until he was 9 months old, it was truly horrible hearing him in pain knowing there was little we could do to comfort him and was emotionally exhausting as well as physically. We were on tenterhooks every time we put him down. Even the slightest noise, cough or splutter and I was by his side checking he was ok.
What is Acid Reflux?
I am no medical expert but here is my explanation of Infant reflux. It occurs when food backs up (refluxes) from a baby’s stomach, causing the baby to spit up. The condition is rarely serious and becomes less common as a baby gets older. The tiny valve in our oesophagus called the sphincter, allows food to pass to the stomach and prevents food from coming back up and is quite commonly under developed in babies. It can cause babies a lot of discomfort as the acid comes back up and burns their little throats.
There are many types of infant reflux, including silent, or GORD which is a severe form of reflux that can cause long term damage to the oesophagus.
Infant Gaviscon
The infant gaviscon prescribed to Elliott was a powder made up of sodium alginate and magnesium alginate, both natural substances of seaweed. The primary function is to thicken the milk preventing it from coming back up and easing discomfort. Due to this we instantly increased Elliott’s water intake so he wouldn’t get constipated. We also changed his bottles to the Dr Browns brand and were mindful of the teats sizes we were using. Large enough to prevent blockage, but small enough so he wasn’t gulping too much. We also burped him regularly during a feed and tired to feed him little and often to prevent to much regurgitation.
Symptoms
When I think back, Elliott was showing all the symptoms:
I just wasn’t informed enough about it and as I was a new Mum I just thought this was normal!
Prevention
Since having Elliott 11 years ago there does seems to be so many more products designed for babies who suffer with reflux, including formulas, special cribs or simple mattress wedges. Although a pile of books or towels definitely did the trick.
Just remember acid reflux is a treatable condition. Finding the lifestyle changes or medications that work for your child will help get their acid reflux under control.
This was without a shadow of a doubt a harrowing time for us as a family, but we got through it together and each day, week, month things got easier. But I must confess I was secretly relieved I didn’t have to go through it all again with Elliott’s siblings, Joseph and Anabelle.
Does/did your baby suffer with reflux? I bet you’ve got a few handy tips you can share with other Mums…..
Image by Little Beanies
My son had terrible reflux, luckily we never experienced anything as frightening as you, but he would forcefully bring up about 1oz after every feed and continue to spit up throughout the day. He was diagnosed with milk allergy at 4 weeks but when we changed his milk it didn’t get better. We tried gaviacon but it didn’t make any difference. He only seemed to be in pain with it occasionally, but it did mean he dropped 3 percentiles in his weight, but did eventually settle. It got better at around 11months and was only really with milk and not with solids.
My advice would be to lay an old towel or a few Muslins on the floor underneath where you are feeding him, we got pretty good at catching it in the muslin I had around his neck when burping him, but more often then not it would end up on the floor! I didn’t think about this until he was about 5 months and I now have two lovely expansive stained areas on my carpet – by my bed and in front of the sofa as that’s where he mainly got feed.
Tip two – layer the bed with multiple sheets or lay muslins over the top – easier to whip a layer off in the middle of the night then try and change it.
Our carpet and sofa was constantly sodden with sick stains too Claire. Elliott’s sleeping bags also had an awful yellow stain on them that just wouldn’t come out, no matter how much vanish I used! I didn’t think about layering up the bed sheets, that’s a handy tip. The washing pile were never ending wasn’t it….. xxx
Both my babies have had it and it can be such a lot of stress and exhaustion before you get it under control. Lorna that sounds so scary!
Both of mine eventually responded to a combination of gaviscon and a medicine called ranitidine. My youngest is still taking it but my oldest stopped around 9 months. I think starting solids was the real game changer for him.
When my little one started showing signs of reflux my heart sank but thankfully it’s been less severe than with my oldest.
I was so sure with my oldest that I would be told ‘babies just cry’ so I would as ever really recommend speaking to your GP if you have any niggling worries about your baby. Am so glad I did as the medication made such a huge difference.
My little girl was diagnosed with Reflux at 8 weeks old. She is my first and I felt like I was failing at parenthood because before the diagnosis I didn’t know why she was screaming all the time and constantly vomiting. She’s 7 months old now and still suffers if she doesn’t have gaviscon (health visitor told me to wean her off it at six months, turned out that was the wrong thing to do) but she is a happy little soul now and hardly ever cries. I don’t feel so much of a failure now either : )
It is heart breaking hearing them cry so much isn’t it Charlotte and not knowing how to help them. I’m glad you got a diagnosis and realised you are a terrific mummy xxx
So pleased you managed to find a medication that got it under control Fionnula. Our second child Joseph also showed signs of having reflux, but no where near in the same league as Elliott. The Dr did prescribe him Gaviscon at his 6 week check, but I think it was more prevention than cure. Or maybe he just responded better to the medication… xxx
My daughter was diagnosed with reflux when she was 3 weeks old. She was prescribed domperidone and ranitidine which involved syringing into her mouth 4 times a day, it was hell. Every medical professional we encountered had different advice of how we should administer it and our life was dominated by medicine and feeding timings. It was hell. I was breastfeeding which everyone told me was best for her little stomach but all the advice was geared towards bottle feeding (which she wouldn’t take) and I was just left to try and work it out myself. If she was awake, she was screaming, for four months. Then she started to turn a corner and seemed to be in less pain and things got so much better. It was honestly one of the worst periods of my life and totally puts me off having another child. On the plus side, at two years old she is now totally off the medication and a happy little thing (although we still have to avoid certain foods).
I know what you mean. The thought of going through it all over again, and with an older child to consider at the same time fills me with dread…
Ah you poor thing Gemma. Don’t let it put you off. I think it’s such an emotional roller coaster having a first child anyway as it’s such a shock to the system and complete lifestyle change, even though we convince ourselves we’re prepared, we’re not really until we’re living it and in the throws. Our mindset is much better to equip to cope with a second. Glad she turned a corner though, it’s truly upsetting hearing them in so much pain. xxx
Fortunately for me, we had experience of babies with reflux in the family so I recognised the symptoms early and knew the diagnostic process and how to speed it along. That and great family support still didn’t go all the way to relieving what was the darkest 3 months of my life. At a time everyone is asking you how much you’re “loving it”, oh yes it’s a total dream, me, the baby and the soft furnishings (even the dog on more than one occasion) covered in regurgitated milk, constant screaming, non-existent naps. “Sleep when the baby sleeps” ok great! I’ll take a nap driving in the outside lane on the motorway. Yeah, having a newborn – it’s WONDERFUL!! But the worst thing by far was witnessing this helpless, innocent little person in excruciating physical pain. Just horrendous. And connected to the nourishment process too which made it harder to deal with somehow.
Gaviscon had little effect on Fern’s symptoms so thankfully my prescription-happy GP let us have rainitidine quite early on and it made a lot of difference.
Initially I’d been reluctant to medicate my naturally birthed, breastfed baby but those irrational feelings were soon overcome. With the ranitidine she still had episodes but they were fewer and less regular. At four months she was almost completely free of symptoms, and like a different baby. The fussy, whingy ball of fury was a distant memory.
My advice to anyone who thinks they may have a reflux baby on their hands is don’t be fobbed off by well meaning friends family and HVs. See a doctor, pursue a diagnosis and save your family months of misery.
I’d completely forgotten Rob & I used to take Elliott out in the car too Philippa. As soon as we’d park up and walk in to the house he’d wake up – ha!
Great advise about pursuing a diagnosis, we could have saved ourselves a lot of heartache if we’d trusted our instincts and insisted he was checked out sooner. So pleased you had a good support network and don’t let it put you off having a second child if that’s what you really want. You know there is light at the end of the tunnel and in the grand scheme of things it’s actually such a small percentage of their life. Elliott will be turning 11 on Sunday and as harrowing as that time was I’ve replaced these memories with so many more happy new ones xxx
You’re right. Now Fern is 14 months, memories of those days are still vivid, but with perspective and put in context of the rest of her life, they are actually becoming less significant 🙂
xxx
Our son had awful reflux that started around 6 weeks. Carobel added to his bottles (Dr Browns and size 3 teats) worked brilliantly for us, very little sick now and most importantly the wee man is happier, no more arched backs or crying during feeds
Ah so pleased you found a solution Lyndsey xxx
What an awful experience for you, and well done to your husband for staying calm. Thankfully we never went through that but we are only just at almost 8 months getting to the bottom of our issues. It was around week 3 that I first took Noah to the doctor to be told reflux was only a laundry issue. The fact he would only sleep on me and scream constantly when lying down, plus throw up most of every feed? I assumed that’s what babies did. By week 10 he wasn’t gaining weight and they put him on gaviscon. But he continued to writhe in pain, constantly hiccup/ cough, wake constantly and be inconsolable when he woke at night. And gaviscon is a nightmare to administer when breastfeeding. He finally got put on rantidine and we saw a huge difference. Around 5 months I introduced one bottle a day and he would projectile vomit (even with gaviscon), and he got terrible eczema. He flitted between constipation and diarrhoea. He finally has been diagnosed as cows milk protein allergic. I still breastfeed and so it means no dairy for me as well as him. And we have special formula for when I’m not around. He’s a new baby. No eczema, no sickness, and sleeping – 7months of waking every 2-3 hours and he now sleeps a solid 9 hours. I also feel like a new person! My tips are- push f you think something is wrong, consider eliminating cows milk to see if that helps, and don’t be fobbed off that reflux is a laundry issue!
Oh gosh Anna poor you. It’s horrible when you knows somethings wrong and you’re made to feel like you just can’t cope. Sounds like you’ve had a long old slog to get your little ones diagnosis, luckily you kept pursuing things.
I bet you and your baby feel like different people now….xxx
This couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time for me. My first born is now 8 weeks old and we’ve just had a diagnosis of silent reflux last week. Thankfully this means he doesn’t vomit too much,but just spent 7 weeks screaming both through and between feeds for no apparent reason! The gaviscon we have been prescribed is working to some extent but he’s still not comfortable between feeds. It’s so difficult when people ask how your first magical weeks are and you don’t feel that they’re magical at all!! All you’re focussing on is the next feed and how to settle your little one in between!
From reading the comments above I think I’ll definitely go back to the doctor. Like people have said above so many people said ‘babies just cry’ or even that I was spoiling him with cuddles which is why he’d cry when we put him down, but my Mommy instinct told me there was something not right. Since the doctor mentioned reflux all the symptoms are recognisable! Thanks for this post and the useful comments below. It’s good to know I’m not alone and just doing everything wrong – which is an easy trap to fall into as a first time Mommy!
It is such an easy trap to fall into Sarah & I think we’re all guilty of blaming ourselves and thinking we’re failing first. I’m glad you realise you’re not and you’re a fabulous mummy and that we’ve given you the confidence to believe in yourself and your mummy instincts. I hope your little one starts to feel some relief soon. We promise you it does all get better xxx
I have two little girls who thankfully didn’t suffer with reflux issues, they were just sicky babies.
However I have watched many friends and their little ones suffer with the issue and it is just awful.
A good friend of mine was at her wits end when her baby was 6 months old and getting nowhere with the HV and GP.
She decided to take her baby to a local clinic that had a peadiatric osteopath that had come highly recommended from a friend.
On the first visit the specialist found that her little one’s posture in the abdomen area was for want of a better word ‘lopsided’ and this was creating digestion issues and therefore adding to the reflux issue.
After 3 sessions of very gentle manipulation (my friends baby would sleep throughout the sessions so obviously very relaxing) the difference in the reflux issue was amazing.
It didn’t completely cute it but it became a manageable issue with the medication following the oestepathy sessions.
This was a private treatment I believe at about £40 a session so not the cheapest but my friend still thinks it was the bet money she has ever spent.
Could be worth a try for any mummy’s out there sick of reflux (excuse the pun)
Xxx
Ah wow this does sound like money well spent Nicci. It’s funny how one visit from a specialist can get a quick diagnosis and months of what sounds like nagging goes un-investigated. Thank-you for sharing xxx
My daughter had silent reflux too, which was hard to diagnose as there wasn’t any vomit. Just constant screaming whenever she was awake, lots of writhing and I too found the link with nourishment very gruelling and distressing. I was shrugged off by a couple of doctors but my instinct told me she was in pain and there was a real problem.
We finally got meds from the doctor and also saw an incredible ostepath who made a real difference too. By about 4 months, when she was sitting up, things massively improved. She’s such a happy child now but my NCT friends all remember our many early playdates with lots of sweet sleeping cuddly newborns and Charlotte always howling the place down! I felt like such a crap mum at the time.
Am due number 2 in a few weeks and really hoping it doesn’t have the same problem. I’ll be seeing the ostepath within a week or two of the birth regardless, just to check the baby over!
Two of my friends left during visits Abi as I couldn’t console Elliott. I completely understand why they did, he was in distress, I was in distress, it wasn’t pretty.
Fingers crossed baby no 2 doesn’t have it, but definitely no harm in seeing an osteopath early xxx
My daughter had bad reflux and as she was my first, like you, I hadn’t heard of it. She was diagnosed by the health visitor who advised we take her to the doctors who prescribed us infant gaviscon. We didn’t have the awful experience you had of her actually not being able to breath and going blue but it was so stressful. Everytime we fed her we were on pins waiting for her to projectile vomit/start making the horrible choking noise. We would have to stop to wind her all the time and as she was a snacker rather than downing a full bottle (she’s still like this now with her food at nearly 3 years old – little and often!) her feeds would take such a long time compared to other parents and their babies! We used to put her in her car seat to nap (or I’d just leave her snuggled on me :-)) and propped her cot up. We noticed a big difference though when we started using the Dr Browns bottles and would definitely recommend these if anybody is having the same problems. Your husband was definitely a hero! 🙂
Our experiences & solutions sound very similar Lucy.
It’s hard being a first time mum, everything is SO new, you don’t know what’s normal or not. I’m glad your HV recognised the symptoms and advised you to see your GP. My little lady is a grazer too, maybe it’s a girl thing as my boys could eat for England! I honestly don’t know where they put it all. I think they must have hollow legs! xxx
My daughter is four months old and has reflux – I suspected that she might have it quite early on as it’s something my sister, brother and I all suffered from as babies! She was arching her back and screaming during feeds and being really sick afterwards – it was so horrible to know that she was in pain and most likely hungry a lot of the time due to not keeping much down!
We were lucky that the GP prescribed ranitidine straight away as he said that baby Gaviscon can be difficult to administer to breastfed babies (we didn’t have to try so not sure if this is the case). We also had an appointment with a paediatrician at the hospital for something unconnected, but she was great and listened to my concerns about the reflux and also prescribed domperidone. It is tricky having to administer both medicines three times a day, but it does seem to be helping and feeding is easier for both of us (I am a lot less anxious about it now too knowing that it isn’t hurting her). I have also been told that it should also get better once solids are introduced and that we can consider doing this slightly earlier than 6 months.
After lots of recommendations we also went to see a cranial osteopath and have a follow up appointment booked in for next week – I think this has helped a bit too!