OT: newborn baby acid reflux?

[Andrewlcox]

All,

Have any of you dealt with acid reflux in your newborn babies? We just had our first child 12 days ago and fear she is suffering from reflux. She acts like she is on fire flailing her arms and nearly scratching her face off while bicycling her legs 100mph. We don't want to medicate but if it's really this bad maybe we should offer her the relief or at least test it out. They make Prevacid and Other big name versions for kids to reduce her stomach acid.

We just administered a product named Colic Care (gripe water). She might be doing better but it a little early. She sucks on her pacifier intensely when she is suffering. At least she isn't hysterical right now so that I can ask this question.

Thanks,
Andy

BTW, she is named Sofia Araceli Cox and was born 7lbs4oz and 20". She is healthy and beautiful.

[tuxbailey]

Congratulations on the new baby!

What does her pediatrician say about the symptoms?

[Andrewlcox]

The pediatrician acknowledges her few symptoms but wants us to wait it out. I think her distress is going to be the hardest part. I don't want my little girl in pain.

She isn't an extreme case like unable to keep food down or all the other top symptoms. She gets a wet burp and just loses it for hours.

The gripe water helped relieve some of her issue an hour ago so maybe we'll keep that as our secret weapon and treat as needed because she doesn't suffer all day long.

Andy

[thwart]

Seems wise to be a bit 'conservative' and go along with your pediatrician's recommendations. For the time being anyway.

Certainly plenty of docs who over-prescribe meds...

[Viper]

Congratulations on the new baby!

What does her pediatrician say about the symptoms?

Congrats on Sofia!

Sophia = wisdom
Philos = Love
Philosophy = The love of knowledge

I had this as a wee lad, gastroenteritis:

http://kidshealth.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/fact-sheets/gastroenteritis-children

I'm sure you've read everything and there are several great Doctors on the Forum, too, but here:

http://www.medicinenet.com/gerd_in_infants_and_children/article.htm

Congratulations to mom, dad and Sofia.

:beer:

[Andrewlcox]

We want to be conservative too and hope to find alternative treatments to medicine but if she keeps up the pain and acts like she is on fire we might try a round of medication.

Andy

[Joachim]

We went through the same. Tried everything and finally got prevacid. It was a life saver for all of us. He was on it a few months and is 100% now, medicine and reflux free. Just remember it takes about 10 days before it starts working. Good luck.

[93legendti]

A hard part of parenting a newborn is learning what comforts your baby when he/she is in discomfort (besides sleep, food, holding and clean diapers).

For us, it was a rocking chair, swaddling, lying in the baby carrier in the bathroom with the heat lamp turned on, turning on the kitchen hood fan while I walked them around the kitchen island and/or a battery powered swing that my son would take long naps in.

Our son was colicky when he was a new born and the rocking chair really helped. When my daughter was 3 months old she had some rough moments and the Dr. had us use beano to relieve her symptoms.

When my daughter was 4 months old she had some really rough nights. We found out at her monthly check up that she hadn't gained weight, as my wife's milk didn't give her enough calories. We switched to formula and everything was fine.

If you're using formula, try switching to a non-lactose based formula.

Good luck.

[firerescuefin]

We went through the same. Tried everything and finally got prevacid. It was a life saver for all of us. He was on it a few months and is 100% now, medicine and reflux free. Just remember it takes about 10 days before it starts working. Good luck.

Our experience x 2 boys.....worked well:)

[cfox]

My son started having acid reflux as 2 month old. He was basically fine,but at 2 am, every night, he would start screaming. A bottle would help, but we had to put him on medicine eventually (prilosec, I think). It made a huge difference, and he outgrew it in about a year. It's pretty common and easy to deal with. He's now eight and never has had any more symptoms.

[djg]

Maybe ask your pediatrician to recommend a pediatric GI specialist? There are such folks -- not so many, maybe, but they're out there -- and it might be worth seeking one out.

Congratulations on the baby, and best of luck.

[dustyrider]

I'm not able to help you with your question about the little one's gi tract.

But, congratulations on your new arrival!

I hope everything gets sorted out soon for you guys and for her.

[nighthawk]

Aloe Vera juice has a soothing effect on the digestive system... if you can get the little one to drink it.

[vjp]

Breast milk or formula? If breast milk, something as simple as mom eating a tomato can make the milk very acidic for the baby, if formula it could be an intolerance.

Congrats, it will all work out. We had two teeny, tiny preemies who are now 20 and 17 years old.

Happy Mothers day to your wife!!

[Climb01742]

we have a 6-month old and she went through the same thing. as others have said, check to see if she's allergic to something in the formula, including soy. gripe water helps but not as much as we wanted or it seemed our daughter needed. she's been on ranitidine and she's much, much better. it's something they out grow, we were told, but getting to that point can be very stressful for baby and parents. for us, switching formulas and ranitidine have really worked. all the best. hope you find a solution soon. hearing a baby cry is heartbreaking.

[kgreene10]

We went through a (thankfully) short period of this. Our (prior) pediatrician went to the Prevacid right away, but we actually got better results with Gripe Water (usually produced a giant burp), tailoring mom's diet, and switching to Similac Sensitive (orange container). Our son's reflux was never as bad as it sounds like your daughter's is, so the same may not work for your, of course.

I should also say that we switched pediatricians three times in the first few months. We now have a good fit and really like the current doc. I was a bit tentative about changing so many times, but now I'm glad we did.

Good luck and a huge congrats.

[cnighbor1]

My wife was passing her slight intorence to milk. which she used only in her coffee. so when she breast fed our daugther she picked up on that and couldn't fall asleep. Wife quit milk for a while and baby slept like a charm Our nature path doctor picked that up
Plus other heath concerns for famliy over the years. worth visting one for second opinion
charles Nighbor

[Steve in SLO]

Check your PMs.