My Newborn Has Severe Acid Reflux

Hi A.,

I know how scary reflux can be. My daughter is 14 months and still has it. We ended up seeing a specialist when she about 4 months old after several medications didn't work. She's now on prevacid and it's amazing! Her symptoms are under control and she's finally eating and holding food down - and gaining weight! :) I would definitely speak with your pediatrician about seeing a specialist and maybe even having a swallow study done if it hasn't been done already.

Other than that, I would make sure that you hold her upright for about 30-40 min after she's done eating. I carried my daughter around in a bjorn and she loved it! I know it's tough, just hang in there! It will get easier. :)

1 mom found this helpful

A.,

I kinda understand how your feeling. I myself have four children. My 3rd son has a Hiatal Hernia. Were his stomach comes up into his esophagus. So his stomach doesn't close. He is now 6 but wasn't diagnosed until he was 5yrs. He threw up 5 or more times a day. I felt horrible I was spending so much time trying to figure out what was going on with him. I felt I wasn't paying enough attention to my other 3. But I did my best and when had free time I spent it with my other kids. Even if it was something little. You just need to set time a side with your daughter and you only and let her know she is still important. I found that once I started doing that. They started getting easier on them and me. He has started throwing up less. Which he also turned blue like your daughter. He doesn't do that any more. I propped his bed up. I hope this helped you. Just hang in there it does get better.

1 mom found this helpful

Adienne,
My son also has or had reflux. My sons doctor told me to add 1 tsp of single grain rice to every ounce of formula. ex( 4oz = 4tsps) and we only feed him 5 ounces and he doesnt spit up nearly as much as he used to, but I understand it can be VERY frustrating especially if you put them in a new clean outfit and then they spit up all over it.
T.

My daughter was the same way. We ended up changeing her milk to prosobe that seem to help. It only lasted for the first year. Now she is much better and 3yrs old.. If you are breast feeding think about what you had to eat because the dr told me it was an allergic reation she was have to all the other milks. until we went to prosobi.(check spelling)
J.

Been there with the reflux but not as severe. My pedi had me to thicken my sons formula with rice cereal in the night time bottle. She told me 1 tsp per ounce but my friend whose son had the severe reflux said her pedi told her 1/2 tsp per ounce. If you breast feed then you would need to pump that last evening bottle. You might ask your doctor about thickening. It just gave them a little thicker coating on the stomach and really helped with the reflux and spitting up. Also, my friend was told to elevate the crib mattress, which caused her son to slide to the end of the bed. SO then she got some big boy underware and some safety pins and when she put him down at night she safety pinned the underware to the sheet with him underneath (if that makes sense). This kept him in place all night with the elevated mattress. You also might find some good advise on the "ask dr sears" website. I really like going to that site for things. They seem to really give a lot of useful information and tips.

Hope this helps.
A.

Get a sling, or a front carrier - either one will let you hold (and keep an eye) on the baby, while playing with your older child.

My favorite is the Over the shoulder baby holder - because you can use it from birth through preschool.

S.

When my son gave birth he also suffered from Acid, we had to change his formula to Gentlease. Since then we have not had any issues. Thank God, it works GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I recommend a strap on carrier, so that you can be in constant contact with your baby and still have both hands free to play with your older girl. Riding in the carrier usually puts my little ones to sleep, especially if I face them inwards and let them nurse while I walk around.

Honestly, I know how you feel. My second daughter had it, too, and the first time it happened freaked me out. After the doc said it was ok, it was just a lot of dirty bibs and onesies. The only difference is that my doc didn't put her on meds, so she puked every time she ate. She did grow out of it. It got less and less after 6 months and was gone completely by a year old. I think it's just the initial shock for you. That scared look she gets will continue for a little while, but will go away when she begins to realize when it's coming up and she'll just puke like it's nothing. Good luck with it and take care. Remember that you'll find the time for your oldest. A mother always finds a way. I have five and boy, it's hard, but we manage. Lots of blessings and much luck! L.

My daughter had the same thing and didn't outgrow it until she was about 4 years old. She is 13 now and still suffers from heartburn when she overeats or eats too many sweets, the Dr says it is all related to the acid reflux.

Some of the things that helped us when she was very little and very forcefully puking 24 hours a day:

1. Sit her up when she eats and for at least 30 min after eating, either holding her upright or sitting in a bouncy seat, car seat, swing, etc.

2. The doctor had us add 1 tsp. of baby rice cereal for every ounce of formula from the time she was 2 days old, it didn't help a lot but it did help enough to keep doing it.

3. Burp OFTEN

4. Fold a receiving blanket in half and lay it across the top of her bed or bassinet, this way in the middle of the night or during naps you don't have to change soaking wet sheets, you can just change the receiving blanket.

5. I had a plastic dishpan that I kept full of water and laundry soap. Any time she puked all over an outfit, hers or mine, it went into the soapy water until I was ready to do laundry. This kept us from having stains on everything!

6. My daughter always slept on her stomach so she wouldn't choke on her own spit up.

I hope some of these help, if you have any other questions or just want to chat you can email me at ____@____.com

Did they do a Swallow Study while she was in the hospital? Has she been evaluated by a Speech-Language Pathologist?? If not, ask the doctor for a prescription for a Swallow study to be done by a Speech-Language Pathologist. I am speaking from experience as I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and I work at a local children's hospital and we help children with feeding disorders. Not sure where you are.. I am in South Texas..

You are doing the best you can!! You are loving your children and taking care of them!! Take care!

J.

I have a friend whose son had the same thing. She had to bottle feed him, then sit perfectly still to feed and burp him so he would not throw it all up, Even when they were out in public! He is now about a year old and he grown out of it already, so don't worry, it will subside!