Probiotics

[celticgypsy]

I'm new to this, so forgive my naivete...
But what role does this play in acid reflux situations, and
what brands do you use? Also, where can you get them (over the counter)?

And do YOU take them, or would I give them directly to my 2 month old son (and what's the best way)?

Mr Dr believes my son to have either acid reflux or an allergy of somesort...and I wanted to try this first before any meds.

I'm new to all this!
Thanks,
Kristen

[Chinese Pistache]

Originally Posted by celticgypsy

I'm new to this, so forgive my naivete...
But what role does this play in acid reflux situations, and
what brands do you use? Also, where can you get them (over the counter)?

And do YOU take them, or would I give them directly to my 2 month old son (and what's the best way)?

Mr Dr believes my son to have either acid reflux or an allergy of somesort...and I wanted to try this first before any meds.

I'm new to all this!
Thanks,
Kristen

I'm not sure how it aids in reflux specifically, but oftentimes, reflux is a result of food sensitivities, which are related to an imbalance in gut bacteria. Taking beneficial bacteria helps to restore balance and thus, strengthen the immune system.

I would take them and give them to the baby, BUT, you need to give a strain that is supposed to be in the gut of babies (bifido bacteria) and with reflux, I'd find a dairy, soy and other allergen-free version.

This is the one I use and recommend: http://www.kirkmanlabs.com/[e-mail] I order them online.

You can break open the capsules and let your baby suck the powder from your finger (usually half or less than the adult dose).

Have you taken dairy and/or other foods out of your diet?

[celticgypsy]

The Kirkman's contains Inulin, which I've heard can increase gas/bloating in some people. Would that be safe to use?

[changingseasons]

You just need to start it very slowly so that the body can adjust to the new stuff colonizing in the gut. For a babe, I would start with just a fingertip of the powder (open up the capsules) and work your way up.

But if it's an allergy, probiotics aren't going to do much until you also get the offending foods out of your diet. Like the pp suggested, I would start with an elimination diet and a food journal to see which foods are a problem.

[ellasmama2007]

i use the kirkmans lactobacillus duo which is inulin free. dd cant tolerate the inulin at all! hth!

[lily7]

For reflux you may also look into chiropractic adjustment or craniosacral therapist.

[celticgypsy]

So I received the Kirkmans one (the one w/inulin) and have given it to my son the past 3-4 days, 1/2 capsule, once a day. And he seems WORSE. He's screaming, seems in more pain, has more gas, won't eat at all. I'm afraid to give it to him anymore! I have to go he's screaming now

[kjbrown92]

So I guess I'd say the inulin is out.
Have you tried an elimination diet? Like the top two: milk/soy, or the top three milk/soy/gluten?
And keep a food journal.

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by celticgypsy

So I received the Kirkmans one (the one w/inulin) and have given it to my son the past 3-4 days, 1/2 capsule, once a day. And he seems WORSE. He's screaming, seems in more pain, has more gas, won't eat at all. I'm afraid to give it to him anymore! I have to go he's screaming now

I think that 1/2 a capsule is WAY too much to start with for a baby. He's probably very uncomfortable with all those bacteria moving things around in his gut! Gas is totally normal when starting a probiotic, especially if you don't work your way up to the regular dose.

1/2 a capsule I think is the recommended dose for a babe- but that's the dose that you want to end up at- not start at. I would take at least a couple weeks to work up to that dose. Seriously. Just put a tiny bit of the powder on your fingertip and put it in his mouth. No more than that to start.

[celticgypsy]

I skipped the probiotic tuesday (because of the overload the past few days...I feel HORRIBLE) and he seemed better, then yesterday gave him just a tiny bit, and he was miserable again today.
Should I wait a few days before I give it to him again, or just continue with a really tiny dose?
How long should it take to help?
Or maybe it's the inulin...I wish I had known this about inulin before I ordered it, because they are so expensive!

Kristen

[WuWei]

Originally Posted by ellasmama2007

i use the kirkmans lactobacillus duo which is inulin free. dd cant tolerate the inulin at all! hth!

I noticed this doesn't have any bifidum bacteria, which is what a baby has dominant in the gut.

Pat

[WuWei]

Did you eliminate dairy?


Pat

[changingseasons]

Originally Posted by celticgypsy

I skipped the probiotic tuesday (because of the overload the past few days...I feel HORRIBLE) and he seemed better, then yesterday gave him just a tiny bit, and he was miserable again today.
Should I wait a few days before I give it to him again, or just continue with a really tiny dose?
How long should it take to help?
Or maybe it's the inulin...I wish I had known this about inulin before I ordered it, because they are so expensive!

Kristen

I would maybe wait a few days and then start with a tiny, tiny dose again. If you do just a tiny bit a few times and it still really bothers him, it might be the inulin.

[momofmine]

Don't give the one with inulin! It gives some people problems.

For a 2 month old, I personally would try changing your diet first. I would take the probiotics myself, and just be sure I was eating a very healthy, no sugar, low on grains, diet (if you eat grains at all, at least make sure they are sprouted or soaked. You can buy Ezekial or Alvarado St sprouted bread, for example). But I would probably try eliminating things from your diet first, and you may eliminate gluten anyway, so those breads would be out.

I would not give the probiotic with inulin again. Here is some info about inulin/FOS, just one perspective:

http://www.healingcrow.com/ferfun/co...onspiracy.html

If you try the probiotics with him again later, I would start very slowly, as cs said, and give one without inulin, and only give one that contains the strains most dominant in babies under 6 months.

We don't know all the strains that are present in any one baby's gut. But it does seem that the bifidobacterium are dominant and beneficial, but there are still others. Read this:

http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/...ej200769a.html

I also second trying a chiro or CST. I am going to try that for my 4 yo with digestive issues.

good luck!

[lily7]

My DS son had such a bad reflux and I really wish I went to a chiro or craniosacral therapist with him. I hardly slept for 2 months. I had to sleep sitting up with him on my chest. I am doing the chioro in case my new baby has issues.
One other thing you may want to try is to give your LO a pacifier after he nurses. Reflux is a visious cycle, the baby keeps eating to get the bad taste out, fuller stomach more problems. I discoverd that after I started a pacifier my DS would nurse shorter then stop and request a paci that he would suck on. Sucking on a paci may help with increasing digestion and the baby keeps sucking, swallowing after a meal vs. meal coming back up. It can also make it worse. But I would try it. It did help us a lot in the end.
On the probiotics, what I give my son is Country Life Maxi-Baby Dophilus and he has no reactions to it, but I think it is dairy based probiotic so if your LO is allergic to dairy may not be a good idea.

Also you may want to stop eating acidic vegetables and fruits as well. My DS ended up reacting to tomatoes with eczema when he was 4 mo. old. There are obvious allergens (dairy, soy wheat) but some kids react to less popular allergens and then it is really hard to find one. Luckily we did not eat anything tomatoe thru Christmas last year and his eczema healed mostly, then boom I had a pizza and he did not slept entire night and was all flared up by morning.

Good luck!!!