9 days old and reflux?

[LadyCatherine185]

So my newborn is already showing some signs of reflux.. my DS1 had pretty severe reflux and food allergies, but they didn't start until he was around 2 weeks old and got really bad around 4 weeks old.

Currently DS2 seems to have reflux issues already.. he spits up, and gets really upset/seems in pain while spitting up, fussy at the breast (I do have an OALD), and last night he screamed through every feeding from about 8-12. He sleeps terrible at night (waking every 30-60 minutes) and is being woken up by burps/spit up that really bother him (even though I burp him at every feed). Each day it is getting progressively worse.. Is it too early for these to be signs of reflux? He is not showing any other signs of allergies yet (skin is clear, poops are yellow and seedy) so I haven't gone down that road yet....

Anyone else see reflux this early?

[Tellera]

First, congratulations on your wee one. 

As far as reflux, I don't think it's too early.  I knew at 5 days that something was wrong.  Does he do any better elevated? 

[maydaymom10]

I feel your pain. DS was diagnosed with reflux at 5 days old. We were dealing with the spitting up, extreme crying, not being able to put down, from day 1. We were prescribed Zantac, but I waited until he was about 10 days old to give it to him. Even though it seems like a short delay, we really tried a lot of things to help the reflux before medicating him (sleeping with him on chest, propping crib, swing, car seat, etc.).

The good news is that he's seemed to grow out of it (he's now 6 mos). We stopped the Zantac about 2-3 months ago. He's still a spitter & doesn't sleep through the night, but it's nothing like it was.

So it's not unheard of. How you decide to treat it is up to you. There are alot of options out there, and it just depends on what works with your lifestyle. I'm a first time mom, and in retrospect I think I went for the meds because I didn't know what else to do. Knowing what I do now (even just six months later) I think I might have tried some other "lifestyle" options. Good luck.

[ElliesMomma]

if you are waiting for a really big sign, it will be weight loss. all of the others are also telling -- poor sleep, seeming like he's in pain, of course the constant spitting up.

Edited by ElliesMomma - 5/28/11 at 11:58pm

[HeatherB]

So sorry he's so miserable. :(  My first son had the worst reflux of all of them and was constantly crying even in the hospital (we were there for 3 days following a c/s).  The nurses kept pushing us to supplement because he clearly wasn't getting enough, according to them. No one considered that perhaps he was in pain.  :(

The very best solution I've found for reflux (in my other kids - wish I'd known with #1!) is chiropractic adjustments.  Worked *amazingly* well with #2 who was more of a spitter than #1 (who was mostly a silent refluxer).  Also, my MW told me recently that it has been shown to be VERY effective to give babies probiotics to ward off reflux.  She said to take powder (such as from capsules) and wipe it in their mouths.  That makes a good deal of sense for certain causes of reflux and seems like an easy, harmless thing to try!

I hope he's feeling better soon!  :hug

[LadyCatherine185]

thanks so  much mamas! DS1's reflux was so bad zantac did nothing so we had to use Prevacid, plus i cut out all dairy and other things to finally get it under control...

DS2 has been doing much better in the days since i posted this, i am thinking some of it was from caffiene.. and maybe still some reflux but im going to wait it out a little longer before talking with the ped.. im also limiting dairy and plan to start probiotics for DS2.

sidenote-- DS1 had silent reflux and never lost weight, and so far DS2 is gaining well also