Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gracecody 
I think Luke's having some reflux in the nights now that is seriously messing with our sleep. I'll nurse him in the side lying position and leave him to sleep on his side, and then about 20 minutes later he will start making these gulping and sometimes gagging sounds that wake him up, and then he fusses and wants to nurse again. Commence cycle that goes on for hours, sigh. It's not really spitting up because nothing actually comes out of his mouth, his little cloth under his head is totally dry. I've tried sitting him up and burping him many a time when this happens and he doesn't burp, so it doesn't seem to be air bubbles causing this. The only solution I can think of is propping him up on some sort of baby positioner/wedge.
Does anyone have experience with this? Wondering if it's a phase that will pass shortly or something else. I have also thought about what I've been eating (which one can drive themselves crazy doing!) but there aren't any obvious culprits. I've been dairy free since the beginning and last night for dinner I had grilled chicken and roasted root veggies, nothing too allergenic/gassy/irritating in there.
Hi there! After doing some research on Kellymom I decided to pick up the phone and call my resourceful lactation consultant to inquire about the same thing. However it has been combined with a bit more spit-up than Im comfortable with including some pretty violent projections out the nose, clicking while nursing and a ton of gas. Kellmom and Dr Sears led me to two conclusions that Im going to share with you in case its helpful. My questions were is this 1.)reflux 2.)food allergy 3.)milk imbalance.
She right away asked me if her stool was green, mucousy, or if she had a diaper rash, particularly a red ring around the anus. All of the above were a no. She thought it was unlikely that it was an allergy because it would present as a lower GI issue not an upper. So we crossed that off the list gladly.
Secondly she said reflux is the modern equivalent to ADD for babies. Everyone loves to label a baby with reflux and for the most case its a fact, its just how its handled. All babies have reflux to some degree due to a naturally immature digestive system. it's just whether or not it disturbs them, some babies it doesnt bother others are fussy and miserable/colic; and if its to the degree that they need medication so they dont do damage to their esophagus. She recommended gentler treatments like keeping them upright a half hour after feeding, feeding them on an angle so their head is above the belly, sleeping them propped up such as in a car seat or on your chest in a recliner or during the day in a wrap or sling upright.
We did arrive to the conclusion that although she does have some reflux its not severe enough to treat with medications (not yet anyway) and to try the above methods and that she does have some symptoms, quite a few actually, that reflect that I have a milk imbalance. I have one breast that I have always thought was the weaker producer and one I thought was normal. But within my discoveries on Kelly mom, it seems as though that one supposed weak breast is the normal one and the one I thought was normal is an over producer. She tends to cough and choke when nursing on it because she cant keep up with the flow and her clicking is her trying to keep the flow under control with her tongue. Her seal is fine. So I discovered that when takes from that side she gets more than she can handle and it will come out of her under developed flap. Sometimes its just milk, other times if it has reached her tummy it comes out curdled and thats when I see the gagging like you described. I was also told she may be getting too much formilk and indeed she has had watery stools. So I decided to block nurse. Not feed every two hours but feed on the same side for 2-3 hours at a time so she will get the hindmilk..rather than switch sides every feeding. She is sleeping heavier and longer. An actual 2-4 hours at a time rather than up every hour all night. Now I can get her to sleep soundly for the first half of the night before she wakes constantly. Her poop is thicker and more curdled and I have her sleep on my chest upright for a good half hour before I lay her down in her co-sleeper if she will have it. Or just next to me if she is in a lighter sleep and needs my touch.
http://kellymom.com/bf/supply/fast-letdown.html
I found some of the symptoms to be similar in a search for reflux and it led me to discover something totally different that I never would of guessed because this is my third baby! I had my body all wrong and didnt even know it. ;-) Not that this applys to you, it may or may not...I just thought Id share my experience and perhaps you could find something in there relevant.
Good luck!!!
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