Hi all,
I've read the responses to the thread about severe reflux and I'm still not sure whether my DD is suffering from reflux or OALD on my part or both...I'm wondering if some of you wiser mamas may be able to offer some insight. Unfortunately, my ped., while very well-meaning and nice, is not terribly savvy about bf'ing, etc. I'm in the process of finding a new one, but for the time being my LO is suffering and as a result so am I!
Here's the situation. The main problem is that after (either immediately and/or 1-2 hours later) bf'ing, DD screams and cries and stiffens and arches her back...clearly in pain. She is miserable near the end of a feeding, frantic, coming off the nipple and back on and screaming. She did this in the doctor's office at her 2 mo. exam and the doctor prescribed Zantac and Reglan, which she's been on for 10 days now, and don't seem to be doing anything. The doc's only other suggestion was putting rice cereal in pumped milk, but I won't do that after reading all the info on here (thanks, mamas!!!).
Also, for the first couple weeks of life, DD would projectile vomit every other day or so, now it's down to about once a week. It seems like she's not digesting well because she'll throw up everything she ate even hours after eating. Usually, she projectile spits-up (i.e., a lot more than a "normal" spit-up but not quite vomiting) after every feeding (without regard to how much I burp her - in fact, burping seems to make it worse). I thought the vomiting was a milk sensitivity, but I've cut out dairy and it doesn't seem to make a difference.
She also doesn't really "nap" because if I put her in her bassinet (she has the inclined sleep positioner) or our bed she gags and chokes and starts crying, either immediately or after a few minutes. She will snooze briefly in my arms or her swing or papasan chair or car seat where she's more upright. For some reason, this doesn't happen at night when she is swaddled and she sleeps great at night (usually 6-8 hours) in her bassinet or our bed. But the lack of napping is making both of us cranky!
I already met with an LC at about 3 weeks old and she diagnosed our problems as OALD and just said to keep the baby's head positioned above my breast, which I do. But, DD seems to have adjusted to the milk flow, at least as far as her latch and sucking are concerned, and the let down doesn't really seem to phase her now...she just keeps going, seems content and eats a ton and then is miserable at the end, but not in the middle.
By the way, she's gaining weight really well and otherwise is very healthy, but I can't stand to see her in such pain and for bf'ing to be such an unhappy experience for both of us. It's such a difficult experience that I can never NIP.
Any thoughts? TIA!!
I've read the responses to the thread about severe reflux and I'm still not sure whether my DD is suffering from reflux or OALD on my part or both...I'm wondering if some of you wiser mamas may be able to offer some insight. Unfortunately, my ped., while very well-meaning and nice, is not terribly savvy about bf'ing, etc. I'm in the process of finding a new one, but for the time being my LO is suffering and as a result so am I!
Here's the situation. The main problem is that after (either immediately and/or 1-2 hours later) bf'ing, DD screams and cries and stiffens and arches her back...clearly in pain. She is miserable near the end of a feeding, frantic, coming off the nipple and back on and screaming. She did this in the doctor's office at her 2 mo. exam and the doctor prescribed Zantac and Reglan, which she's been on for 10 days now, and don't seem to be doing anything. The doc's only other suggestion was putting rice cereal in pumped milk, but I won't do that after reading all the info on here (thanks, mamas!!!).
Also, for the first couple weeks of life, DD would projectile vomit every other day or so, now it's down to about once a week. It seems like she's not digesting well because she'll throw up everything she ate even hours after eating. Usually, she projectile spits-up (i.e., a lot more than a "normal" spit-up but not quite vomiting) after every feeding (without regard to how much I burp her - in fact, burping seems to make it worse). I thought the vomiting was a milk sensitivity, but I've cut out dairy and it doesn't seem to make a difference.
She also doesn't really "nap" because if I put her in her bassinet (she has the inclined sleep positioner) or our bed she gags and chokes and starts crying, either immediately or after a few minutes. She will snooze briefly in my arms or her swing or papasan chair or car seat where she's more upright. For some reason, this doesn't happen at night when she is swaddled and she sleeps great at night (usually 6-8 hours) in her bassinet or our bed. But the lack of napping is making both of us cranky!
I already met with an LC at about 3 weeks old and she diagnosed our problems as OALD and just said to keep the baby's head positioned above my breast, which I do. But, DD seems to have adjusted to the milk flow, at least as far as her latch and sucking are concerned, and the let down doesn't really seem to phase her now...she just keeps going, seems content and eats a ton and then is miserable at the end, but not in the middle.
By the way, she's gaining weight really well and otherwise is very healthy, but I can't stand to see her in such pain and for bf'ing to be such an unhappy experience for both of us. It's such a difficult experience that I can never NIP.
Any thoughts? TIA!!
I had OALD and will be back to explain how I knew we had it. it is hard though
