Hello everyone! I found this website at 1 a.m this morning after finally getting my upset baby to sleep after she puked all over me.. she pukes 2-3 times per week immediately after eating, but this time it was 2 hours after eating and smelled really bad.

She is 2 months old and we have been going through what we are pretty sure is reflux since 3 weeks old, after a trip to the doctor for phlegm. She said the phlegm can be from reflux, which I found hard to understand. She told us some things we could do to help thin it out but nothing has really helped with that. We didn't want medicine unless it was a last resort.

The main reason I am here is I have found information on mucus-like poop and am wondering if it is the good kind or bad kind (if that is possible?) Because she has frequent mucus-like poop, it is a little stringy and sticks to the diaper if you press it together and pull it back apart. It doesn't smell bad and she is breastfed, never any formula. I didn't mention this to the doc because something I read said babies can have mucus in their poop if because they are so efficient at digesting breastmilk, that is all there is and it comes from the lining of the intestines.

I had oversupply from the start but it has just now started to even out, she has slept almost through the night for the past 2 weeks only waking after 4-6 hours, one time even going 7 hours. This is one reason I thought she didn't have issues with reflux was because she dream feeds at night, when she eats she isn't ever fully awake.

Symptoms:
 -Seems to re-swallow and makes faces
 -Spits up 2-3 times a week
 -pukes copious amounts 2-3 times a week immediately after feeds (but also has overactive gag reflex, can't decide if it is related or not)
 -Phlegm and snoring
 -Sleeps well at night
 -Stringy stools (not stinky)
 -Has minor gas, rarely cries before bowel movements

We have tried:
1.) Gripe water. Used to seem to help SOME. Now she just pukes it back up.
2.) gas drops. Helps only if I know gas is the problem and she is having explosive poops.
3.) I tried a quarter of a pepto bismol kids tablet today, crushed and dissolved on my finger. She weighs 13 pounds and that is half of half the dose for a 24 pound child. Did not help.
4) She is elevated for diaper changes, naps, and playtime/free time. Sleeps on her side and normally doesn't have problems at night.
5.) frequent burping
6.) smaller, more frequent feeds (has done wonders)
7.) I cut my one cup of half-caf coffee out. Seemed to really help.

Questions:

1) Is mucus in poop ever a normal thing? I will post a picture in the proper section when I get a chance.

2) If using Zantac can it be given only when needed or does it need to be given every day? I am hesitant to use meds but our doc may be calling some in after these rough couple of days, she said if our methods of propping her up most of the time didn't help we could try it. (I have been reading a little on here about it and using mylanta with it)

After my overactive letdown had resolved and we started burping her every 5 minutes, I noticed a huge improvement and the symptoms/crying were almost entirely gone. The last couple of days she has been crying when I try to burp her so I am wondering if that is the problem.. coupled with some recurring oversupply issues because she is now sleeping through the night. Also the last couple of nights it has taken me several hours to get her fully asleep and to bed. I really don't want to medicate her, but will if it is in her best interest. If anyone has any input I would truly appreciate it. It feels like a relief to get this all down if nothing else!



Edited by norris29 - 19 June 2012 at 4:26pm

I can sure understand the feeling of "It feels good to write it all down". I love to write things down sometimes if for no other reason that to "get it all off my chest". :)

I have never heard before that mucus in stools is normal. I always thought it meant that something wasn't working right with the digestive system. My boys had blood and mucus in their poop often. :(

Zantac... Quinton only took it for several weeks. I don't know a lot about it but I do think that I have heard of adults taking it as needed. Not sure if it's a good idea though.

I tried to keep my boys, Quinton and Jackson, upright as much as possible too. I even tried to nurse them upright. I have seen several places lately that there is such a thing as a "pillow?" to help position your baby to be able to nurse in an upright position. I have never seen or used one though.

Q and J mostly "slept" in their swing and sometimes I even laid them on their tummies in the swing so they could tip their heads back to make the reflux feel better.

They were also very hard to burp. They would cry and scream in pain and I just KNEW there was a burp in there but it just wouldn't come out.

I can certainly understand why you don't want to medicate your little girl. Both Q and J were started on medication at around a week old. I didn't like it but at that point didn't know what else to do. They were on meds till ages 1 and 3.

I would highly recommend trying a probiotic/enzyme supplement before medication. They helped my boys tremendously!!!! Enzymes are what are in our stomachs to help break down our food. If the body is low on these the stomach will produce extra acid to try to break down the food. This excess acid causes reflux and other digestive problems. It also kills probiotics which coat and protect the entire digestive tract. So with depleted probiotics our intestines and esophagus are left unprotected and can become raw, inflamed, and sometimes even bleed.

If interested in trying a probiotic/enzyme supplement, I can give you a list of things to look for to make sure what you buy is going to actually help and is of high quality.

I wish you the best and hope that you find something soon that makes your little one get better instead of worse!!

I had mastitis too with my first baby. I can sure feel for you! :(

Any news?