Infantreflux.org | New and Wiped Out

This topic has 16 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 17 years, 8 months ago by hellbennt.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 17 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
December 29, 2008 at 5:28 pm #59916

Anonymous
Inactive

My name is Dee and this is my second post (my first was in the intro). My son Seamus (so many people say see-mus but it’s actually shay-miss) was born full term but spent 8 days in the NICU with low blood sugar, and withdrawl from my medications (perscription meds only such as my seizure meds). He started spitting up from day 1 but the NICU doc said it was impossible for newborns to have reflux so soon which is why he felt that my son didn’t need a gastro consult (even though I asked). He also had colic but was diagnosed at about 6 weeks with the first medicine he tried was zantac. We saw limited relief so the doctor perscribed prevacid. During that time, we also changed bottles and switched to similac alimentum. Seamus slept in his car seat for a few weeks and then a bassinet which he was better in. He loves contact and would stretch his arms out so his hands would touch both sides of the bassient. After going to the ped gastro at CHOP, mylanta has been added in. He is also held upright after each feeding for 45 mins. He takes about 6 oz with about 6 bottles per day. Spit up is still an issue as is sleeping…

He is a cat-napper with about 3- 20 min naps a day. He will only cat nap though if I am next to him or physically hold him. He loves being stimulated and always enjoys looking around, seeing faces, talking, etc… I think he sleeps so little during the day because he enjoys being active. He will take a full bottle of 6 oz around 10pm but is back up by 1am. Seamus hates back sleeping. He sleeps even less when put in the crib so I can get about 40 mins in the crib from him. He is now sleeping in my bed most nights just so I can sleep in roughly 90 mins or increments. After the middle of the night feeding (and being held upright 45 mins after), he wakes again between 6-7am. I have tried rocking to sleep, white noise, rigging the crib with wedges under the mattress, sleeping on his side, the mobile that attaches to the side, singing, me actually sleeping in the crib (I am under 5 feet) and anything else. This sleeping thing is really taking a toll since I have epielpsy and rest is important. If anyone has any advice, I would love to hear it. Thanks everyone!

Dee

December 29, 2008 at 8:58 pm #59921

hellbennt
Keymaster

hi & welcome!

I have a LOT to say & (most of) it’s here:

J

Groupie Intro: my intro: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&PN=1&TPN=1

Please PLEASE take the time to read/scroll/skim through the info from this link, as it truly will help you!

so glad you found us!

~laura

December 30, 2008 at 1:42 am #59926

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi Dee

How old is your bubs?

I can sympathise somewhat with you as my 5mth old is still taking 6 feeds per day also with his biggest feeds through the night and only half bottles in the day… . and wakes around 6am also. And will only take feeds from me… Unfortunately i think its somethin some of us just learn to hav to live with as lots of reflux babies prefer smaller feeds more often….. do u hav anyone who might be able to help with at least 1 night feed? however other than the feeding my baby sleeps pretty good in his own bed unless he is having a bad day when he ends up in with me too. Its a really tough time, and i just try to keep reminding myself that it wont last forever and soon enough he will start solids(hopefully sucessfully) and maybe by the time he is 9mths we can get some sleep.

He is a great sleeper during the day, 3 naps 1hr, 2hrs, and 45 mins… i worked really hard establishing this sleep feed play routine for the 1st few months, and plenty of times i wanted to give in, and everyone told me to relax the routine more and just go with the flow, but im so glad i stuck it out cos he just loves his day sleeps. Im not saying u havent tried but if u want some help with routine to get better sleeps let me know….

They say that good sleep breeds good sleep so i think when he sleeps well during the day he sleeps best at night also.

So i hope that maybe i helped a little

Keep your chin up… your doing a great job

December 30, 2008 at 12:18 pm #59931

Anonymous
Inactive

Welcome! You’ve found a great site here! It has really helped me help my DD who suffers from reflux.

Just something I thought of in regards to seamus’s sleep patterns. Have you considered a food intolerance/allergy at all? Many babies on here have suffered from one or the other. Just a couple questions in order to better help you…He’s still on alimentum? Has he had his stool tested for blood? What does his poo look like(mucousy, runny, constipated)? Any strong odors w/his poo? Sorry to ask, but it can show signs of intolerance/allergy. Any eczema? Med questions…What dose of prevacid is he on? Is it a compound, solutabs, capsules? If it’s the solutabs have you been giving them on an empty stomach followed by a meal 30min later?

Just from what info you’ve given it could be a few things…his med dose is too low or he has food intolerance/allergy issues. Also, how old is he now?

December 30, 2008 at 4:34 pm #59938

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi All,

Thank you for the welcome 🙂

Seamus is 6 months old. I am really horrible with trying to establish a routine. How did you even start a routine? Although this is a cop out, things have been difficult because I am a single mom (my engagement ended when Seamus was 8 weeks old) and now living with my parents. So instead of putting out the energy to establish a routine I just collapse whenever he cat naps.

Seamus is still on alimentum, along with baby food/oatmeal twice a day. I would stay his stool is about peanut butter consistency with somewhat of a strong odor. He also has horrible gas!! And even though he burps during feedings, he will still burp hours later. How would I tell if he has an allergy? The peditrician tested his stool around 2 weeks for blood but hasn’t since. At our 6 month well visit I brought his diaper but she said there was no need to test it again. No ezcema although he is broken out around his chin because of the drool from teething.

He takes a 7.5 mg solutab twice a day. I break the 15mg exactly in half. I keep the dose 12 hours a part. I give it to him in the morning with a syringe of water and we play for a half hour before eating. Then he gets mylanta as I’m preparing his bottle. It’s the same routine at night. Seamus weighs 16 lbs now and I asked if his dosage needed to be increased but his doctor said no.

Thanks so much to all of you and I look forward to talking some more. If I skip a few days it’s because I don’t have time to get online. My parents both work so I’m pretty much on the mommy clock 24/7.

Dee

December 30, 2008 at 5:22 pm #59939

Anonymous
Inactive

As far as establishing a routine… i read a book while i was pregnant and started routine as soon as we got home, even though it didnt work with a newborn with pracitse and hardwork we got it down pat by about 6wks.

The book i hav is great at explaining how and why babies need proper sleeps during the day and teaching them the difference btw day and night. Im in australia, and the book i use most is “the contented little baby book”…

now that i feel more comfortable and know my bubs better i dont follow the routine to the dot but its a great basis…. im sure there are plenty of books out there u could find. I also hav some info i can email to you if u like… just send me your details. About how long babies should be awake for and asleep for….and goes into details about sleep cycles. Sounds like your baby only sleeps through 1 sleep cycle and cant resettle himself therefore stays awake… generally i think a 6mth old should be having 2 day sleeps for between 1-2hrs each. If my baby wakes before his times up i do my best to resettle him even if it means cuddles.

I think the most important thing is consistency… and if you decide to try it, be prepared for a few sleepless days and make sure you hav good support but babies learn quickly and after a wk i reckon you will hav found a pattern that works for you.

Lots of people frown upon routines for babies, but i find it keeps me sane… lots of thing are unpredictable with a reflux baby but keeping a routine makes for some kind of normality for us anyway.

Just let me know if you would like me to send any info

Aleshia

December 30, 2008 at 6:05 pm #59940

hellbennt
Keymaster

I like routine, not schedule per se; I always let babies lead & I follow Importance of routine: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2802&PN=1&TPN=1

also, http://www.askdrsears.com is my go-to site for all things baby (aside from here, lol!) & you can look up how much sleep they need by age, etc there

here’s another sleep link I have handy, lol: sleep needs: http://www.familysleep.com/age_needs.htm

and here’s something else I’ve kept- not sure if it’s relevant?: sleep stuff (mine): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8807&PN=1&TPN=1

January 1, 2009 at 8:18 pm #59977

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi there!

I have heard wonderful things about Australia! My close friend is moving there the end of this month to be with her boyfriend. I would love if you have the time to email me some information: My email is rent3798@aol.com

I know it’s partially my fault with not having a routine because of my epilepsy. The medication I’m on makes me feel even worse than I already do without sleep. Plus, I still have seizures. So I always say that I am going to start a routine but basically collaspe at the end of the day. The thought of having a few sleepless nights scares me because I have seizures even if I’m well rested. I’ve been so exhausted since my son that I actually passed out about a month ago with my last seizure.

May I ask how long it took you to get the routine in place? Do you find that your son is happier with a routine?

Thank you!

January 1, 2009 at 8:21 pm #59978

Anonymous
Inactive

Thank you, Laura! I already checked out the Dr. Sears website and there is tons of information. I have already started reading about the attachment parenting style that he details on the site. I don’t know if I mentioned but Seamus is now sleeping in my bed just so I can have brief periods of sleep. I know that people have warned me against sleeping in the bed because they never get out and become too “attached” to the parents. Do you have any advice with that?

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2009 at 8:44 pm #59979

hellbennt
Keymaster

my advice, that I think many here agree upon, is this:

you do what you do that works for YOU (& your baby, family, etc)…

there have been babies here that sleep in bouncies, hammocks, swings, carseats, beds w/ mamas, you name it, LOL!

I know many mamas personally who have had a whole range of difficulties getting baby out of their bed, ranging from ‘piece of cake’ to ‘hard work.’

right now, you gotta do what you can & work on getting everything else figured out , like meds, diet, etc…

my personal motto has been that I do what I do (that works) until it doesn’t work anymore & then I figure out something else

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2009 at 10:25 pm #59987

Anonymous
Inactive

I totally agree…. co-sleeping is often the best way for both of you to get some well deserved rest… u hav to do whatever works for you for right now,…. they are small for such a short amount of time and when the time comes to get them into there own bed, deal with it then. We moved my Felix into his own room a few wks ago cos i thought it was time for that step, and i just hated it. He is now back in his cradle right beside me…. and i love it that way. He often sneaks in the middle of us still too… and i cherish it….

I cant imagine how tough it is for you with epilepsy, sleep deprivation is torture.

So i dont mind at all sending you some info… its not “routine/schedule” stuff just some generally helpful tips, far more relaxed. But i think you might like to hav a read.

I started a routine pretty early and they say nothing works before 6 wks, which i kind of agree with…. but by about 8wks it was all going really smoothly… (then the dreaded reflux reared up). Dont expect too much… or pressure yourself and him into slotting straight into a routine, just see what migh work best for you.

Good luck

January 2, 2009 at 12:02 pm #59999

Anonymous
Inactive

I completely agree w/Laura. Don’t stress about getting your LO into a routine/schedule. Follow their cues and eventually you’ll notice the best way to do things throughout the day. Also, if you need to catnap while he catnaps, then do it. I did w/my DS. I was a first time mom and my DH worked quite a bit, so I was basicly on my own. It’s hard when you’re the only one. I want to also go back to the food intolerances/allergies…This is a very REAL possibility, especially given his sleep patterns. Even if his stool was neg. it could still be that he’s having problems w/it. Something to look into more, I guess?! Good Luck!

eta: I forgot to mention that his dose is on the lower end, so maybe that needs upped?

As far as knowing if it’s allergies or not, well that can be a hard one to determine(intolerances CAN’T be tested for). It all depends on what route you want to take(endoscopies~may or may not show, allergy testing~which isn’t accurate until 18mths old). We decided to make the switch to elecare when my DD was 5mths old and we didn’t notice any great improvemnts…BUT…after getting her prevacid dose increased she has done great. I think w/some babies it’s a combo of things in order to get them on the right path. We’re hoping that she has outgrown her intolerance(blood in stool @ 3wks old~nutramigen). I hope some other mom’s who have more experience chime in for you as well about allergies/intolerances!valentine4mommy2009-01-02 12:11:21

January 3, 2009 at 2:04 pm #60038

Anonymous
Inactive

Thanks for the info! Also, thank you for making me feel better about co-sleeping. It seems to be so taboo in society and you always hear that once they sleep in bed with you that they will never leave. Do you think there is any truth to that?

January 3, 2009 at 2:05 pm #60039

Anonymous
Inactive

Seamus had an Upper GI done about two months ago. Would that detect any intolerances?

January 3, 2009 at 8:30 pm #60044

hellbennt
Keymaster

rent3798 wrote: you always hear that once they sleep in bed with you that they will never leave. Do you think there is any truth to that?

there is some truth to that, and there is some untruth to that. I have friends who have ranged from ‘piece of cake’ to ‘totally difficult’ on the scale of how hard it was to get their baby/toddler out of their bed!

you will work it out! one thing, one day, one everything at a time…

Seamus had an Upper GI done about two months ago. Would that detect any intolerances?

an upper GI is to look for structural problems (obstructions, malformations, etc), it is not a test to detect reflux or to diagnose allergies or intolerances

(although if baby refluxes at the particular time of the test then yes it will be said that baby has reflux- but, if baby does NOT relfux during test, this does NOt mean that baby doesn’t have reflux)

Mspi/allergy info(‘main page’): https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2697&PN=1&TPN=1
Author

Posts