Search Results for 'breast feeding'

[Anonymous]

Laurie, HANG IN THERE! Don’t give up and NEVER admit defeat! There’s always help somewhere, sometimes you just need others to help you find it. I found this site when Hailey was around 5 months old, we’d been dealing with feeding aversion since 2 months old (though from birth really, but I thought it was just BF kinks). Anyhow, after struggling to find doctor after doctor to get her dose increased, and feeling defeated and ready to give up because none of them would even look at the marci-kids info, I came onto this site. I couldn’t find any feeding therapy, no one would increase her meds, I was exhausted and scared and frustrated and then Laura (hellbennt) posted a very simple reply to one of my posts, that literally changed my entire frame of mind. She posted a phone number to the Canadian Association of SLPs. Really the number itself didn’t help our situation, but realizing that someone would reach out and make the effort to help us made me realize that I had to do the same, and I took matters into my own hands and kept searching until I finally found someone who would increase our dose and also someone who could give us feeding therapy. I don’t know why I’m rambling on about this, I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been where you’ve been, and I know how exhausting it is- but don’t give up. We’ll try to help you get the help that Chloe needs.

I don’t know if you are near Boston or not, but here’s a list of GI’s that people have recommended.

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=660

As for the milk supply, I had a lot of success increasing mine by taking blessed thistle and fenugreek in the amounts recommended by Dr. Newman. I’ll try to look this up, if you’re interested. I also pumped for 10 minutes after every feeding and tried to feed it to Hailey since she wouldn’t empty (or even come close to it) my breast and I wanted her to get the hind milk to help with weight gain. I also would pump at night and in the morning until my supply really got going, and I have to say that it worked a bit too well- I had so much milk that I was freezing a lot of bags full a day. It wasn’t easy, but nothing related to the feeding problems were. We also had issues with a bad latch b/c of the reflux. Hailey kept pulling on and off with my nipple still in her mouth, b/c she was in pain from the reflux. She just took enough in to satiate her, and then would stop, feeding only a few minutes on each side. Anyhow, I’m no expert here but Laura knows alot about BF a refluxer, and usually posts a link to the yahoo breastfeeding forum.

Anyhow, hang in there and big big HUGS. I know how awful you feel.

[Anonymous]

Laurie – I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I understand your frustration! I’d be upset with the doctor’s too. Why do they always seem to have to wait until something MAJOR happens before they’ll listen to the symptoms you’d been telling them ALL ALONG?? Grrr. Don’t give up on breastfeeding yet. I quit breastfeeding Sarah at 4 months because it was such a screaming fight and struggle (she was not medicated at that point). I wish now that I would have stuck with it.

My other thought…are you giving all 20mg of Zegerid at one dose? Have you thought about breaking it up into 2 or even 3 equal doses throughout the day? I know most babies do much better when the dose is spread out that way. It might be worth a shot. Although be careful that you’re giving it spaced out 4 hrs (i think) from the zantac at night.

I hope that things turn the corner for you soon. Don’t give up on pushing for a higher dose of meds. Everything you’ve said in your post indicates to me that the regimen she’s on isn’t working for her. Many moms had to push and push to get the doctor to increase.

Big hugs!
Amy

[Anonymous]

Where to begin, (this is going to be a long post, sorry ).

Well, we have been going to GI since Chloe was 3 months(she’s 6 mos now). She has gained about 1 pound in this time. AT her 4 month regular ped appt and at multiple GI appt I told them she was only breastfeeding 5 mins on each side and was concerned that she hadn’t been gaining very fast. They said “she’s gaining so it’s ok”. Well at Christmas she had a very bad cold and would cough so hard she would vomit. When we went to GI on the 2nd she had lost 3 ounces. Now… they were concerned asking me about her breastfeeding,etc. So they wanted me to pump after feeding her and offer a bottle (to check output and see if she was still hungry). Most of the time she wouldn’t take the bottle but I was pumping about an additional 1/2 to 1 ounce.

It seemed as though she got in the habit of stopping when the milk slowed (she’s a little lazY?). This was compounded by the fact that she has a terrible latch because early on she fought eating so much that I took what I could get. We met wioth a lactation consultant and she agreed we put a plan in place to attempt to improve latch and intake. I thought this was going better and then her reflux flared up and all of our progress went down the tubes.

When we went to GI she had gained her lost weight back but reflux had gotten worse. GI changed meds to zegerid 20mg in am and zantac 4ml at night. (Ishowed them Marci-kids info and they pretty much dismissed it.) Chloe hates zegerid throws up some of it every other day and her feeding has deteriorated. Now It seems as though my milk is drying up. I don’t know if it is because I am getting extremely stressed about this and feeling completely beaten down. Oh, I forgot they want to do an endoscopy on the 9th and i am completely torn about it.

I am pumping after feeding her about 5 times a day and I have been drinking mother’s milk tea, etc. It’s not working, I think I am going to have to start giving her formula because she starts flipping out when I run out of milk and she won’t try for another let down she is so impatient. I am using up all of my backup milk faster than I can replenish it. I bought prosobee lipil powder. I hope Chloe will do okay on it.

I am not really sure what I am looking for with this post. I don’t even know what else to do…I am so mad at the doctor’s and blame the,m for dragging their feet. I feel as though I am not going to be able to increase my supply and I am not ready to give up breastfeeding for multiple reasons.

I am sorry this is so long and rambling. I am just so overwhelmed….

Thanks for listening

[Anonymous]

Suzie, I feel for you. My mother in law and sister in law have said the same thing and worse (if you can believe that) through this entire process. They have never supported us when we needed help with Hailey, and my mother in law (who is actually pretty nice- at least to my face) said that Hailey has a feeding aversion because I’m a bad cook, because I didn’t make good homemade baby foods like her other daughter in law and her daughter did, because I didn’t breastfeed long enough, because I’m too forceful… the list goes on and on. I’ve been harassed by them so much about this, that I have just given up. I think the problem with GERD is that it’s the abnormal in a continuum of normal. I mean that all babies have SOME spitting up, a bit of reflux, but not full blown GER/GERD. That’s why people always think they know about it, and think that it’s nothing, unless they’ve experienced it themselves… and really even then, sometimes they don’t get it if their child has had a really mild or easily managed case.

All I can say, is hang in there. Surround yourself with people who understand and try to ignore useless comments.

As for the endoscopy, we got the initial results right after (i.e. the GI came out and told us what things looked like, if there was any visible damage etc.) and then it took two weeks to get the results from the biopsies. I know that the US is much faster with the biopsies- I’ve heard of people getting them within a few days.

HUGS.

[Anonymous]

Good luck with your doctor’s appointment. If you think it’s an intolerance issue, can you try the elimination diet while breastfeeding. I never did it personally, but I know that others have. Also, if she’s in pain, I think that meds would be a good idea. Hang in there.

[hellbennt]

welcome brenda!

I have a LOT to say & I’ve said it in my welcome/intro that’s called ‘Groupie Intro’ – it’s stickied in the Introduce Yourself Forum’- please bookmark this, because you’ll want to refer back to it

there’s a section about breastfeeding your refluxer (I had one of these!) – scroll through everything…

there’s a lot of information about the elimination diet- you can get a lot of great ideas of what to eat so you’re not starving

http://www.marci-kids.com will tell you all about ‘proper’ PPI dosing- you might just go ahead & fax the info to your doctor – and there is also info in ‘Prevacid 101’ – again, linked to from Groupie Intro & also found in the ‘Treating GERD w/ PPIs’ link, which is stickied in the Medicine Forum

there is also info in Prevacid 101 about administering the solutabs & when to administer them- yes on an empty stomach & then feed 3o minutes later – this is hard when breastfeeding (heck it’s hard anytime I’d gather)- so maybe look into Zegerid or Caracream or compounded PPI- it’s all there in Prevacid 101

whew!

so much!

glad you found us!

~laura

[Anonymous]

My 4 week old is really struggling. She’s breastfed.

At birth she was fine. Born a few weeks early but ate & slept great. About 2 weeks she started spitting up but it never seemed to bother her. The last few days she has been spitting up and swallowing then crying. Every burp she has is a wet burp. SHe will not sleep at night. I lay her down (Inclined) and she sleeps for 15-30 monutes then she starts gagging and almost dry heaving then screams. It’s a constant cycle…

My almost 2 year old was fine as a baby and then about 8 weeks we gave him a formula bottle and he started screaming a never stopped. I nursed him while he screamed until he was 8 months. He was on Zantac & finally prevacid. Then eventually I had to wean him to Elecare. What are the odds this will happen again???

New Baby is showing same signs but earlier. I started yesterday to cut out milk and soy but I am starving and about ready to crack. She is OK when feeding starts and then cries about 5 minutes into it. I feel so lost again.

I want to call ped to start some meds but DH is against her being on meds so young.

We also possibly have thrush so I am wondering if maybe the Nystatin she is on is making her act up. SHe doesn;t have signs. I just have sore nipples.

Oh.. She’s crying again.. Gotta go. Please help..

[Anonymous]

Thank you both, Lori and Ann, for the reassurance that we are not alone in going through this. I just wish either of you had been able to tell me that everything resolved fully with the reflux at say 11 months (which is a week away).

I am on the TED with very few additions. I have been milk/soy free since 7 months and on TED since 8 months. I accidently trialed barley (bought the wrong organic crispy rice cereal) and he failed it miserably. So we know that either barley itself is a problem or gluten in general. We are therefore not going to challenge any of the gluten foods for a long time. And it is quite easy to be gluten-free when you are already “free” of almost all foods! My diet currently consists of turkey, lamb (not eaten often), rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, zucchini, pears…and we have successfully challenged in my diet apples, bananas, soybean oil, corn oil, beef, and quite a few spices.

We have been giving Andrew a probiotic for quite a while now. But I hadn’t considered aloe. Questions: I would be interested in knowing what brand of aloe you use. A friend wants me to try mangosteen juice – have anyone heard of it?

Teething is currently – and constantly – an issue at this age. So it is hard to know if his reflux would be different without the teething. Every tooth in his mouth seems to be bothering him in some way or another. He has had his two bottom teeth for a month or so and in the past couple of days the top two have finally been breaking through.

We went to a ped GI at 6 months when he was “failure to thrive”. He had lost 2 pounds in two months. We had been saying all along that something was wrong with him but it was always attributed to “colic”. The ped GI told me to give him formula (he didn’t bother to specify which formula) for two weeks while pumping to be able to monitor the amt he was eating. We gave him Alimentum and he did better – crying only 30-40% of the day instead of 75%. The ped GI did an upper GI with small bowel follow through and a sweat test (to rule out cystic fibrosis due to his FTT). After finding nothing in both tests, the ped GI said we could just continue as we were doing since he was gaining and happier on the Alimentum! He told me I could go back to nursing a little if I wanted. He mentioned MSPI in passing but quickly dismissed our inquiries about it saying that Andrew didn’t have blood in his stools. Well, we went home and researched it and found that he matched 9 of the 12 symptoms of MSPI in that DISA article. Once going on Neocate (which the ped GI said we could “waste our money on if we wanted”) while getting my breastmilk milk/soy free, Andrew became a normal, happy baby. The first day of the rest of his life was October 5th (he was 7.5 months old and was happy for the first time!). After 2 weeks of milk/soy free diet, I tried nursing again but quickly realized that I had to go onto the TED since he reacted to something in my diet still. So most of October he was on Neocate and very happy and “normal”. However, during the last week of October, the reflux started. We had to go back to the ped GI for reflux meds since my ped was on vacation. The ped GI half-heartedly gave us the script for compounded Prevacid, but offered no patient education about reflux or any sort of help at all. I have no intention of ever seeing that doctor again! Perhaps one of the other doctors in that practice might be better, but the whole experience has left me with high medical bills for worthless appointments.

Questions: What is involved with the PH probe and an endoscopy tests? I am very intrigued, Anne, that you were able to determine your son’s frequency of reflux.

I also appreciate the explanation, Lori, about the cycle of pain at night because of breastfeeding. I try to comfort him without nursing and it used to work a couple of weeks ago. But lately nothing helps – Mylanta stops the crying for a few moments since he immediately sucks his thumb after I give him any medicine, but the Mylanta relief doesn’t last more than 30 seconds or so. I try walking/bouncing him while patting his back – that used to work too, but not now. Rocking him sitting upright in my lap with his right side against my chest (so he can suck his left thumb) used to work..but not now. The only thing that works is nursing – and even then he cries and struggles while sucking (likely the horizontal position) until he starts falling asleep.

Questions: How exactly do you elevate your child’s bed? How much of an angle can you do before they just slide to the bottom?

Thanks again, Dianne

[Anonymous]

I am the mom of a silent refluxer.

I am breastfeeding.

He’s on medication.

I tried everything I could to avoid medication. I did my own modified version of an elimination diet I found on the web. It helped his symptoms, but he still needed meds. He’s on meds now and I still have to follow the elimination diet.

It’s either 20% or 40% (I can’t remember!) of babies that have a milk intolerance also have a soy intolerance. But it is common for them to be sensitive to both.

Already I KNOW I can’t have Milk (I do eat a yogurt a day to keep the thrush at bay! LOL), eggs, chocolate, coffee or tea (even if it’s decaf), citrus fruit, carbonated beverages, beans, spicy foods, oh and my prenatal vitamins!!

I have to limit the amount I eat of these foods to very small quantities: onions, tomatoes, dairy (other than milk), wheat

I suspect but haven’t confirmed: Apples, corn, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers

I’m sure there’s more I’m forgetting right now, LOL

I pretty much eat any meat, potatoes, pasta, rice, yams, carrots, green beans, early peas, salads (with just lettuce and dressing for now), peanut butter sandwiches, pears, water, non-citrus juice, bread, waffles and oatmeal.

[Anonymous]

I am looking for suggestions as things aren’t getting ANY better. Here’s the situation:

• From birth “colic” with lots of spitting up. MSPI/MFPI dx at 7 mths. Is 10-1/2 months old now.
• Breastfeeding and supplementing during the day with Neocate. Currently eating 3-4 jars of baby food each day plus some finger foods.
• Painful reflux began at 8 months. Inclined his bed. Compounded Prevacid helped for about 2 weeks. Then nighttime wakings became increasingly frequent. Continued on C-Prevacid for 2 months.
• Tried Prevacid Solutabs for 2 days. Horrible painful reaction – likely to the dairy in the Solutabs.
• 12/21/06 Switched Pediatricians. New dr was willing to hear about Zegerid and read about it on Marci-kids. Prescribed 40 mg packets of Zegerid (after reading about potential reaction to the buffer in the 20 mg pkts). However, didn’t use the dosage calculator for some reason and only prescribed 8 mg twice a day = 16 mg (calculator calls for 14 mg 3x day = 42 mg). Am using equal dose of Mylanta as a buffer.
• After 4 days on Zegerid, Andrew slept through the night for first time in 6 weeks! But that was the only night. Immediately descended again into multiple wakings.
• After about 10 days, tried upping the dose to 12 mg twice a day. No difference.
• Generally waking 3-6 times a night in pain. Mylanta sometimes helps, but often have to nurse him since nothing else stops his arching of his back, twisting in my arms, and crying while still asleep in my arms. Sometimes have given so much Mylanta through the night that it causes diarrhea the next day.
• Last Friday, upped the dose to 16 mg at night. Three hours after giving the med, woke in worse than normal pain. Nursing didn’t help. HORRIBLE night!! Decided that maybe no medicine would be better than a night like that again. Don’t know if the dose was too high, but I’m trying anything now.
• Sat and Sun without meds. Both nights, he was in much less pain – woke twice each night but was back in bed peacefully in 15 mins max. Not the continual thrashing, arching and crying. Not the typical crying as soon as I unlatched him after he falls asleep.
• Monday without meds. Back to the old routine of lots of nighttime wakings and pain. Gave 12 mg Zegerid plus Mylanta at some point in wee hours.
• Have been giving 12 mg Zegerid at night on Tues and tonight. Haven’t given it in morning. Last night he was in bed finally at 10 PM, awake at midnight, 1:30, 3:30, and 7:00. Most of those wakings were about 30 mins of burping, Mylanta, walking/bouncing, and finally nursing when all else failed.

What do I need to do???? I am so tired and not coping well. I can’t believe that I can have this happy, crawling and cruising baby during the day and this monster filled with pain at night. Generally his naps haven’t been affected, but today he woke in pain after only about 45 mins. I guess I need to give a morning dose as well, but what else do I need to do to get this under control?

He is not reacting to any foods with his MFPI right now. That reaction shows up differently than reflux – he gets a skin rash and he is happily awake all night (not crying in pain).

I want to talk to my ped again, but although he is nice, he doesn’t know too much about this situation or medicine. I feel like I need suggestions from you more experienced moms to try first or to bring to the ped as possible ideas.

Thanks, Dianne

[hellbennt]

you’re not necessarily the minority– what you say makes sense.

I actually hold the same type of belief only with breastfeeding- I feel that Jonah was exposed to so many different foods via my breastmilk (I love food!) that it helped him accept a wide variety of foods– he’s always been a great eater, with only a minor blip (so far) of pickiness at around 2 &1/2 -3 (now at 3 & 1/2 he’s back to eating a lot more variety).

[Anonymous]

Rachael,

I’m so sorry to hear about little Noah!! I was just wanting to email you the other day to see how things were going. Lucas was sent to a surgeon to discuss a possible fundo and they left us with the same speech as Lori above– that although things are bad, they felt they weren’t bad ENOUGH to warrant a body-altering surgery. The surgeon told us that there is about 90% success rate, but with the other 10% things can turn into multiple surgeries, etc. etc. This was him talking, he wasn’t showing us articles with stats, so I don’t know how these stack up to what your docs might have said to you. Also, in our case, things improved dramatically on Lucas’ very limited diet, and also seemed to improve a lot when I stopped breastfeeding at age two (go figure, I hung on forever thinking it was better for his reflux) — and with age. At 24 mos when I weaned him, things were getting better but now at 2 years and and nearly four months of age, his sleeping is TREMENDOUSLY better. (which makes me think size is a factor as well).

He also has always pulled nad scratched at his years until they bled and would often have scratches in his ears. We’ve repeatedly asked for ear checks which have always turned out good. We had that test above (the long t-word, I can’t ever remember it- that Lori mentioned I think) and his ears were fine. He is very sensitive to sound and we’re not really sure what’s up with the ear thing. But day to day it doesn’t seem to be a huge issue. He’s on a high dose of zegerid, but it’s the same dose he’s been on since about 20 lbs, and now he’s at 30 lbs. In our situation, I can see how it was the right thing to skip the surgery and just deal with the horrible other issues ….but my child has improved dramatically and it’s a lot easier for me to say that on this side of things now.

I only wish you the best and hope you find peace with your decisions. It sounds like your docs have left a lot to be desired for little Noah and I’m so sorry for that. Hang in there and know we’re here for questions, etc. on our end.

Hugs to you and your family

[hellbennt]

I think that if you’re taking a calcium supplement & prenatals it’s ok (of course the supplement would have to be free of milk/soy as well as the prenatals…) there’s a yahoobreastfeedingreflux board & they’re very knowledgable about this sort of thing there – link can be found from groupie intro (and I think from mspi page)

[Anonymous]

Hello and welcome,

How much does your son weigh? 15 mg sounds very low to me. Also, make sure you are giving it on an empty stomach and following it up with a feeding 30 minutes later. Docs and pharmacist don’t always tell you this.

As for adjusting to the meds, Myles had definite tummy cramps when he first started Prevacid. I was so worried and so sick of it all by then, but I hung in there with it and sure enough after about two weeks the cramping stopped and his reflux pain was gone as well.

How are his stools? Does he go regularily?

I agree with the others that MSPI is a possibilty as well. Can you BF exclusively for a few weeks to see if he improves with the meds? It can be so hard to figure out what’s wrong when you have so many variables; new meds, formula, foods passing through breast milk, etc. I BF also and I remained dairy free until after Myles was on meds and was feeling better. Then I gradually started adding dairy. At the time I didn’t know that babies can also be intolerant to soy. Thankfully Myles wasn’t but that’s something to consider. Be sure to read Laura’s links on MSPI.

Good luck and glad you found us.

[Anonymous]

I did a google search to try and help you out, but there wasn’t that much specific to fat malabsorption. There was something that talked about infants that have fat malabsorption doing well a alimentun becuause half of the fat is provided by MCT (medium chain triglycerides), which do not require the normal fat digestive pathways. I know that doesn’t tell you much, but maybe at least you could use this formula , or if you are breastfeeding (I can’t remember) you can figure out what you need to eat from your diet.

Here is the best link I could find. It is about malabsorption in general(in pediatric patients I believe in specific), but it has a section on fat.

I will pray for you and Jay!

http://www.gastroresource.com/gitextbook/en/Chapter15/15-7.h tm