2nd time mom, first reflux baby

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I have 2 girls, J born 09/09 and G born 09/12.

G was born via c-section because she was breech with a nucal arm. I tried everything to get her to flip but it was just not happening. G is exclusively breast fed. Shortly after her birth I was concerned about reflux. At her 2 week Ped appt. they told me it was most likely gas, and did not want to medicate her. The next 4 weeks were hell. She showed typical signs of silent reflux. G screamed, and arched when laying down. pulling off while eating, screaming, then eating frantically again, constant congestion (that was blamed on the C-section) . Finally at 6 weeks she was put on zantac and she was like a new baby. G is typically a happy, very smiley child.

I really thought we were passed the worst of it, and just last week I brought up the possibility of weening her off the Zantac, but we decided to wait a while longer.

G is on 1.1 ml 3x a day of zantac

Just the last few days sleeping has been a real challenge. My normally happy baby is very clingy, and fussy. She did get her TDAP Vax last week, and I thought it might be related to that, but now I just don’t know. She has also been having awful smelling gas, I am going to start the TED diet today and see if that is helps. G only poops every other day or so, and they seem to be normal. G only naps in arms, if she is down she only naps a few minutes at a time. She is so tired and fussy at the end of every day. I dread nighttime, every night. The past few nights there has just been no helping her, just screaming, while being fed, rocked, bounced, patted or shooshed. We both end up crying and finally she passes out. Usually she sleeps better next to me, on her side. Here is the kicker though, its now 11am, and she is still sleeping. Every day is like this. She can’t fall asleep, (no matter how early we start the process) before 1-3 am, but once she is finally asleep she will go a few hours. She wakes up to nurse, but usually falls asleep again quickly and quietly. She is clingy every day from about 6 till 11pm, and then miserable until I can finally get her to sleep.

I feel like I am missing something that I can be doing that’s obvious? Any insights, or advise? I need some help here. My poor girls, G never seems comfortable, and J is not getting the attention she needs.

Breastfeeding is so very important to me, I really don’t want to give it up, but at this point I am close to throwing in the towel, which will break my heart.

Thanks if you made it this far reading.

[Anonymous]

Welcome! I am so sorry your little girl is suffering. 🙁

Here is an interesting article I found on c-sections and digestive problems…

Whilst in your womb, your baby’s intestinal tract is sterile – and so its free from bacteria. From birth though, your baby begins the process of acquiring the friendly bacteria in the gut that play such a critical role in health and wellness.

How your child is born, strongly influences what kind of bacteria your child will acquire. Infants that are born vaginally begin accumulating beneficial bacteria including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Escherichia coli (commonly abbreviated to E. coli) and Enterococcus in the birth canal with the very process of birth. These bacteria form the foundations of a healthy digestive flora and originate from healthy maternal vaginal and fecal flora.

Babies born via cesarean on the other hand, receive a different mix of bacteria at birth. This comes from the maternity hospital itself, notably from nursing staff and equipment and includes Clostridium and Streptococcus.

Following birth, the acquisition of digestive flora continues until your baby is around two to three months of age with most of this beneficial bacteria coming from the mother via touch, suckling and kissing.

The way in which you feed your baby also has a strong influence on his or her digestive flora. A breastfed baby tends to have greater numbers and types of beneficial bacteria than a formula fed infant, notably Bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and Enterococcus. These bacteria, specifically those belonging to the Bifidobacteria clan (genera) thrive in the presence of breast milk proteins and constitute up to 90% of a breastfed infant’s micro flora. They help prevent harmful bacteria colonizing the infant’s intestine.

Newborns have an immature digestive system that has never processed food. The gastrointestinal system is literally just learning to function. Muscles that support digestion have not developed the proper rhythm for moving food efficiently through the digestive tract. Furthermore, newborns lack the benevolent bacterial flora (probiotics) that develop over time to aid digestion. This explains why a lot of infants outgrow colic within the first six months.

Antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria but the good also. So if a nursing mother is given antibiotics during labor or while nursing or if baby is given antibiotics, then all the good bacteria (probiotics) are killed……

I have heard many mothers say that vaccines make their baby’s reflux flare up. 🙁 I don’t remember if I did my boys or not.

We give our children a supplement of digestive enzymes and probiotics and it helps them tremendously with their digestive problems.

Please don’t give up on nursing yet. I know it is hard but I really wish I had not quit with my sons. With my oldest I made it to 12 weeks and with my next I made it to 8 weeks and with my last I made it to 8 months! 🙂 While pregnant and nursing my last one, I took the probioitcs and enzymes and they made my milk be very broken down and easy for my baby to digest.

You can learn more about probiotics and enzymes on my blog (See signature) but feel free to ask questions here if you have them!

[hellbennt]

you don’t have to stop nursing if you don’t want to.

there’s a lot to read, but it will all help you.

I have a LOT to say and most of it’s here, in a link called ‘groupie intro.’

it’s looong but TRULY will help you- read through it, refer back to it, scroll through it/skim through it. You’ll find yourself coming back to it!

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853

you can do this!

reflux what I have learned: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2948&a mp;PN=2

Reasons a breastfeeding mother might think her baby is reacting to something in her milk:

*poop that is not ‘normal’ mustardy yellow, seedy breastfed baby poop

*mucous in poop; mucous can look like: snot, jelly, cottage cheese, stringy like the inside of a banana

*foul-smelling poop

*stinky, foul-smelling painful gas

*straining and grunting to poop and, when baby finally does poop, it’s soft

the TED takes two weeks and then you start adding foods in to see what you CAN eat. [: )>

Research all you can! You are your baby’s best advocate!

Babywearing Saved US:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1044&PN=1

probiotics, brands used:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8970&PN=1

[Anonymous]

I have had 4 children delivered by c-section. two were a set of premature twins and they didn’t have any reflux problems. my first child born c-section, cried for 2 years–he probably had MSPI–they just didn’t know about tht back then (he’s almost 24). My last baby was born with a hiatal hernia and had to have a fundoplication just before she turned 10 mmonths old–reflux was gone instantly. i have a hard time believing a vaginal birth vrs a c-section really has much to do with what kind of intestinal flora your child ends up with—sorry.

[Author]

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