My name is Christina and I have been browsing this site for a few weeks now. With all the ups and downs that reflux brings on, I thought it was time that I introduce myself and become an active poster.
My little boy Owen was born at 36 weeks. Around 3-4 weeks we started to figure out that he had a reflux problem. He has always grunted continuously while on his back and he started projectile vomitting. Shortly after, he started to refuse nursing and would arch his back in pain at the breast or bottle. His feedings went from 3.5 oz to an ounce at a time. He would still average the same amount through out the day, it was just constant feeding.
The doctor prescribed Zantac and thickening with rice cereal. We were using Dr. Brown’s bottles and could never find the right cereal amount with the right nipple so we gave that up. The Zantac worked great for two weeks and then things went back down hill. Doctor then prescribed Prevacid. Each night Owen would cry for two hours. I just assumed this was “witchery hour”. After a week of this, he cried all night. Then he cried off and on while I was at work the next day. We discovered that he had a horrible reaction to the Prevacid and it caused stomach pain and explosive bowel movements.
Within a day of stopping my little guy was back to normal. We started with the Zantac again and I discovered NUK bottles. The placement of the hole works wonders for reflux babies. It is also easy to add cereal to them. We found that adding 1 tsp per 4 oz is right for our little one. I thought we were finally on the right track doing all of this and inclining his bed.
Now, after a couple of weeks on the Zantac Owen is back to refusing the bottle and arching his back in pain during some feedings. He looks uncomfortable when he eats all the time. In the last two days he has projectile vommited 4 times. It is in the amounts that seem like a whole bottle. It takes him 5-10 heaves to get everything out.
I am at my wits end of what to do. The doctor makes it seem like our only options are Prevacid and Zantac. Neither of these are working for my little guy and I feel so bad for him. He is the happiest little baby despite all of these eating issues. I guess this big long story comes down to me needing some advice. What should I do next? Do I ask to see a specialist, or just wait it out.
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