Preventing GI issues in Pregnancy?

[Anonymous]

It’s funny that you brought this topic up, b/c I was about to. I want more kids and was wondering of the possibility that they will have ger.

Annoyingly I too had antibiotics while in labor because my ob dr. didn’t send the results of the Group b test to the hospital. Even though I told the nurses I tested negative they still gave me the antibiotics. I was really nervous about it too, I should’ve told them no and stood my ground.

Actually,I was wondering if the epidural was to blame.How many moms on here had an epidural? I did. I probably won’t next time. When Aiyana was born she had breathing problems, and had to go to the nursery for a few hours for observation.

The thought,thepossibility that the antibiotics or epidural did this tomy baby sends me into a rage Obviously,they (scientists/doctors) need to do more research on these medicines to see the consequences. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple of years from now we learn one of these things was the cause.

[hellbennt]

well, I’ll report back to you all sometime mid july! I did have an epidural, but I really do not believe that’s what caused jonah’s reflux…I believe his was due to an immatue LES…and I was told it’s more common with caucasian males, but after being on this board for close to 3 yrs, I know that’s bunk!!

[Anonymous]

Julia, all I can say is that if and when you have another child, DO NOT be afraid and TAKE the epidural if you want it! It does not cause reflux! If it did than a huge majority of babies born in North America would have reflux. I had an epidural with my first born and she did not have reflux. In fact, I took antibiotics with them both and only Hailey had reflux. Like you, I often wonder what caused it. In Hailey’s case, I was in early labour on Saturday, and Hailey wasn’t born until Tuesday- she was stuck behind my bladder and wouldn’t drop down until I was catheterized (sorry if TMI). I often wonder if that’s what did it. Who really knows.

[Anonymous]

I think I ate too much icecream and pizza when I was pregnant! Although I will add (even though I don’t think this is the link) that I had antibiotics for group b strep.

When Henry was first born (before I knew he had reflux) I thought all his crying was because I had used fertility drugs that I created a soul that simply didn’t want to be here. The rigors of having a reflux baby can send your thinking to strange places!

Ruby

Henry, 4-months old, reflux

Breastfeeding on the eat-nothing-that-you-like-diet

7.5 mg prevacid 2x a day

[Anonymous]

I often wonder if the vacuum extraction caused it. I’ve read that this can actually cause reflux by compressing the head too quickly and putting pressure on the vagus nerve. My husband is convinced that something went wrong with the vacuum b/c he said that Hailey had an unbelievable cone head, and that the docs all looked at each other with a strange look. I think that unfortunately, like someone already said, it’s just luck of the draw….

[Anonymous]

I was on no meds at all, not even tylenol. Normal pregnancy & delivery. Ashtyn has no allergies, MSPI, etc, etc to cause her reflux & believe me we have had every test done. But at 2 1/2 yrs old, she still needs her Prevacid. You would never know she had it when on her meds especially for the occassionally glurping sound. When she was sick recently she refused her Prevacid solutab for about 3 days & I noticed a difference. Luckily I was able to give her Tums during the day & some Mylanta before bed.

[Anonymous]

I know how you are all feeling. You want there to be some environmental factor that caused your baby’s reflux, so you can control it or prevent it the next time. I think unless your baby is premature, it is a genetic crap shoot. My dad has it, my husband has it…I probably had it as a baby but was only diagnosed as “bad colic” and formula intolerances.

I worked as a L & D nurse for 6 years, and never heard of an antibiotic link or epidural link. Antibiotics are so common in labor because of the risk of Group B strep infections in newborns, and prematurity, or prolonged ruptured membranes, etc. I have seen untreated babies in the NICU and believe me, the sepsis is worse than any possible link. My first pregnancy was term, except for a kidney infection I had. I was not treated directly for Group B strep and my son went to NICU for sepsis and was diagnosed luckily in the NICU with reflux days later.

I had preterm labor the second time around that was stopped, but had every drug in the book and documented Group B strep. I asked every doctor who walked by that even though my baby seemed fine, how would I know if he had reflux too. They all said genetic luck of the draw, just watch for it. It is just an immature LES that some babies have.

All the meds that are given for epidurals are also given for patients that have spinal anesthestia. A very large % of deliveries either have had an epidural or c-section…so I doubt that is a causative factor.

I would be curious if any of your PED GIs are involved in any active studies. It wouldn’t hurt to ask them, especially if they are also professors at a medical school. I think I would want to participate if the study is just questionnaires and follow up…Just a thought.

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