4 month old baby with severe acid reflux. Was gaining weight and breastfeeding good until the last month. Refuses to nurse and is not gaining weight now. Currently on previcid (morning) and zantac (afternoon and evening). Is there something else that I can try before switching to formula? I would like to continue to breastfeed but I also want to see my daughter eat without being in pain.
Q: My 4 month old daughter has severe acid reflux, what can I do to continue to breastfeed?
Answers (2)
10/ 7/09 5:54am
Oh, so sorry your daughter is having feeding issues from her reflux. This is very common. Most parents tell me feeding is one of the top worries of caring for a baby with reflux.
Here are some ideas:
1. Eliminate dairy from your diet. Some moms eliminate dairy and soy. Dairy and soy protein may be difficult for some babies to digest when they have reflux. In other cases, a baby may have Milk Soy Protein Intolerance with symptoms very similar to severe reflux.
2. Pump and refeed: find out if it is the milk or the delivery system that is causing feeding issues. Some babies with reflux have difficulty dealing with nursing-the let down is too fast or they cannot get a good seal or position. If she takes a bottle of breastmilk easily, consult a lactation consultant for advice on how to proceed.
A lactation consultant with experience with feeding a baby with reflux can be an enormous help.
3. Trial of formula: It is a lot of work to give your baby formula and then pump your milk at the same time. This method gives you the option of going back to nursing if the formula does not make a difference in discomfort and feeding refusal.
4. Boost your supply: Caring for a baby with reflux is stressful to your body. Make sure you are getting some assistance from family members and friends. Drink lots of water, sleep when you can and let go of as much as you can. Your focus needs to be on caregiving.
Let me know what you have tried so far. Maybe another HealthCentral member has ideas and tips to add to this discussion.
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom
10/ 7/09 8:57am
Sounds like Reflux Mom has a lot of good suggestions. The only thing I would add is
a) has your baby been thoroughly checked out to rule out any kind of intestinal blockage? My mother-in-law went through losing a baby to pyloric stenosis (the pylorus is the valve between the stomach and the small intestine. Sometimes it doesn't open when it should, and that causes projectile vomiting. Because it wasn't recognized in time. the doctor kept changing formula, thinking the baby had trouble with various formulas. The baby kept losing weight, got pneumonia, and died despite eventual surgery. A later baby had the same problem, and when a hospital intern acted condescending as if she wouldn't be able to diagnose that, she put him straight real fast, the baby got the needed surgery, and that baby is now my husband!
b) I'm iffy on this one. You could see if there is a 'chapter' of La Leche League close by. I have mixed feelings about some of them who act as though it's a crime NOT to breast feed. However, they do also have a lot of experience, because they are determined not to deprive their babies of the benefits of breast milk. I had never seen anyone nurse, including my sisters with their babies, when I had my daughter, and so that was reassuring. But I resented the attitude of "How could anyone do anything else?" So - a professional lactation consultant might be the best way to go.
10/ 7/09 1:46pm
In the begining when I suggested it was reflux they sent her for an ultrasound to check for intestinal blockage. Is this the test they would do to check for what you mentioned above? Then they sent her for the baruim test which showed severe reflux. I am not a big fan of the La Leche League either. When I had problems breast feeding my son 6 yrs ago they were not much help at all. Come to find out he had severe reflux, I guess it runs in the family. I am trying to get an appointment at the hospital with a lactation consultant.
10/ 7/09 2:01pm
Sounds like you're on track - hope it gets figured out. Maybe let us know, others might have a similar problem.
10/21/09 10:06am
Hi, I am the one who posted the question. We went and saw a lactation consultant at the hospital and she was able to determine exactly how much breastmilk my daughter was getting. She weighed her before I fed her and then weighed her after. So simple. She was only getting 2oz per feeding. So this is why she started to not want to nurse. I am now drinking the Mothers Milk herbal tea to up my milk supply and it has been working. She nurses much better. I am dealing with my daughters acid reflux as best as I can. It will eventually subside. Thank you, for taking the time to reply.
10/25/09 12:41pm
Hello again,
So glad you were able to find out more about your daughter's feeding and figure out a treatment plan for her.
Best wishes,
Jan
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Thank you for replying. I have previous experience with my son (6 years ago) on dealing with infant reflux however his wasn't diagnosed as early as hers was so with him I gave up breastfeeding because I thought that was the problem.
I do not want to give it up this time. I have tried changing my diet and that didn't seem to work. My daughter has started pulling of the breast frequently so I am tring to get a one on one appointment with a lactation consultant at the nearby hospital. I am not able to pump more than a few drops or I would just pump and give it to her in a bottle. Perhaps I am doing something wrong with my pumping. I know that I do need to rest more so thanks for reminding me.