Help: new born misery!

[Belle]

we tried ranitidine and it didn't seem to help but then got put on omeprazole, that seemed to do the trick. We did try domperidone but only briefly as he was already on the omeprezole by then, so couldn't really tell if it made any difference. I do know quite a few people who've had success with ranitidine though. I have heard varying things re domperidone, so suspect with all these drugs it's just a case of trying them to see which works, and though I'd heard stories of babies being 'a different baby' overnight, it was more gradual than that for us.

I'd still push for a referral if you can, because even if one of them works it'd be good to be seen on the NHS and able to get repeats and clinical reviews as necessary (all the meds have to be dosed according to weight for instance, and reviewed pretty regularly) - I've found it useful to talk through various aspects of reflux with the specialist. Also he was the one who suggested a poss cows milk protein allergy. Though we are doing it privately, through my husband's work health insurance, I was told by my GP that had I been referred on the NHS, it would not have been a long wait given how young my baby was.

[buggie]

I'd be loathed to use a normally prescription medicine on bubs before being seen by paeds - the dosaging is dependent on babies weight and to be thoroughly assessed that there isn't any other cause for bub's on going problems.

[littlemoo]

Bee,

I agree with buggie. The drugs dosage is really dependent on weight and the really useful drug is the omeprazole. I would seriously consider going to A&E. If you have night choking you have a valid reason, and children's A&E is very different to normal A&E. I'd turn up on a week day, and basically you will see a pead immediately. They will start the prescription process immediately.

[bee74]

thank you. I hear what you're saying. I took Jaya to A&E already and it took 4 hours to see a junior doc who wasn't too sure about what to do and was waiting for a senior pead, so eventually i had to discharge myself to go to nursery and pick up my oldest. I felt it was a total waste of time.

I am in contact with my peadiatrician in Italy whom i skipe with whenever i am concerned, so I am hoping she will be able to advice on dosage (i have scales).

I am not ruling out King's at all. I just feel i don't want to wait the 18 weeks I've been told i will!

I am also duing the laying back when feeding to stop oversupply and that's really working, too well in fact that i don't seem to have enough to express. What formula have you found best?

Thank you

[Saffron]

So sorry to hear you wainted for ages in A&E and didn't manage to be seen by a senior physician, but it's good that you are able to speak with a physician you know in Italy. From personal experience, I've known people to have the most benefit from omeprazole, but ranitidine has a not dissimilar mechanism of action, in that they both decrease acid production in the stomach by acting mainly on specific pharmacological targets in the upper gastrointestinal system. Whereas, antacids work by buffering the stomach pH once the acid has already been produced, so only best effective for occasion reflux. Domperidone hits more pharmacological targets outside the GI system, so it has the potential to have more side-effects outside the GI system too. I totally agree with Buggie, that Baby needs to be assessed thoroughly to exclude any other possible problems. I hope you're able to see a specialist soon, so things can get better for you and Baby. xx

[esme]

When I first had my baby I had really massive milk supply - donated to King's milk bank (great cause and they're lovely - drop off bottles and pick up when you ring them) and that helped ease discomfort. Everyone worries about expressing too much in case you stimulate your supply too much but I wouldn't worry, you generally regulate after a while. King's experience for me was both good and bad, as with any organisation it depends on the staff you get. When I went into labour the staff were appalling (just finishing a shift and could not give a s***) yet the NIgerian midwife who looked after me and Spanish midwife who took over when she finished her shift and delivered my son were both amazing. Night staff were awful, day staff were great. Might go for home birth if I have another :)

[bee74]

Esme - I donated milk to King's for two and half year with my first son, but i didn't mind as there was no other worry. This time I just don't have the energy to express with a baby who is so sick and with an active 3 year old.

Btw no improvement yet and the doctor had not even sent the referral to the hospital, so I m still waiting. I think the situation is now aggravated by terrible wind - sometime her farts and burps are louder than a man who's had 5 pints and curries! I feel so sorry for her. The sleeping is not better as it's constantly interrupted by pain and the nights are still brutal - normally sleep between 10.30 and 1.30...

[Strawbs]

Bee - how old is she now? If over 4 weeks gripe water is an absolute godsend when it comes to wind. When I give it to toby he immediately starts farting! X

[bee74]

Strawbs - she is now 6 weeks.. i have started using colief but really expensive... will try gripe water. Thanks.

[sunbob]

Bee- I wonder if the doctor would prescribe colief for you, children's prescriptions are free.