Could this be reflux?

Christopher is a little over four weeks old. As of the last maybe two weeks he is very fussy after his feedings. His sister lays there totally content (almost drunk looking) while he wiggles in pain and fusses/cries. I have noticed that I cannot lay him flat on his back after he eats....he has to be siting propped up. He just never really seems content after he eats.

He is also extremely gassy and his bms are not normal looking (very runny and almost snotty looking). My older DS had this and we ended up switching him to soy formula because he was allergic to milk based formula. With Christopher I switched him to Enfamil Gentlease yesterday hoping he can stay on a milk based formula instead of going to soy. I know that formula helps with gas and fussy babies too. Well he has had 4 bottles of the Gentlease and at his last feeding....about 3.5oz, he had projectile spitup. It literally poured out of his mouth in waves....I have never seen spitup like that.

I don't know what is wrong with him. We go to the doctor on Wednesday and I want to have an idea of what is going on so I can tell the doctor. He fusses ALL day and I need to figure out what is wrong with him. Any ideas???

 

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(very runny and almost snotty looking).


That definitely sounds like an intolerance. A lot of babies that have an intolerance to milk, also have an intolerance to soy. I would switch him to a hypoallergenic, like Nutramigen, or Alimentum, and see if it helps. He could also have some reflux going on, but a lot of it could be due to the intolerance to the formula.

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Jan 14 2008, 04:36 PM) [snapback]571623[/snapback]
That definitely sounds like an intolerance. A lot of babies that have an intolerance to milk, also have an intolerance to soy. I would switch him to a hypoallergenic, like Nutramigen, or Alimentum, and see if it helps. He could also have some reflux going on, but a lot of it could be due to the intolerance to the formula.


Totally agree with Becky. We had some of the same issues and once we got on the Alimentum and some meds for the reflux we had a much happier baby.

 

We had the same issue with DD that went away when we switched to soy, she is one of the few that has a milk protein intolerance but not a soy protein intolerance. The difference was night and day, it took a few days for the problem to fully resolve, but she has been fine since we made the switch. It was right after her 1 month appt, so about the same time as your little guy.

 

Like the previous posters, I'd say it sounds like an intolerance, not reflux. Reflux (at least that I've heard of and dealt with) causes more fussiness during eating - back arching, fighting eating, etc. Mucus in poops is a big sign of an intolerance. You may want to try soy or Nutramigen/Alimentum...

 

Mine had the same thing and also have reflux. As pp suggested, swith to Alimentum or Nutragimen (sp?) and if you notice your babies are fussing, screaming, crying, arching while they are drinking their bottle then I would think on the lines of reflux.

 

That's what I was thinking too, that it's a milk intolerance. My older DS had an intolerance to milk but did great on soy, so if the gentlease doesn't work I will try the soy before switching to Alimentum (since it's SO expensive!!) Both boys seem to be very similar so it doesn't surprise me that he is following in his older brother's footsteps and not doing well on milk based formula.

 

both my kids had bm's like that and the fussiness and DS was a projectile puker - soy was the answer to our prayers...I'd try a can of soy first before going to the expensive stuff...not all milk intolerances also are soy...just make sure you give it at least 5 days to work...DD had instant relief but it took DS 3-4 days...

 

Sounds good. You're right about that Alimentum (Geez!). Hmm, I wonder about the projectile vomitting tho. If that keeps up I might wonder about the reflux. See how he does. Maybe with switching it will help.