I need to be talked off the ledge!

So Cathryn has reflux. We hoped we'd avoid it with her but since the girls had it and DH has it pretty bad, we sort of figured we'd end up here. We're exclusively bfing and it's mostly going well, aside from her wanting to eat all the time. I have no idea if I'm over feeding her not b/c it's seriously the only thing that calms her...I try everything else. She spits up a lot, and again, I don't know if it's from overeating (I really think feeding soothes her throat and reflux) or just from the reflux. Yesterday and today it's been pretty much every hour and a half that she eats. We started the prevacid for the reflux last Tuesday and we're waiting for it to fully kick in. I have no idea why I think not bfing her would be easier, maybe b/c at least then someone else could calm her for a while. I really WANT to keep up with bfing, but it's soo hard right now. I know I'll keep going b/c I'm stubborn (and I know it's better for reflux babies too) and unless I don't have enough milk, which I do, I won't stop. I just need someone to tell me it's going to be ok and this too shall pass. I need tips and tricks to get through this...anyone BTDT?? I'm also trying to cut dairy out of my diet, but when I already have NO time to make food, I'm finding that pretty hard too!

 

Oh, dear. :hug:

Do you like eggs? I ate a lot eggs during my dairy free time. The key is planning- knowing what you're going to eat and putting it in the house so you it's available.

Does she like to be held in a sling? I would try a sling and maybe a swing set on high. It's about 4-6 weeks when mine started to like the swing. How about a swaddle? It might put some pressure on the tummy so that she's not so uncomfortable. I also spend a lot of time like this- I'm holding up 3 fingers but it's actually the sign for 6. Sebastian- who is in the pic with me, was putting me up on the ledge. He was very difficult but I'm happy to say he mellowed out significantly 11 days after I cut dairy out of my diet.

:hug: It's 1 day at a time. She'll be feeling better soon and you'll be able to leave her with dad for 2 hours and go out and be by yourself!

 

Yes! I like eggs...I just need to figure out how to get to the store.

She's currently content in my babyhawk mei tai and napping. That's pretty much how she sleeps during the day. I tried a baby k'tan but she didn't like it...definitely doesn't like the cradle position. I'm going to return it and try a moby since it seems to have a little better flexibility. The swing is hit or miss...mostly miss. lol! She'll tolerate it for 5 minutes or so...that's about as long as she tolerates anything other than the babyhawk. We've tried swaddling but that doesn't seem to help either. I can't see the pic!

When you cut out dairy, did you cut out everything that says "contains milk" or just the main real dairy stuff like milk, cheese, yogurt?


ETA: she likes being on her back, but unfortunately b/c of the reflux and spit up I can't put her like that.

 

My girls had mild reflux they were partially breastfeed and I'll tell you they spit up way more formula than they did breastmilk. So you are doing the right thing.

No discount the possiblity of a growth spurt for her frequent nursing the last couple of days. And hold on for that medicine to kick in. I also think a good position in a sling will allow you both to feel a lot better. There are several older threads containing suggestions for quick and easy dairy free snacks.

 

So sorry! Reflux sucks. Breastmilk certainly gives her a better chance of handling it than formula. My reflux baby struggled with BFing due to dairy allergy (I didn't know or I would have quit) and the formula I needed for her was $25 a can. I spent $100 a month on formula just for her and I gave her quite a bit of breastmilk as well. With a breastmilk/formula comparison on the same baby, she did exponentially better with the breastmilk as far as her tummy went. Just to give you some encouragement that no matter what, however much breastmilk you give her is truly a gift. You are an amazing mom to be working so hard for her!

Cutting dairy out of your diet is easier after awhile. I found that mine responded strongest to straight milk or butter. After a few months she could handle it if I ate yogurt or cheese. Also, the didn't seem to mind dairy that was baked into foods. I wouldn't eat like cream of chicken or sour cream or anything but the bread I ate had dairy in it and I could eat butter baked into foods.

As far as reflux, position helped the most with mine. They slept and existed upright for almost the whole first year.

Hang in there mama, you're doing a great job!!!! :grouphug:

 

Ok, let me try that pic again. Looking back on it now, I usually don't have such an intense, crazed look in my eye. :laughing:

I did cut out all dairy- I wanted to give it a true test. 3 weeks later I ate some baklava and paid heavily for it and then didn't have any more dairy for about 7 months. It was totally worth it for me (& like my SN, I'm a cheese freak!)

Ooh, I almost forgot- go to YouTube and check out the Happiest Baby on the Block. I was so desperate at that 6 week mark what with growth spurts and fussiness that I tried everything. The Happiest Baby 5 techniques worked really, really well for a while with my guys.

 

OK, now I know I mentioned this before...but, I think you should try to take dairy all the way out. It's hard, but it's soooo worth it when your baby is better. When Claire was a baby, she would eat and eat, because when they are reacting to something, eating is what makes it feel better for a little while. :hug: It's not fun, or easy..but after a couple weeks it's not so bad ardon:

Start by taking it all the way out. Anything that contains dairy, or caseine in the ingredients. I surely hope it makes a difference for you. After a couple months you can reintroduce it little by little. I'm sorry because I know reflux and allergies make unhappy babies and unhappy mommas! :friends:

 

I wish I would have read this when my girls were newborns! I never even thought to cut out dairy! I will say that "The Happiest Baby on the Block" saved my life in the first 4 months. Give it a watch!

 

I have several friends who have had GREAT luck with cutting their diet and not having their babies on any meds as the cure for any reflux issues. I hope that works for you! And they lost lots of great weight too for themselves!

yes, they cut out all dairy, and some even had to cut soy and wheat etc. I'm not sure how they figured out what to cut out... but they were very determined! my one friend nursed and kept that diet up for 18 months!!

you can do it!!

 

I didn't avoid soy (in things) but I didn't seek it out as it can be hard to digest, too. So I didn't eat soy cheese (it also tastes bad) but would cook a tbsp of soy milk in my cookies.

 

I did no dairy, soy, wheat, and eggs. It wasn't bad once used to it. It took a lot of experimenting to cut things. I just cut it all, then added back in, and when adding in gave problems, I knew not to do it again ardon:

 

And that was with my second child. With my first one we had lots of crying (for both mom and baby ardon: ). Then I had her allergy tested and knew what to look for with my second. Finally figured it out...life was much much much easier. Wish I had known those things with my first <_<

 

Sadly I have no time to read what PPs said, but I want to say it will get better. My girls had it too and pretty badly I might say. We are still breastfeeding now. I cut out on dairy and for a while soy too. I am not sure it helped though. Really the only thing I can say is hang in there, it does get better. I always stubbornly refused to give up on breastfeeding because I somehow felt it to be better for them not to stop and, well, looking back I still think that is what dragged us through the darkest times. Despite all the tiredness I still feel now... I know nursing really comforted E&N, at all times, and I read it is good for reflux babies not to drink large amounts of milk which is usually the case if you bottlefeed.

All of that being said, you and no-one else should try to decide what is best your little girl, yourself and all of the other family members. I really feel for you and hope things will look better soon. GL!

 

It will pass!! Both girls had bad reflux. I cut out dairy and also got them fitted for pediatric wedges (wonderful!!). It kept them sleeping in an upright position correctly- apparently sleeping in the car seat and things like that are the worst for reflux. Investigate the wedges- it's hard to swallow that they charge as much as they do for a large piece of foam but it was very worth it!

For no dairy wonderful foods, I made lots of muffins and breads that used oil instead of butter (friends made me things too- source it out). I ate lots of dark chocolate (expensive kind with no milk products). Lots of fruit, french bread dipped in oil and balsamic- yummy.