reflux moms

Both my LO's have reflux. My DD is being treated with Zantac and is doing fine. My DS I believe has the "silent reflux" he was a projectile vomiter when he was a newborn, now he just sometimes spits up. He was treated with cereal and that seems to have done the trick with him. Last night he woke up around 2am and sounded like he choked and he screamed and continued to cough and catch his breath. It definitly scared him ........and us!! So my question is.......do any of you elevate the head of your crib? Im just wondering if he threw up and gagged on it. If you do elevate how did you do it?


Thanks!!

 

Absolutely elevate the crib. I had sleep positioners that were on inclines as well as when they were little we put both of the crib mattresses into one crib and put some rolled up towels in the middle toward the back to create an incline. When they got older, we put books under the legs on the back side.

Are you keeping them elevated after each feeding for at least 30 mins?

 

We had the same issues (still do).
Yes we raise their mattress. They sleep in the same crib, so we just roll up 2 towels and put it under the longside of the mattress where their heads will rest.

Caution though, if you do this too long it starts to 'bend' the mattress, at least with ours, we are thinking of putting a plywood board underneath instead.

BUT...we've been doing this for almost 4mths, and the mattress is still just fine, I think if we were to continue for another 6-9mths it may damage the integrity of the mattress...

GL! Reflux can be so scary...but you'll find 'everyone' gets used to it! :hug:

 

Yes I do keep them elevated, I have been doing that since birth. It had been more than 4 hours since he last ate. They move around so much I cant do the sleep positioners, but I am going to try the elevated crib. He has never had a problem with this before but I certainly don't want it to happen again!!

 

Awesome idea about the books Rachel...what an easy solution! THANKS!

 

We bought reflux sleep wedges for my daughters due to fairly severe reflux. I tried the mattress thing, but they both kept sliding down, so we graduated to the wedges that come with little sling thingies that keep them in place. You can see an example at www.tuckersling.com

 

We rolled up towels and put them under the head of the mattress.

 

We elevated the crib with phone books. My pedi said 2 but I did 1 and a thinner book. It does help. Reflux is tough. I hope he feels better soon.

 

We rolled up towels too and put them underneath the crib sheet in the shape of a C so it cradled their bottoms and kept em up...worked really well with us. I also held them upright after a feed for 15-30mins. That helped with the spitting up too.

 

Mine slept in a boppy until around 5mo I took them out when they were able to roll over. I think this helped.

 

google "marci" for info re: zantac and a drug called Zegerid. We had alot of success with Zegerid.

also, consider alternative options. We eventually put Syd on probiotics, chinese herbs and other stuff prescribed by an "alternative" MD Pedi. She helped Syd to "heal her gut" so we could stop the meds.

 

We bought the AR pillow. It is nothing fancy, but it does the job. Also, insurance will pay for it. We had a wedge and the boys always slid down it like a slide. One day I found my one son at the bottom of the crib on his side, smooshed into the bumper. After that I started sleeping him the boucy seat. The ped told me to look for something more permanent and kind of hinted around that it might be hard habbit to break later on. So far we have been happy with this product and my son loves sleeping in it.

http://www.arpillow.com/

 

Both my twinkies have reflux too. My DS is my projectile spitter and has been put on Prevacid and rice cereal in bottles. . .DD has been fine with rice cereal and occasional Mylanta, as recommended by our Pedi GI doc. Elevating the bed has been really good with both of them. I had a crib wedge from my 1st DS who had severe reflux until his 3rd bday, when we were finally able to wean him off meds. But the babies are in separate beds now and I tried propping up DD's mattress but I prefer the wedge. It just depends on your preference. I just went and bought another crib wedge at Babies R Us and I think it was $12.99, and you put it under the crib sheet. . . They slide a little but I just put a rolled up receiving blanket under their butts and that seems to hold them in place Good Luck. . .Reflux is tough. . .

 

My 3.5 month old DS has severe reflux and was diagnosed at 4 weeks after severely choking and stopping breathing. He chokes/coughs daily, it's horrid. I propped up his crib but we eventually bought an Amby nest hammock which he loves and it keeps his head up. We also have a breathing alarm on him at night. He is on Losec and Domperidone which helps a bit and I am trying dairy free in case he has an allergy.

 

We tried elevating one side of the mattress but also had the problem of the boys sliding down the mattress while they slept. They sleep in Boppies most of hte time now, though we add blankets/towels underneath so it's less of an angle.