Reflux question...what should I do?

My breastfeeding son was diagnosed with reflux disease today. He has had problems since the hospital, and I am very relieved to be given a diagnosis from our pedi (I suspected reflux all along). I am all for alternatives to hard core meds for this though. I go back and forth on whether I should do an elimination diet to see if he has an allergy to anything I am eating or I should give him the Zantac. My pedi seems to think that my diet doesn't play much of a role with reflux...he thinks it's all structural. Did any of you do a total elimination diet, such as the one Dr. Sears proposes? If so, did you have success?

On one hand I want to try the diet just to see if it helps my baby. But...on the other hand I am exhausted from night feedings and taking care of my 4 year old and I really really want all my comforting foods (like my delicious coffee with cream in the morning!) If knew it would work I would totally do it though.

Uggg...What should I do?

 

I love Zantac. My DD is a totally different baby since she started taking it. It did take 4-5 days for me to see an affect after she started to take it. I would let the baby take it. I too was kinda hesitant but it would not hurt for you to just try the baby on it. I know my DD would scream a lot especially at night and there was nothing I could do for her. Now she does not scream or spit up that much anymore. Good luck.

 

Not a breastfeeder here, but we had terrible reflux and even saw a Ped GI for it. We tried Zantac and that didnt work so we went to Prevacid and within about 2-3 days we started having a much better time feeding with less arching and screaming. We also added cereal to the bottles but I know that wont work for you with BFing. So, I think if you want some relief fast I would go for the medication, but that is just me. I was desperate, as I was up all night too and taking care of a 2 year old during the day and I needed anything that would ease the situation and frustration for me. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

Both my girls have reflux, one much worse than the other and I breastfeed. They both are taking Zantac and it seems to be working for one but you wouldnt even know my girl who is worse is taking anything. Projectile puking, coming out her nose without puking, gagging when nothing is in her mouth, hiccups constantly. Its painful to watch.
We actually have to see a pedi radiologist and gi tomorrow to get belly ultrasounds and make sure it is just reflux.

I would definitely try the zantac, it even worked for my reflux (adult zantac of course haha).

 

I did not breast feed, but a friend of mine used the elimination diet and said it made a world of difference in her baby.

I had 3 reflux babies. It was hard. If you try meds., I have to say Prevacid was a lifesaver for us. Zantac never did the trick.

 

I think the meds help with the physical damage that reflux causes to the esophagus. I went dairy free, hasn't made as much of a difference as the Axid has.

 

I think I read somewhere that studies have shown that elimination diets don't work unless there's a true food allergy involved, and allergies are far less common than reflux. Drs suspect that my DD might have a milk protein allergy, but after cutting dairy for a while, I reintroduced it, and she's been perfectly fine. Even if a baby has a food allergy, mom can sometimes still eat it, because the bad stuff gets broken down so much before turning into breastmilk.

I think there's a blood test that can screen for food allergies - not 100% accurate, but might give you some idea.

I would just do the Zantac. If there are still problems after that, you might consider eliminating some foods. But it's probably not worth it. So by all means keep enjoying that coffee with cream! You need it!

 

I did the elimination diet! I'm still pretty restricted because we have tons of food allergies-- they run in my family. I will write more later-- tons to say but I can't see the keys very well (nursing in the dark). It did help us but we still had to do meds.

 

Mine were on Zantac and Reglan. They were weaned off the Reglan over the last 2 months and have done well. They've been on Zantac since they were inthe hospital and they have done well. They hardly ever spit up and it seems to really relieve fussiness from reflux too. Apparently the worst part of reflux is when it comes up into their chest and throat but not out of their mouths--because it just burns.

 

I bf's as well and both of my girls were on zantac (with a cocktail of mylanta to help with the acid; i used medicine binkies that have a chamber for the liquid so they just suck it out - that made a world of difference in administering meds if you go there)

i agree, the reflux is a structural thing; their esophagus just isn't long enough yet and the acid makes them so uncomfortable; writhing and arching and crying. it's awful to see. Unless there are true food allergies which are relatively rare, then I would say try the meds and see if they work. KEep in mind that it WON'T eliminate the puking, but it will eliminate the suffering from the acid and the potential damage to the esophagus. That's the real concern.

we eventually went prevacid for one, but it did nothign for the other so she stayed on zantac. Good luck.