What Should I do to help my babies?

Hello! I feel like I have been sending posts quite often lately; I sometimes feel like I should know how to fix problems more without always turning for advice. Oh well, I am only trying to find the best care for my girls. Anyways, my husband and I have determined by a long and saddening list of symptoms, that are girls (especially Lily) are prime candidates for acid reflux. Lily seems to be in more pain than Anna, while she tends to spit up more. I can't stand watching my girls squirm, grimace, arch their backs, scream, and sometimes not finish their feedings. It puts me in tears almost everytime. I want so badly for it to go away. So here's my dilema. . . do I put both girls on a medication or do I grin and bear it until they outgrow it hopefully. I am scared to put them on meds, they seem so young still (7 weeks) and were preemies born at 33 1/2 weeks. I don't want the meds to give them any side effects or long term complications or developmental delays. I know that may sound silly but these are the crazy things that run through my mind. Any advice would be much appreciated. I want to enjoy every minute of their "newborn months" because it took us a long and emotionally draining journey to get to have my little angels. My husband and I may not have any more children because we only have a few vials of sperm left (DH was diagnosed with colon cancer 2 yrs. ago). I want only happy things for my kids.
Please help and hugs to you all,
Jen

 

Hi Jen,

Talk to your pediatrician about this re: the babies' age and reflux meds. I agree that medicating your kid is no fun, but choosing to "grin and bear it" can have terrible implications down the road.

Not to scare you, but Reflux (left untreated) can cause food aversions in kids. That means that you could end up with kids who do not eat solids or have major texture aversion,etc. the babies associate painwith food and decide that they'd rather NOT eat. I was told by our EI OT that kids will NOT eat when they are hungry (like most people think) if they associate pain with eating, they shut off their "hunger" instincts and choose not to eat. So, talk to your pedi, find out what His.her attitude is about reflux and treat it as the pedi describes.

Reflux can be caused by protein intolerances (dairy, soy, etc.) so if you breastfeed, yo umay want ot minimize dairy in your diet, if you formula feed -- talk to your doctor about maybe trying a more processed product. That can help without meds.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll make the right decisions about the kids. Reflux is so common these days --

Teri D

 

QUOTE
So here's my dilema. . . do I put both girls on a medication or do I grin and bear it until they outgrow it hopefully.


I would not have been able to go any loner or I should say my boys could not go any longer. They started meds at 8 weeks. After 9 months they just stopped thier meds. Talk to your ped so he can talk to you about your concerns. Dont quote me but I think if left untreated, the acid can internally do harm. I also thing they will be drinking less if it goes untreated and that will cause another issue. I was amazed at how many babies had acid reflux.

 

my DS was on zantac for a few months. now that he is 6 months and more upright, we were finally able to wean him off. i'm actually starting to be able to add some dairy back into my diet as well. as per PP, if you are breastfeeding, take a close look at what you are eating. they may be reacting to that. i ahd to cut dairy, tomato based products, chocolate (ugh), coffee, spicy foods. basically, anything worth eating! but it did work. DS had to go on the pricey formula too. so you can look at all that first, if you want to avoid meds. but if needed, i think it will be better in the long run, as they will eat more and grow nice, big and healthy! they won't be on the meds forever!
good luck!

 

:hug99: Don't ever feel bad about posting here! That is what we are here for! Not giving your babies meds if they do indeed have gerd, can really do damage to their esophagus. It burns the lining, and can actually cause erosion. I always think back to being pregnant and having that HORRIBLE heartburn and think about those tiny babies feeling that same pain and that is reason enough for my kids to be on the meds. Have they given you an RX yet? Teri is right about reflux babies and their will to eat....that old saying that "babies will not starve themselves" does not apply to reflux babies. I would talk to your ped asap.

I am so sorry to hear about your husband and the colon cancer. :hug99:

 

I agree with the previous posters! :good:
I know how you feel about putting them on meds, I went through the same thought process...and everyone was feeding me the line that "he won't starve himself". Well, when it got bad enough {and I pray you never ever get to that "place"} he pretty much did. Their throats hurt with reflux. Once you see your little babies eat with a smile on their faces and actually look forward to it, it will be worth it. Reflux sucks. I am now seeing the after affects {or is it effects??} of the reflux. The docs didn't take me seriously enough and let my ds go through some tough times and now I can barely get my hand near his mouth.
Call your ped and let your babes try something to help them out. I hope it works and things get better!!!
Oh and don't feel bad about posting...you should see some of the things I have posted about! :fool:

 

QUOTE
I sometimes feel like I should know how to fix problems more without always turning for advice.


I want to add two things. The first is about what you said above. The way I survived those very difficult first months was by coming to this site and asking questions. Not only did I know nothing about having twins but I dont have any other chidren so everything was new to me.

I also want to add that I am sorry for what you and your husband have had to go through. Remember we are here for you!

 

something to also think about - could it be formula intolerance...I thought for sure both my kids had reflux (my son was a projectile puker and my daughter would scream and arch while feeding) and it turned out to be milk formula intolerance...I switched to soy and overnight my daughter was a different baby and it took my son about a week...when I asked the pedi about meds for reflux he said to try that first and if it didn't work then we'd discuss meds...

 

Based on my experience, and I'm not a doctor, I would put them on meds. It is very important for them to eat enough in the first year so they grow. If they're in pain, they may not eat enough. Plus they are uncomfortable.

Reflux can have long term effects too. My babies, 9 months old, have had recurring sinus, eye and ear infections for the past few months due to reflux. The reflux was irritating the mucosal lining and making them vulnerable to infection. They haven't been on meds since 4 months old. I really regret not keeping them on meds now.