Hey Skyela,

How's it going? Got the Pepti supply set up? I remember trialing the Neocate Advance with Thomas, getting him used to the taste and then having to wait for the chemist to order it in - and going back to the Pepti in the meantime! Only for a day or two but I was afraid he wouldn't take the Neocate after that!

Hope things are improving...

You just do what you have to do to survive the reflux rollercoaster ride

Lurking in after a fellow-Sept MTB mentioned this thread (we've been discussing reflux lately)

With the sleeping thing - I have a Moby Wrap (from http://www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz), which is wonderful for keeping William upright, and snug. When I was in hospital Will was unsettled and I was desperate for sleep, so I wrapped myself in the Moby, slipped him in, and we both slept very peacefully for a few hours (and I didn't have to worry about dropping him or whatever in that post c-section haze). Although Will's reflux is well controlled with my DF diet, I am sure wearing him is all good for him (especially when it comes to being at Kindy - I have 2 hands free for Mr 2.5, and Will is kept snug and away from snotty noses and uncovered coughs KWIM?). (With James I used an Ergo which was good, but I find the Moby way better!).

I've also been giving Will probiotics. When we paid to see a private Paed for Em's gluten-intolerance and James' silent reflux, both times Dr Ford said that being c-section babies they aren't innoculated with beneficial bacterial at birth and I was also given IV ABs). Dr Ford said that the bacteria help with digestion (and poor digestion may be involved in my kids' food intolerances - gluten & dairy). I'm not sure if your baby is a c-section birth or not, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to dose with probiotics. They are about $50 for a pottle at your local health food store (kept in the fridge).

Another thing we tried this time around (found out about it too late with James) is a cranial osteopath. She felt a tightness around his umbilicus. After 2 sessions she said he was all in balance now and she couldn't do anything more for him (though she warned that sometimes in a growth spurt they can develop kinks again). We're not sure if she made a huge difference, but there was certainly no harm done in trying (and a friend said most babies would benefit from a cranial osteopath session given their cramped up positions in utero and delivery).

I am lucky that I am breastfeeding Will as I have a lot of control over what he is exposed to (though I admit that not eating dairy can be tricky at times). I hope things are ironed out for you soon!

Thank you so much Dunners- thats fantastic advice. Georgia is a c-section baby..as was DD1 which is interesting as she had silent reflux. I will get her some probiotics- didn't think of them for her even when I take them myself!
I am going to do some research on the best cranial osteopath as a few people have mentioned one to me now.

I got the special authority number sent through yesterday and put the order in. Does 7.00 a tin for pepti jnr sound right?

We are having some good days and some really really bad ones..I guess thats how it goes eh.

It's a rough ride with a reflux baby.

One thing that I found really really helpful with the paed is the diary.

Mine looked something like
Wake BF 5 min on and off spill, screaming pulling legs up, large spill, BF 2 min screaming blah blah blah.

I wrote down EVERYTHING as I found from experience that I couldn't get the extent of the situation through by trying to explain it on the spot.

Good luck, it will get better (eventually)

Hi Skyela,

Yeah, $7 a can for pepti sounds about right from what I can remember with Thomas. It works out to be much the same as if you were buying a can of Karicare or whatever, possibly a little cheaper depending on how much you use.
The shocking bit is when you see how much things actually cost!
5 cans of Neocate advance actually cost around $340 - thanks to the magic of the special authority it brings it down to $30!!

It will get better eventually, just hang in there through the roller coaster.

I thought it was poetic justice when William developed reflux as I'd had killer heartburn when pregnant with him - but after a few weeks it wasn't funny any more! And 3/3 reflux babies...hubby and I have looked at each other more than a few times and wondered what we'd done to deserve THAT - hope we enjoyed it, the karmic revenge is pretty horrendous!
All joking aside, it's an incredibly stressful time but most people get through it sooner than we did.
Hang in there and enjoy the good days - try and remember them through the bad, they will come back again!

Hi skyela
Sorry to take so long to get to this thread but you have had some good advice.
I'm not sure that the dose of Ranitidine your baby is on is adequate. See http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/MedicalTreatment/DosageSchedule.htm The dosages here are worked out for a twice daily dosage but even taking in to account that it is being given three times a day it is still a bit low I think. You can print off that page and show it to your GP/doctor who prescribed the Ranitidine. It is all referenced. Ranitidine is most often given as two doses daily also which may make things a little easier for you.
Are you giving Gaviscon Infant? It might helps things a little more. It needs to be given two hours apart from Ranitidine though and can cause constipation. Medication instruction sheets are here: http://www.cryingoverspiltmilk.co.nz/MedicalTreatment/MedicalTreatment.htm

BTW everyone I have edited out most paediatrician's names here (that I found) as although they have been mentioned on good terms things can turn nasty. Please see the guidelines pinned at the top of the forum. Use PMs for this please.

You should notice whether PJ is suitable by the end of a week. If problems continue with vomiting, hard tummy and diarrhoea, then it may be worth getting someone to observe a feed - Plunket, GP, Practice Nurse or whoever... Not all paediatricians will make you trial PJ first. Some will go straight to Neocate depending on history, age, family history etc.

Hey Roz,
Well the projectile vommiting started again (had a 4 day break I guess?) got hold of the doctor on Friday (was sick of going in each week to get the dosage put up again) we now are on 1ml twice daily which is about right for the chart..his idea was to start slowly and work up..its hard when a mum just wants her sleep and a baby needs her sleep and needs to feel comfortable though.
We took Georgia to After hours last night as we were at our witts end- we thought they could send us with a referral to the hospital as they normally do..but because she was hydrated and ok he advised us to wait for our appointment (which still hasnt come through)he told us to watch out for a ball under her rib cage that we havent seen for a condition called Pyloric Stenosis... we rang the hospital on Friday and we are also meant to have a appointment card sent out this week.. Looks like we are better off paying to see a Paed at this rate as its really taking a toll on us..Georgia is technically thriving as well..shes on the bottom 15th percentile but slowly putting on weight.

When we changed to the PJ the vommiting stopped for 4 days..We still dont know why? don't know why it came back again either!

We also didnt know about Gaviscon so will ask the doctors about it on Monday- he said if I dont notice a difference over this weekend with the 2mls a day to go back to him....dont know what he can do for me as so far I feel like hes beaten around the bush helping me... Ah sorry for the rant its turned into!!

If you can afford it it might be better to see a private paed....keep trying to smile and remember you are a great mum who is just having a tough time at the moment.

Pepti Junior is broken down into short chains of amino acids or subunits of proteins called peptides, hence the name. The theory is that the body can't recognise these partially digested proteins. BUT some are very sensitive and their bodies quickly learn to recognise the peptides so Neocate is needed. Neocate is broken down into amino acids - so as far as it can go. Hence it is very easily digested and very hard for the body to react to. What you describe isn't that uncommon and I know of a paediatrician who probably would have given you Neocate straight off due to bub's age - not in Wellington though.
Gaviscon Infant thickens the stomach's contents to a gel and is a gastric reflux suppressant. It may help a bit but I think it is more the formula that you need to get right.
If you get worried and the appointment keeps on not turning up, then you might just have to turn up. We were in a similar (non reflux) situation with my eldest and we were told we should have been seen in Emergency even though the advice was different at the time. Go with your gut feelings as they are usually right. Your GP can always refer you in acutely on Monday. Just tell him the promised appointment seems to be taking a long time.
Hugs. You are doing a great job.

Hey thanks for that info Roz, I went back to the doctors again yesterday in tears. I got a appointment finally at the hospital for this Tuesday coming we can get to the bottom of this! Thanks everyone for your help and I will let you all know how I get on!

Good luck!

The appointment went well, she felt its very highly likely that its a cows milk allergy going by the strong symptoms. I am to do 2 weeks on Neocate & then if no improvement we are to go back for further tests, ph probe etc.
I feel theres reflux and a allergy happening but we will see!
She gave me some drops to unblock Georgias nose which is a constant problem, I did so last night and its been running all night of which she hasn't been able to sleep.. you can't win!!
It was also very funny as she asked if Georgia coughs alot, I nodded and said all the time, sure enough Georgia starts coughing on command
I hope we can get to the bottom of this..I need some sleep as does she

Thanks again for everyones help!