anyone been advised to wean early because of reflux?

If so, was this because of weight loss?

And if you did wean early - how early, and did it help?

I'm certainly not considering weaning yet (L is 14 weeks) but as his reflux is not improving with meds, I just wonder if this might be the next suggestion. I had wanted to wait until 6 months, but if it would help I guess I'd think about it.

Just pondering really.

I mentioned it to Zoe's consultant and he said not to wean early. 

What meds have you tried ?  There are quite a lot that they can play around with to get the right concoction.  If your LO is formula fed, we found that we could stop everything apart from the Gaviscon if we switched from powder to ready made formula.

We weaned early but more because of the weight loss than the reflux, and it did pick up slightly. I also think my milk wasn't enough as his weight only really picked up decently when he started having formula too (though this also conicided with a change in medication to omeprazole so not entirely sure).

I'd definitely look at different medication - are you under a paediatrician or GP?

WJBS - we were told not to wean early as milk has far more calories than the solids they can take in when they first start weaning. 

T was on domperidone and ranitadine and after having the doses adjusted a few times they made a maasive difference.  When he was getting a good amount of nutrition from solids i then reduced the doses down gradually and by 10 months he was med free.  I would really urge you wait if at all possible as we found T took to it so very well becuase he was ready and engaged - we weaned at 6 months 2 weeks

Good luck - it is tough, but i promise it will get better and your little one will become much happier and contented

He's been on domperidone and ranitidine for 2 weeks now, and if anything it's getting worse. He's BFed, and we've had no luck in getting gaviscon into him.

I don't want to wean early, I was just wondering if it might be suggested. He is putting on weight, but he's dropped off his centile and is heading down (although that might be due to BFing as its a bottle fed chart).

I'm seeing doc on tues to review the meds, but I don't have much faith in our GPs and the chemist wouldn't give me ranitidine last time, so they make it hard for you around here!

Cant remember the exact age our LO was but think it was 20 weeks, it made no difference except he was sick in different colours!! in fact from memory it made it worse as it was proper sick his reflux improved as he became more able to sit up unaided for longer periods.

baublegirl:

He's been on domperidone and ranitidine for 2 weeks now, and if anything it's getting worse. He's BFed, and we've had no luck in getting gaviscon into him.

I don't want to wean early, I was just wondering if it might be suggested. He is putting on weight, but he's dropped off his centile and is heading down (although that might be due to BFing as its a bottle fed chart).

I'm seeing doc on tues to review the meds, but I don't have much faith in our GPs and the chemist wouldn't give me ranitidine last time, so they make it hard for you around here!

please don't be disheartened - it took about 2 weeks to kick in with T once he was on the right dose - i would def receommend asking to see a paed if you are under a GP

Hiya.

I was advised to wean early and i did.  Both my daughters were weaned at 5 months because they both suffered from severe reflux and every med was tried but not effective.  They had it so bad that they couldnt drink milk though, it got to the point where my daughter could hardly swollow and she would take about 10oz a day (even that was a struggle) so for us weaning really helped, the milk intake didnt  either, but it also meant i could mix her milk with rice and oats to get more milk into her that way... I didn't really touch savory and puddings though.  All fruits made the reflux go though the roof!

Has your LO tried Omperazole at all? it's a life saver for a lot of parents.

HTH

X

I was advised to wean at about 4 months because of C's reflux, he was FF and we had Gaviscon and ranitidine. They did work to an extent but nothing took it away completely, he had silent reflux so it was more that he was screaming when being fed rather than being sick . I refused to wean him as I didn't think it would help and I felt I was being told to wean as a blanket response. He was still gaining weight and following his line and I was determined to do BLW which meant early weaning was out.

He took ages to 'get' BLW and was about 9/10 months before he ate properly but the reflux had improved imeasurably before then. I think he just grew out of it and from not really being that fussed about milk he became a milk monster!

Weaning made no difference to L's reflux, if anything it got worse.  she was on losec  and domperidone

No personal experience of it myself as a mum but my sister had projectile vomiting until the day mum gave her solids.....and back in the 70's that was probably around 12 weeks. The paed at the time said the sooner she had something heavy in her the better...and he was right.

I don't know if the projectile vomiting is the same as reflux but it might be.....and she was by no means a skinny baby. Can you at least hang on till 17 weeks and then test your baby to see if it makes any difference (and only on rice)...but as some of the others have said there's lots of medication avaialble that might help or work bettter.

Thanks everyone - seems the general consensus is that is doesn't make much difference. That's good, because I'll feel more confident in not doing it (I definitely wouldn't have done before 17 weeks, and don't want to before 26 if poss).

I just feel so exhausted from the puking, screaming and washing... wish there was a magic cure.

Not really an answer to your question, but we are having success with getting gaviscon into G by me expressing a little bit of milk off, mixing it with the 1/2 a sachet of powder and then using a pipette to drizzle it into her mouth.

I do it 1/2 way through the feed when I wind her (she then stops feeding for about 30 mins when we sit her up) then she finishes the feed and she gets another dose of gaviscon.

(She is BF too)

Thanks MD - that's worth knowing. Only problem is because of his weight he needs 2 sachets per dose, and 6 doses per day. As I'm often feeding in the playground at school run time, or in the car at nursery pick up time I just can't see it happening!

Also... i chucked out the gaviscon in temper after he spat it back at me for the third time in a row

baublegirl:

Thanks MD - that's worth knowing. Only problem is because of his weight he needs 2 sachets per dose, and 6 doses per day. As I'm often feeding in the playground at school run time, or in the car at nursery pick up time I just can't see it happening!

Also... i chucked out the gaviscon in temper after he spat it back at me for the third time in a row

Oh dear!  I'm lucky enough that she's my first so at least I don't have anything other to do!