Formulas/treatments That Work Well for Babies with Ger/acid Reflux

My son was diagnosed with GERD at 1 month. The dr. recommended putting rice cereal in his bottle of Nestle Good Start formula. He was also prescribed zantac. His screaming and crying eased up I assume from no more pain. However he did spit up frequently until 10 months.

I was breastfeeding him, but he couldn't tolerate my milk. He did much better on the formula.

A.

We had the same with our son although probably not as bad. We also tried alimentum but our son didn't like the taste. We went back to Similac Sensitive (lactose free) and he's used to it now and is fine. I think my son just grew out of acid reflux as he's developed more. Good luck. If you want tips on burping, I have them. :)

J.

If I were you, I would ditch the formula completely and contact a Lactation Consultant about bringing in your milk again. More babies have more problems digestively with formula...you wouldnt believe the things I see. It just isnt made for them to easily tolerate. Many Moms have to switch every few weeks to yet another new formula, and still end up having to medicate their babies because it just cant be digested and gives them a host of problems. It wont be difficult at all for you to begin your relactation journey,(you're only 3 weeks PP and odds are your milk is still there...you'd just have to build it up) so contact someone in that field if you are interested. Its the best for your little one, the best for you and will rid you of your issues. You can contact a local LC, a La Leche League Leader, or a Peer Counselor if you are a WIC Mom. You can contact me for more info. Good Luck!

*EDITED* You didnt mention you were nursing! You are amazing to still be able to offer even the small amount you do. ANY breastmilk is better than formula, so keep up the good work! May I ask what sort of conditions you have that affect your supply? I ask because I am a newly trained Breastfeeding Counselor (just graduated in September) so I like hearing different stories...more experience under my belt. Who knows, the info may help a woman in the future that I may work with. Either way, I dont know what measures you have taken to increse your supply or what you have been told. Mind sharing your story? You can e-mail me at ____@____.com. I'd love to hear anything you are willing to share! I'm glad the sitting up has helped her some! Thanks!

good morning,
my baby girl is now 16 months we had the same problem she was on every formula there was and i find that the alimentum was the best yes it its exspensive but my baby did well on it and yes it is exspensive but wic is a place you can get it as long as your doctor writes a note stating the baby will be taking it my baby did so well on it it is a thicker formula. hope thi shelps but i was so happy when she was on this and so was she ........

My son was diagnosed with this same affliction and we kept him on Enfamil Lipil with Iron, once he started his medication he kept regurgitating no matter what.. we tryed 4 or 5 different expensive formulas and different gentle for baby formulas and all had the same result for us.. Just see how the baby responds to the medicine and try a normal over the counter formula..

O.,

WIC can help cover the cost of the formula if that is what she needs. I am not sure what your income is like, if you are a stay at home mom on 1 income most likely you will qualify. My daugher was on the Enfamil Nutramigen and with a script from the doc they covered it. It is the equivalent of the Similac alimentum. At first the WIC checks cover all of it! But as she gets bigger 9 cans of powder just isn't enough. But it is ok when you only have to buy a couple of cans a month. Don't be afraid toask for help! If that is the formula that works for your baby then stick with it. Good luck!!

When my son was a baby, I used Nutramagin. It is made to digest faster because the protiens are smaller. My son was very collicy and this helped. No more spit up and less gas.

Hi O.,
My son had a little reflux when he was a baby. What we did was hold him upright for a half hour or sit him up at an incline after feeding, to help him digest the milk before we would lay him down for sleep. We never used any medications. After a few months, it was not an issue anymore. I think that babies digestive systems are delicate and need help adjusting to the new milk. Also, do you think you are over feeding her at all?
Take Care
God Luck:)
N.

Try another Dr. I used Dr.Lerner from Robertwood Johnson he is at 1 Worlds Fair Dr. in Sommerset off Easton Ave. He always offered safe healthy options. I used Good start products for our 1st born but the best is always mothers milk. You can pump and that will help get the flow going if you are not already breast feeding. If you can not afford a pump try registering with WIC they can help you get one for free and formula to. Maalox dose not sound good for the baby try health food stores for alternatives and even web MD will have lots of options.Try putting a wedge under the baby while sleeping to help keep in a more upright position this helps with the reflux and to help prevent the risk of SIDS this is a tip I got from the apnea clinic as well as Dr. Lerner Dr. Rocapaccini is also a great Dr. in his office and they are both parents. Good luck and Congratulations MOM!

N. H.
I am a 33 year old 2 time Mom my 1st born was 8lbs. & on a apnea monitor for 1st 3 months he is 7 now and just fine, my 2nd born was 12 lbs. yep and he got stuck coming out natural and suffers from a injury from that to his left arm but you can hardly tell he also had head to toe ozzing eczama that took 6 months to clear up he screamed all 6 months and ripped all his hair out but he is also fine now. Being a 1st time mom and getting pregnant with a 9 month old just after 9/11 during the anthrax in the mail thing it was a emotional struggle but as with everything God brought us through and he will do the same for you and your child.

My daughter also had GERD and we used Zantac 3 times a day for almost 6 months (she was diagnosed around 2 months). I was resistant at first to giving her medication - and on such a regular basis. But...it made such a difference. She used to scream and cry after feedings, and once she was on Zantac she was a completely calm. She still spit up a lot more than most babies (she would often do the projectile thing), but it didn't seem to cause any pain. We did breast and bottle and used the Dr. Browns bottles to reduce the gas intake during feeding. It seemed rough at the time, but now she is almost 2 and it is sort of a faint memory! So good luck - hope your little daughter is doing well soon.

Hi O.
Don't know who your doctor is, but some of this sounds familiar to me. I am a mother of 5. My second oldest, who is now 29, had what they call "poleric stenosis" (not sure of spelling) when he was an infant. He was first diagnosed with an acid reflux, but a physician in company with our doctor requested a barium swollow to see if the poleric (sp?) valve between the stomach and intestine was opening. It wasn't, and thus his food couldn't pass through to the intestines. Whenever he ate, it came back up. After about two weeks of looking at reflux ideas, he began to do more projectile reaction to food. You might want to look this up or check in with a few physicians. Also, this stenosis usually begins not long after birth, as I believe it is a response to the valve not being developed enough yet for the body of the child. Good luck. E

I have an 19 month old son and another baby coming in July. I fed my son formula for 10 months and never had any kind of digestion problems or spit up. I used the similac organic. A friend reccommended the organic product and like I said never had a problem. I plan on using the same with the next.