If you’ve been reading my blog, you’ll know that Alfie’s reflux has started to get worse for what reason I’m not sure but I thought I’d dedicate this weeks Top Ten Tuesday to Reflux. Here goes:
1. Buy a wedge for the moses basket/crib/cot – reflux is acid brining the milk back up from your baby’s tummy. If you ever suffered with heartburn yourself, you know that it’s worse when you’re laid down. It’s the same for babies. Don’t prop the cot up on books or use towels etc. as the incline isn’t enough to make a difference and it’s not completely safe. Specially made wedges are designed with the perfect incline for your baby. I bought mine from this website
2. Baby wear – I can’t stress enough how beneficial baby wearing is for you and baby. It helps with bonding, it gives you free arms and best of all for babies suffering with reflux it keeps them in an upright position, close to you so they feel safe and comfortable. I get my slings from Victoria the Sling Lady
3. Buy muslin cloths in the bulk load – bibs are O.K but they aren’t big enough and when washing they take a lot longer to dry than muslin cloths. You can even make your own if you’re handy with a sewing machine; just ensure the material is soft and light.
4. With how severe Alfie’s reflux is, we carry two spare sets of clothes in the baby changing bag. I say clothes but I mean all in ones (take up less space than t-shirt, trousers etc…) He’s sick quite severely with every feed and sometimes we’re just not quick enough with the muslin cloth. You don’t want a baby who’s uncomfortable from being wet through with sick. Yuck!
5. Feed baby as upright as possible to aid gravity in keeping the acid and milk down. If you’re breastfeeding I recommend speaking with a lactation expert or breastfeeding link worker for advice on positioning.
6. Whether you’re at home or visiting a friend or family’s home – feed baby on a towel. Put the towel under your bum and when it comes to winding or baby just throwing up on his/her own the furniture is covered.
7. After feeding baby try not to lay them down immediately, keep them up right be it in a sling, swing or bouncer. This gives the milk time to settle and digest and saves your baby from being unnecessarily uncomfortable.
8. Try Gripe Water – Alfie suffered with really bad colic as well as reflux and the gripe water has warming properties to help bind the bubbles together making things less painful for baby.
9. Keep baby in lose fitting clothes – no tight waistbands they only help compress baby’s tummy and push the acid up.
10. Talk to your G.P. – If the reflux is getting worse or the medication you’re given doesn’t seem to be helping with your baby being uncomfortable speak to your doctor your baby may have severe reflux and need more or different medication or there could be another underlying problem such as Pyloric Stenosis.
Alfie has suffered with severe reflux from birth and is currently taking Gaviscon, Ranitadine and Domperidone. He was also given Omeprazole for a period of time but the hospital asked us to give things a shot without them – this could be why his reflux seems to be causing him problems again. If you’re not happy with the diagnosis or the medicine your doctor has given you, go back and back until you have it sorted for yours and your baby’s sake.
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