Since my last posting three weeks ago (and for some time before that), we have been dealing with an evil gremlin called silent reflux. We tried to adjust to the new feeding that the public health nurse recommended about three and a half weeks ago (less formula, keeping the feeding time short instead of letting Gemma graze for an hour or more), but after a few days, Gemma's screams intensified, and she would only sleep in our arms or lying on our chests. After talking with Margo and searching online (what else is there to do at 4am when you're afraid of falling asleep and rolling onto your daughter!), it became evident that Gemma's symptoms were consistent with silent reflux. She had been eating such large amounts over such a long time to 'comfort eat' to try to soothe her throat, and she would wake when being laid down because her stomach acid would then rise up into her throat again. She also would wake screaming with a terrible look on her face from a deep sleep while being held, then arch herself backwards and flail her arms and legs when the acid began to rise. It was heartbreaking to see her in such pain, and I would cry along with her at times.
After about a week of this, and walking the floor, bouncing, rocking, shushing, and making drives around the area just so she could sleep in her car seat, I called the public health nurse again, and she agreed that it sounded like silent reflux. She brought out a different type of formula to try later that day, a 'Comfort Formula' designed for babies with tummy issues. We started it on Wednesday, September 19th, and Gemma's symptoms did ease, but the formula also began to run right through her. She wanted to eat about every 2 hours, and her diapers were becoming almost diarrhea like. After another call to the public health nurse and Gemma's 6 week appointment with the GP, it was recommended we try going back to the original formula and adding infant Gaviscon (to thicken the formula to help keep it down). This did not make much of a difference at all, and after more online searching, I came across a pediatric private practice here in Dublin. I called and made an appointment for two days later (Friday, September 28th). The doctor was fabulous- he thoroughly checked Gemma over and agreed that it was silent reflux and prescribed Zantac (an acid neutralizer). When I went to fill the prescription after the appointment, the pharmacist thought the dose that the doctor prescribed was a bit too high, and unfortunately the doctor had already left the office for the day and wouldn't be back until the following Friday. The pharmacist okayed a lower dose, and we started it later that day.
That night, and for five nights after that, Gemma slept a continuous 5 hours in her Moses basket at night! And, during the day, she was happy to lay under her play gym or in her buggy for awhile while I got bottles washed, etc. We thought we were on the road to recovery! Unfortunately this past Wednesday things started to get worse again. On Friday I was able to talk with the doctor and the pharmacist, and the increased dose of Zantac was okayed. We've been on this since Friday, and things have gotten a little better, but the screaming does still happen, especially in the evenings, and the sleeping isn't great. At the moment I am breaking all of "the rules". Gemma naps mostly in our arms, and I have also had her sleep on me overnight. Yesterday she slept for nearly three hours in the front carrier, and as I type this, she has been sleeping on her tummy in the Moses basket for nearly two hours. This is the longest she's slept out of our arms or the carrier during the day in weeks. Even with the head of her Moses basket and buggy elevated, she hasn't been able to sleep like this. The prone position lessens the reflux, and the fact that she has been able to sleep like this makes me believe that we aren't just "spoiling" her by letting her sleep in our arms or on us. I am watching her like a hawk though and putting my hand on her every few minutes.
What has made dealing with the reflux harder is the doubts that I have as a first-time mom. "Am I doing what's right?" Even though the books and experts don't recommend certain things, at the moment all I want to do is give my little girl comfort from her symptoms (and try to get a bit of sleep myself)! It's hard too when you get the feeling that other people think that she is being spoiled by being held and having her cries answered. I am so thankful for my friends and family with kids who reassure me that everything that I'm feeling is completely normal for a new mom!
