Update on Roo's tummy troubles

We took Roo in for his spitting up (river making abilities) because it was just getting out of control.

Back track ... We moved him to 6 oz formula ever 3 hours. He was on 5 oz every 3 hours but would not wake for his last feeding at 10P. So we cut that one and just gave him 6 oz at every feeding. From 7A to 7P.

He was spitting up EVERY FEEDING TO EVERY FEEDING! There was NO break. We'd feed him then burp him in between 2 oz he'd spit up a river, another 2 oz... river... then when he was done eating we'd let him sit up for at LEAST 30 min before lying him down. Didn't matter, he'd spit up anyway. From the time he finished his last bottle to the time he'd get his next one he would just keep spitting up, even in his sleep. It was awful. I am estimating about 1/4 - 1/3 cup per feeding (if not more).

We switched him to soy, Didn't do anything but make it smell worse. We put him on lactose-free formula. That worked for 2 days. Then back to spitting up again. Not as much but still spitting up for the whole duration of feeding and non.

I was at a loss. He was not in any harm. He was not losing weight or anything and he seemed happy enough. He was getting blisters under his little neck where his chin rested. It stayed wet from all the spitting up. One can only change outfits so many times in a day before running out of clothes! We used bibs but one "spit-up" would soak it (as well as a receiving blanket).

So I talked to his NEW dr about it. He said that as long as he is still gaining that he is not too concerned about it. But because that much spitting up can cause choking if it goes down the wrong pipe in his sleep and it is clearly becoming a nemesis causing blisters from all the soiled clothing and bibs, he wanted to put him on a "reflux medication".

He prescribed Reglan 1ML 3 times daily BEFORE feedings.

I am AWFUL at remembering things, but because I wanted the spitting up to cease I forced myself to remember.

All of a sudden our sweet baby boy went from okay (he has never been the HAPPY baby) to ANGRY! JUST MAD all the time. No matter what you did to relieve his anger... it would just get worse. He had just gotten to where he had started smiling and cooing. That was ALL OVER with now.

From the time he finished one bottle to the time he got his next one he was ANGRY. He'd only sleep for about 30 min for a nap and then wake STARVING and ANGRY! (The dr also knocked him back down to 5oz per feeding asking us to try and fit another 5 oz feeding in at night... we did but it wasn't getting better. HE was still MADDDDDD)

SO. I waited a week to see if things would eventually settle down before calling the dr again. I waited, they didn't improve AND he was still spitting up. Not as much but it was still a problem.

One night discussing my concerns with a dear friend she sent me the link to the possible side effects of this drug, Reglan. It blew me away. Just some of the things it listed broke my heart. I literally cried at the thought that Roo could be experiencing these feelings. Just to name a few... Dizziness, Confusion, headaches, Anxiety, agitation.

I know it says possible. But it was apparent there was, in fact, SOMETHING WRONG.

I called the dr the next morning and asked what we should do. We were told that the nurse would ask the dr and get back to us. I had told her that he was ANGRY all the time now and he was still spitting up and it had been a week!

She called back a few hours later and told me that the dr said to continue him on the medication. That hopefully it would balance out soon.

HA! REALLY! So I kept him on it for the rest of the night and through consulting with my friend I decided enough was enough and I was going to take him off and try some different formulas designed for Acid Reflux. Like Similac sensitive R.S.

I took him off and noticed an IMMEDIATE difference. That morning I didn't give him his first dose and he was SUPER happy. He spit up a LOT but he was happy!

I went out and got him some Similac sensitive R.S. and that still wasn't sitting well.

Finally I decided we'd try some rice cereal for him. Maybe some solid food in his tummy will help some. It did a little bit. But it just didn't seem right. He was still starving and he was still spitting up even though we were still only giving him 5 oz.

Many different tricks and many different prayers later and we are now giving him a 6oz bottle of HEB brand Lactose-free formula with cereal mixed in it. I know we "are not supposed to" but really there is NOTHING else thus far we have found and this is working wonders!

He still spits up, But nothing in comparison to what it was. When he burps now it is like a normal baby spit up, just a small amount will dribble out. GREAT! (approximately 1-2 Tablespoons instead of the before 1/4 -1/3 C)

He is now on a WONDERFUL schedule (3 hour cycle)... he is clockwork again and sleeping for his full hour at naptimes, 3 times a day and from 7PM to 7AM during the night. I am absolutely LOVING this new baby! He is so happy... most days he's really serious but when you get him going or when he sees mommy, daddy or his brothers he is all smiles! He is now starting to giggle even.

I have learned that just because a Dr. can prescribe it, doesn't mean that it is MEANT for your baby (or you for that matter). If you are having doubts, STOP, and consult someone immediately. Do some research of your own if need be. If you are blessed, like I, with friends that research like nobody's business...ask them about it. Find out all information before "settling". It could do more harm than good.