[BeccaBoo88]

Hi all,

My baby is 4 weeks old today and we have been struggling with him having absolutely terrible reflux. He is a good feeder and I have a good supply but have been encouraged to start using thickener in EBM and also feeding him some as a paste around feeding time. Has anyone done this? Has it been successful? Did you use it before or after the feed?

Tia.

[Justaduck]

Yes...I tried. DD was only ever fed breastmilk, so at first I had to give her it in a 10mL syringe (the thickener) before a feed. I think that filled her up a bit on its own. I then tried expressing and mixing it in that, but the teats I had didn't let it through?
I have the whole tin still...hope you have more success

[My-3-Pinks]

I tried this with DD3 but it unfortunately didn't make any difference as it was hard to get her to even take it in EBM. I would have to spoon it in to her and she'd promptly throw it back up. I used to give it to her before a feed so it would thicken what she drank but it rarely worked. I also tried it during a feed but very little luck.

It doesn't mean it will be that way for your baby though so if you have been recommended to try it then I'd give it a go. Reflux is awful so I hope it helps your baby.

This post has been edited by My-3-Pinks: 26/04/2013, 07:23 PM

[blackbird]

Hi, I tried this with my son as he too had horrible reflux, we found it did not work, nothing worked except till, I think by 2-3 months he was over the worst of it.

I would not ever give it to him by itself as paste.

[littleboysmum]

I used Karicare thickener made up in a gel and syringed it into DD's mouth before every feed. Total and utter nightmare. Due to her severe lactose intolerance she ended up on formula and now I just add the thickener to her bottles which is SO much easier. It definitely works for us. The most effective reflux treatment for us though is the losec, combined with the thickened formula and a raised cot etc

[BeccaBoo88]

Haha. Not the success stories I was looking for. we have propped his bed up, smaller feeds with frequent burps, keep him upright after feeds for as long as possible. I hope this works! We just made some up but he didn't want to take it.

[lucky 2]

http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopi...304&id=1790
I couldn't find any links that state the thickeners are a sure fire fix with reflux, it seems it might work or it might not.
It sounds tricky with a bfed baby.
The link above my help and also there is the RISA website.
All the best.

[BeccaBoo88]

Just wanted to come and update.

Turns out ds is fine with the thickener! Has made life so much easier and he typically sleeps for about 5-6 hours after we give it to him of a night. syringing it in didn't work - he would tongue thrust it straight out - but mixed with ebm and it is great.