I came across the little sachet when I was cleaning out my horribly neglected and full to overflowing laundry cupboard. For a moment I hesitated, torn between wanting to frame the sachet and award it a Medal of Honor, and throwing it in the bin in accordance with its expiry date.
The little sachet was what helped my baby son, and helped me maintain a tenuous hold on my sanity at a time that was so truly awful; I don’t think I can adequately articulate the experience.
My baby son, my third child suffered from silent reflux. The term is an oxymoron. More accurately is should be called: “Piercing scream reflux.”
Silent refers to refluxed material that goes up the oesophagus, but isn’t forced out of the mouth. The baby may swallow it back down or the stomach contents/stomach acids may not come up the oesophagus far enough to be swallowed. Essentially it means that whilst your baby may regurgitate part of its feed, it doesn’t actually expel the contents from its mouth, and they swirl around getting mixed up with lots of acid from the stomach and often causing intense pain in the process.
I was lucky really. Mr. Small was my third baby so I had some understanding that the distress my baby exhibited wasn’t your standard colic.
I delivered Mr. Small by c-section and he was your classic peaceful baby during our hospital stay. Retrospectively, I suspect that the pain relief medication I took at the time probably had a soporific effect on him too.
It was shortly after we arrived home the screaming began.
Mr. Small screamed before feeds, after feeds and woke up in his sleep screaming. We tilted his cot; I sat up with him for hours after feeds to no avail.
I cannot describe how soul destroying it is to have given your whole heart and soul to a little baby, and then be completely unable to console them. Fortunately I had the courage to ask for help, which for a Type A personality like me who likes everything under control was unusual.
Our pediatrician was fantastic, and with a diagnosis in hand and clutching s script and material about his condition we left his rooms feeling much better.
Unfortunately it wasn’t a straightforward run from there.
It took a while for the medication to work and we had to switch round the medications for a while until we found the best one for Mr. Small. In our case, it was little sachets that we mixed up with my breast milk and syringed into his mouth every day.
Mr. Small took the medication until he was a year old.
Based on my experience, I urge mums to make sure they ask for help if they need it. My community nurse and my GP were an invaluable support to me. Whilst I wasn’t officially diagnosed with PND at the time, my test results showed I had classic symptoms of it. It was agreed however, that it was probably caused by severe sleep deprivation. I still had a job and two older children to contend with as well as Mr. Small.
Exercise helped my fog to lift and so did the support of family and friends. Silent reflux isn’t just distressing for the baby; it affects all those involved in caring for them. The bravest, and best thing you can do, is ask for help, if you think your baby has it.
___________________________________
Sarah
Ah, the Possibilities!
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Monday, 17 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Yes it takes time to work, to settle and to get the right combination but only a parent of reflux babies can truly understand the relief of a settled baby no longer in pain and distress after a long road to diagnosis.
Funny how you forget, but then are reminded. I work with parents teaching baby massage and I have lost count of the number I have sent to their GP armed with the knowledge they need for an accurate, and quick diagnosis.
Great post, thanks.
Helen
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
Tuesday, 18 May 2010
k
Wednesday, 19 May 2010
Would love to hear updates on your little man
Lisa
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Friday, 05 November 2010
Thursday, 19 January 2012
About silent reflux