5 month old reflux + tummytime??

Hulahoop2009

Hi

My DD has reflux and is on infant gaviscon, also colief drops. Have any of you experience with reflux and trying to get the baby to progress ie crawl/lie on their backs, roll over etc. Im concerned that she will not progress as she should. Ive tried her on her tummy on our bed and she doesnt like it, lying on her back seems to upset her an hour or two later.

I have her in her bouncer most of the day or in her cot. I really want to get her doing more 'normal' things if possible. Our playgym is ready and waiting if only I knew what to do!!!!:)

Any advice really appreciated.

littlemissfixit

Hi, my dd hasnt got reflux but a very easily upset stomach nervertheless and its also a struggle to get her on tummy. I started to put her on her tummy on my bent knees while lying on my back, the interraction distracted her for at least a few minutes (a good size receiving blanket needed here for me or I would have ended up covered in spit ups), I would also carry her around flying on her stomach. She is still not a big fan of tummy time but i get to put her on mat 5 min at a time few times a day, it must have made the position at least not so alien. Maybe give it a go.

littlebug

What age is she op?
It's been a while but my eldest had really bad reflux and hated being on her tummy. If she was uncomfortable or in pain in that position then I woudn't leave her there. She much preferred being upright. Actually in my memory she was in my arms most of the time but it didn't do any harm or delay her development. She crawled (forwards:p) and pulled herself to standing on the same day at 10 months and walked at 14 month, all identical timelines to my second child who didn't have reflux and didn't mind being on his tummy now and again. It'll all happen when your child is ready!

Oryx

My eldest had undiagnosed reflux for his first 8 months. As he was my first I thought all babies projectile vomited, and I wondered how other mums kept their babies so clean, mine was always puking! So naive.

When he was diagnosed he was put on a type of ulcer medication (I know the name but dont want to mention) and Enfamil AC milk, or a least I think thats the name. It was a milk that thickened in the stomach.

I didnt analyse things like him being on his tummy much, but thinking back, he wouldnt have been so keen either. Didnt mind sleeping on his back but you couldnt put him down straight after feeding or youd be cleaning his sheets. I had his cot propped at one end for a while too. He loved his baby bouncer, probably because it was at an angle. He crawled and walked at the same stages his younger sister did so it made no difference to him at all. He is now a tall healthy eight year old.

gowayouttadat

My guy had reflux and really, really, really hated tummy time. I wouldn't worry about it at all. They all develop at their own pace and your little one will find her way to moving in her own time. 5 months is still very young.
We couldn't put our fella down on his back for too long or he'd get all agitated. We got him a walker when he was a bit steadier to keep him mobile because it just didn't suit him to be down on the ground. He's now 20 months old, no problem being on his back or his belly, runs everywhere instead of walking.

The reflux and lack of tummy time didn't hold him back at all so it's not something i'd spend too much time worrying about if I were you.

oldmacd

First time poster. Reading about reflux prompted me to register. This may be a bit long winded so apologies.

My son has reflux. initially he HATED tummy time but loved being held upright in my arms. He would push himself back from my chest with his arms and gradually built up the strength in his muscles. Now his reflux is under control and he likes a little tummy time. He can push his head and shoulders and upper torso up off the floor and he is delighted with himself! I only give him a few minutes at a time and I have to wait a a couple of hours after a feed. Dont feel like your baby has to have tummy time just because "the experts" recommend it. Take your babys lead. When they are ready you will know.

My son is almost 5 months old and was diagnosed with silent reflux at two months. He stopped breathing one night in his sleep. Thankfully we had a sensor monitor under his mattress which alerted us. We pulled him out of his pram and he stirred and began to breathe again. We were told at the hospital that "it happens" "its not uncommon" "there's no reason why some babies stop breathing". We were sent home, dismissed as nervous first time parents and were told how to recusitate him in the event that it happened again.

Thankfully we persevered and I went to my gp and he referred us to a paediatrician who after the first consultation diagnosed silent reflux and put my son on acid inhibiting medication.

I would recommend a book to all parents of babies with reflux. It is called "The sensational baby sleep plan" by Alison Scott Wright. It has a chapter on the back about reflux in babies.
I would tell all parents if you even suspect that your baby has reflux the first thing you should do is get a sensor monitor for your baby. Babies with reflux are very susceptible to having sleep apneas (stop breathing in their sleep).

A lot of babies are misdiagnosed as suffering from colic when it is in fact reflux. We were giving our son infacol drops as we wrongly believed he has colic. Nobody told us about silent reflux, and we were not aware of any of the other symptoms. (he doesnt actually vomit, the acid just comes as far as the back of his throat) I thought if the baby had reflux he spewed. This is not neceassarily the case.

Some of the other symptoms include :
bouts of inconsolable crying
baby is rarely relaxed and appears "wired" a lot of the time
frequent violent hiccups
very hard to wind and does not easily burp
arching back and neck
body goes ridgid and stiff (as if baby is trying to almost stand up on you)
clawing at head and face
shaking head from side to side
very fussy feeder, milk has to be exact temperature, cannot be distracted,
Will only drink very small amounts at a time
Does not like sleeping on their back (my baby would only sleep for the first few weeks upright in someones arms)
Clenched fists
Frowing (my son had wrinkled on his forehead like an old man)

Sorry if my post hijacked the OP's thread but if reflux is left undiagnosed it can be fatal. I just wish parents were made more aware of the symptoms.

Hulahoop2009

Thank you everybody for all your replies. It is SO reassuring to know that 1 my baby is v young for tummy time and 2 that they dont necessarily have to do it in order to progress. I was just so wound up and lost TBH have no idea what to expect from this reflux. It took ages for us to get diagnosed, like one of you we were giving infacol we got no guidance as to which colic drops to try and infacol seemed to drive the baby crazy so we were afraid to try others.

The list of symptoms is so helpful I hope someone finds it in this post. Our PHN is v nice but didnt want to know or pay any heed when we described our situation at the begining, then I know of other PHNs who diagnose babies with reflux.

Baby is really trying to sit-up I cant wait to see it and hopefully be a healthy and happy child :-)

Thanks again everyone!!:)

DM addict

On a non-reflux note, there are plenty of babies who aren't so keen on being left on their tummies. As others have said, there are other ways for babies to strengthen their muscles and will still develop ok.